CIN2, Abdominal Pain, Lung Cancer Screening, Postpartum Hemorrhage, Faltering Growth
Am Fam Physician. 2023;108(3):235
Is watchful waiting a reasonable alternative to invasive treatment for women 25 to 30 years of age with CIN2?
Based on one prospective cohort study, most lesions regress at least partially within two years without treatment for women 25 to 30 years of age with grade 2 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2) confirmed with biopsy and a human papillomavirus (HPV) type that is not 16. Watchful waiting may be appropriate. For women with HPV 16, only 51% had a partial or total regression of CIN2, suggesting that immediate treatment (i.e., loop electrosurgical excision procedure) is warranted. Most progression or regression was evident at 12 months.
Should analgesia be provided for patients with undifferentiated abdominal pain?
Two systematic reviews confirm that controlling pain in patients with acute abdominal pain is patient-centered. Analgesia should be provided because it improves patient comfort, does not hinder the accuracy of the physical examination, and may facilitate the assessment.
Does low-dose computed tomography screening for lung cancer reduce lung cancer–related mortality and what are the harms?
Low-dose computed tomography (CT) screening decreases deaths from lung cancer in people 40 years and older with an absolute risk reduction of approximately 0.4% and a number needed to screen of approximately 226 people over an average of 8.8 years of follow-up to prevent one death. Low-dose CT screening is associated with harms, including overdiagnosis and false-positive results, with a number needed to screen to produce one harmful outcome of approximately 44.
What is the most effective medical therapy for preventing postpartum hemorrhage after vaginal delivery?
Oxytocin plus misoprostol is more effective than oxytocin alone in reducing postpartum hemorrhage after vaginal delivery. However, this combination causes more nausea and vomiting than oxytocin alone. Tranexamic acid plus oxytocin does not significantly reduce the rate of postpartum hemorrhage compared with oxytocin alone. Oxytocin is the first-line medication because of the balance of high effectiveness and low incidence of adverse effects.
Which laboratory tests should be ordered in children with faltering growth for whom initial interventions have not been successful?
Consensus guidelines suggest obtaining a complete blood count, chemistry panel, celiac screening (if exposed to gluten), lead level, iron studies, urinalysis, and an erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
Additional Online Only AFP Clinical Answers
Does listening to music improve symptoms of insomnia or sleep problems in adults?
For adults with sleep problems or insomnia, listening to music at bedtime may improve sleep quality, sleep-onset latency, sleep duration, and sleep efficiency. Listening to music may improve anxiety and overall quality of life.
Should aspirin be continued or discontinued during acute gastrointestinal bleeding?
According to the American College of Gastroenterology and Canadian Association of Gastroenterology, patients should continue taking aspirin for secondary cardiovascular protection when experiencing gastrointestinal bleeding because stopping aspirin does not improve bleeding outcomes and may increase mortality. Because of the little to no benefit of aspirin for primary cardiovascular prevention, stopping aspirin in these patients is recommended with any gastrointestinal bleeding.
What is the first-choice add-on controller medication for patients with asthma whose symptoms are not adequately controlled with an inhaled corticosteroid alone?
Adding a long-acting beta2 agonist to inhaled corticosteroid therapy is preferred over adding long-acting muscarinic antagonists; however, long-acting muscarinic antagonists may be added as triple therapy for severe persistent asthma.
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