Does the addition of a pH-sensitive gel improve microemulsion stability for the targeted removal of colonic ammonia?
MBG-RCA was more stable in the gastrointestinal tract and more effective at removing colonic ammonia when a higher concentration of ammonia was present. This made it possible to achieve the targeted removal of colonic ammonia and is a promising method to prevent hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in future studies.
A hospital's failure to rescue patients from major complications seems to underlie the variation in mortality rates across Michigan hospitals after emergent surgery. Although higher failure-to-rescue rates in the elderly may signify their diminished physiological reserve for surviving critical illness, the wide variation across hospitals also highlights the importance of systems aimed at the early recognition and effective management of major complications in this vulnerable population.