Table of Contents

VOL 118 / NO 6 / DECEMBER 2005 / POSTGRADUATE MEDICINE

SYMPOSIUM ON EPILEPSY

Commentary
A NEW ERA IN EPILEPSY CARE
Guidelines address first steps in diagnosis and treatment
David B. Matchar, MD, Jay H. Rosenberg, MD, Shelley Carter, RN, MPH

MANAGEMENT OF EPILEPSY IN ADULTS
1. Diagnosis guidelines
Differentiating between generalized and partial seizures is the critical first step in selecting appropriate treatment.

2. Treatment guidelines
Epilepsy care has evolved considerably in the past decade, with new approaches and a wider array of treatments.
Louis F. Trost III, MD, Richard C. Wender, MD, Cary C. Suter, MD, Jay H. Rosenberg, MD, Diana I. Brixner, PhD, RPh, Ann Marie Von Worley, RN, Margaret J. Gunter, PhD, National Epilepsy Management Panel

HARRISON'S ONLINE UPDATES
Selections of special relevance to our readers

• Deciding on CT scanning in minor head injury
• HIV status: The most important independent predictor of radiographic appearance in tuberculosis
• Increased risk of tuberculosis reinfection after successful treatment

CLINICAL UPDATES

CORONARY REVASCULARIZATION IN MULTIVESSEL DISEASE
Which is better, stents or surgery?
Findings to date on important, practical differences between percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting.
Francis Q. Almeda, MD, R. Jeffrey Snell, MD

USING BETA-BLOCKERS TO CUT PERIOPERATIVE RISK IN CAD
Cardioprotective strategies for noncardiac surgery
Prophylactic use of beta-blockers, illustrated here in four cases, is a relatively simple and low-cost way of preventing perioperative adverse events.
Archana Roy, MD, Vivek Roy, MD

WEB EXCLUSIVE

THE INTRICACIES OF PNEUMOTHORAX
Management depends on accurate classification
Treatment ranges from short-term observation to surgical pleurodesis but must be suited to the type and severity of presentation.
H. Erhan Dincer, MD, Randolph J. Lipchik, MD

CONTINUING FEATURES

EDITOR'S NOTE
Ringing out the old and in the new

PEARLS IN DERMATOLOGY
Koebner's phenomenon
Skin trauma may trigger psoriatic flares
HM1 Frank J. Maccarelli, USN, LCDR Donald W. Shenenberger, MC, USN

PATIENT NOTES
Bipolar disorder
Concise explanation of the two types of this disorder, diagnostic symptoms, and treatment.

Plus Web-exclusive updates:
Spider and varicose veins
Stroke
Suicide prevention

READER SERVICES

Staff, Editorial Board

Archived Issues

Published articles are peer-reviewed and are indexed by the MEDLARS system of the National Library of Medicine. Indexes to past articles are published in June and December issues each year through June 2000; indexes through December 2004 and individual issues thereafter can be accessed on the Web at www.postgradmed.com.

In an effort to provide information that is scientifically accurate and consistent with accepted standards of medical practice, the editors and publisher of Postgraduate Medicine routinely consult sources believed to be reliable. However, readers are encouraged to confirm this information with other sources. For example and in particular, physicians are advised to consult the prescribing information in the manufacturer's package insert before prescribing any drug mentioned.

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