Healio Minute Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014 Edition: Child waist measures urged, diagnostic catheterizations overused, ganglion blockade may treat vasomotor symptoms

What just happened in medicine and why do you care?

Waist circumference measurement identified children at cardiometabolic risk

Healio.com/Pediatrics: Results indicate the need to incorporate waist circumference into routine clinical practice, in addition to traditional measurements of height and weight. Read more.

One-quarter of diagnostic catheterizations in N.Y. found inappropriate

Healio.com/Cardiology: Among the inappropriate procedures, two-thirds of the patients had no previous stress test. Read more.

Stellate ganglion blockade may be alternative to hormone treatment for vasomotor symptoms

Healio.com/Endocrinology: By the fourth and sixth month, vasomotor symptoms were significantly reduced in the group assigned to stellate ganglion blockade (34%) compared with the sham control group (18%), according to data. Read more.

Cat bites pose significant risk of infection, hospitalization

Healio.com/Orthopedics: Researchers studied 193 patients who had cat bites to the hand during a 3-year period. Overall, 30% required hospitalization, of which the mean length of stay was 3.2 days, and 38 patients required debridement and surgical irrigation. Eight patients required multiple procedures. Read more.

Female-to-male transgender patients at higher risk for inconclusive Pap test

Healio.com/Hematology-Oncology: Until additional studies address the issue, clinicians are advised to do everything possible to increase patient comfort during the exam and alert FTM patients that repeat Pap testing may be necessary after an initial, inadequate result. Read more.