M. Alexander Otto

M. Alexander Otto began his reporting career early in 1999 covering the pharmaceutical industry for a national pharmacists' magazine and freelancing for the Washington Post and other newspapers. He then joined BNA, now part of Bloomberg News, covering health law and the protection of people and animals in medical research. Alex next worked for the McClatchy Company. Based on his work, Alex won a year-long Knight Science Journalism Fellowship to MIT in 2008-2009. He joined the company shortly thereafter. Alex has a newspaper journalism degree from Syracuse (N.Y.) University and a master's degree in medical science -- a physician assistant degree -- from George Washington University. Alex is based in Seattle.

News

VTE prophylaxis within 72 hours seems safe in severe TBI

Author:: M. Alexander Otto

Publish date: February 3, 2016

Early prophylaxis for VTE in patients with traumatic brain injury appears to be safe, although the decision of when to start should still depend on as...

News

Surgeons dinged by incomplete risk adjustment for emergency cases

Author:: M. Alexander Otto

Publish date: February 3, 2016

Perioperatice risk factors affect postoperative morbidity and mortality differently in emergency and nonemergency surgery.

News

Shorter hours, longer breaks for surgery residents not shown to improve patient outcomes

Author:: M. Alexander Otto

Publish date: February 2, 2016

Key clinical point: Patient outcome were not affected by the duty hours of general surgery residents.

News

A better way to relieve rib fracture pain in the ICU

Author:: M. Alexander Otto

Publish date: January 31, 2016

A DIY nerve block for rib fracture pain in the ICU.

News

Level 1 activation reduces LOS, mortality in geriatric trauma

Author:: M. Alexander Otto

Publish date: January 27, 2016

Assigning all elderly trauma patients to Level 1 status linked to less time in the ED and lower mortality.

News

Simple change increases forced-air warming use in trauma

Author:: M. Alexander Otto

Publish date: January 23, 2016

It can take as little as a month to make forced-air warming blankets a routine part of hypothermia care in trauma.

News

Baux cut-points predict geriatric burn outcomes

Author:: M. Alexander Otto

Publish date: January 23, 2016

A decision-making tool for geriatric burn patients should help physicians and families decide the treatment course.

News

Early severe-injury DCL fascial closure more likely with postop hypertonic saline

Author:: M. Alexander Otto

Publish date: January 21, 2016

Key clinical point: Order 30 cc/hour of 3% sodium chloride after bleeding DCL if you want to close patients in about a day. Major finding: The me...

News

Limit antibiotics to 4 days for percutaneous abdominal infection drainage

Author:: M. Alexander Otto

Publish date: January 21, 2016

The jury is still out on antibiotics duration for ICU patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections.

News

ACR: Push back when insurance decisions force TNFi change

Author:: M. Alexander Otto

Publish date: January 18, 2016

Stopping a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor for nonmedical reasons such as increased copays, change of insurance, or loss of job health insurance is as...

News

WDC: Resveratrol improves cerebral perfusion in type 2 diabetes

Author:: M. Alexander Otto

Publish date: January 17, 2016

Resveratrol increased cerebral blood vessel dilation in a small study of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, suggesting a possible role for slowing ...