Chest
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Review Meta Analysis
Comparison of All-Cause Mortality Following VTE Treatment Between Propensity Score-Adjusted Observational Studies and Matched Randomized Controlled Trials: Meta-Epidemiologic Study.
It is unknown whether propensity score-adjusted observational studies produce results comparable to those of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that address similar VTE treatment issues. ⋯ This systematic comparison across seven VTE treatment topics suggests that propensity score-adjusted observational studies and RCTs often exhibit similar all-cause mortality, although differences in the direction or the magnitude of estimated treatment effects may occasionally occur.
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Review Meta Analysis
Adding a LAMA to ICS/LABA therapy: a meta-analysis of triple therapy in COPD.
Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) combination is commonly prescribed to treat COPD; therefore, we performed a meta-analysis on the effect of adding a long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonist (LAMA) to ICS/LABA combination in COPD. ⋯ Triple therapy provides significant clinical benefit in patients with COPD on ICS/LABA combination. ICS/LABA therapy can be escalated to triple therapy without a real risk to increase cardiovascular SAEs when a LAMA is added to the combination.
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Meta Analysis
Lytic Therapy for Retained Traumatic Hemothorax: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Intrapleural lytic therapy has been established as an important modality of treatment for many pleural disorders, including hemothorax and empyema. Retained traumatic hemothorax is a common and understudied subset of pleural disease. The current standard of care for retained traumatic hemothorax is operative management. The use of lytic therapy for avoidance of operative intervention in the trauma population has not been well established. ⋯ Lytic therapy could reduce the need for operative intervention in trauma patients with retained traumatic hemothorax. RCTs are indicated to definitively evaluate the benefit of this approach.