Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jun 2011
Review Meta AnalysisInhaled nitric oxide for acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute lung injury in adults and children: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.
Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, defined as acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome, are critical conditions associated with frequent mortality and morbidity in all ages. Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) has been used to improve oxygenation, but its role remains controversial. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs). We searched CENTRAL, Medline, Embase, International Web of Science, LILACS, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and CINHAL (up to January 31, 2010). Additionally, we hand-searched reference lists, contacted authors and experts, and searched registers of ongoing trials. Two reviewers independently selected all parallel group RCTs comparing iNO with placebo or no intervention and extracted data related to study methods, interventions, outcomes, bias risk, and adverse events. All trials, irrespective of blinding or language status were included. Retrieved trials were evaluated with Cochrane methodology. Disagreements were resolved by discussion. Our primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality. We performed subgroup and sensitivity analyses to assess the effect of iNO in adults and children and on various clinical and physiological outcomes. We assessed the risk of bias through assessment of trial methodological components. We assessed the risk of random error by applying trial sequential analysis. ⋯ iNO cannot be recommended for patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. iNO results in a transient improvement in oxygenation but does not reduce mortality and may be harmful.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jun 2011
Review Meta AnalysisA systematic review and meta-analysis on the use of preemptive hemodynamic intervention to improve postoperative outcomes in moderate and high-risk surgical patients.
Complications from major surgery are undesirable, common, and potentially avoidable. The long-term consequences of short-term surgical complications have recently been recognized to have a profound influence on longevity and quality of life in survivors. In the past 30 years, there have been a number of studies conducted attempting to reduce surgical mortality and morbidity by deliberately and preemptively manipulating perioperative hemodynamics. Early studies had a high control-group mortality rate and were criticized for this as being unrepresentative of current practice and raised opposition to its implementation as routine care. We performed this review to update this body of literature and to examine the effect of changes in current practice and quality of care to see whether the conclusions from previous quantitative analyses of this field remain valid. ⋯ The use of a preemptive strategy of hemodynamic monitoring and coupled therapy reduces surgical mortality and morbidity.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jun 2011
ReviewMaintaining tissue perfusion in high-risk surgical patients: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials.
Surgical patients with limited organic reserve are considered high-risk patients and have an increased perioperative mortality. For this reason, they need a more rigorous perioperative protocol of hemodynamic control to prevent tissue hypoperfusion. In this study, we systematically reviewed the randomized controlled clinical trials that used a hemodynamic protocol to maintain adequate tissue perfusion in the high-risk surgical patient. ⋯ In high-risk surgical patients, the use of a hemodynamic protocol to maintain tissue perfusion decreased mortality and postoperative organ failure. Monitoring cardiac output calculating oxygen transport and consumption helped to guide therapy. Additional randomized controlled clinical studies are necessary to analyze the value of monitoring mixed or central venous oxygen saturation and lactate in high-risk surgical patients.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jun 2011
ReviewLocal anesthetic blockade of peripheral nerves for treatment of neuralgias: systematic analysis.
Nerve blocks with local anesthetics have been used in the diagnosis and treatment of neuralgias. Usually these blocks were administered in combination with corticosteroids and other drugs that can be effective by themselves. Although lasting benefits from nerve blocks in neuralgias have long been described, definitive evidence is lacking. We had the following objectives in this systematic review: to analyze the evidence behind the practice of peripheral nerve blockade with local anesthetics in patients with neuralgias and radicular pain syndromes; to assess the duration of pain relief after conduction block resolution; and to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment of these syndromes with a series of blocks. ⋯ Because all reviewed articles were only single case reports or case series, no reliable conclusion could be drawn concerning the effectiveness of nerve blocks with local anesthetics in neuralgia. However, 2 features of the analyzed reports-the large magnitude of the effect and the high consistency of the reported outcome-indicate that future research efforts are warranted.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jun 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialThe efficacy of a novel approach to transversus abdominis plane block for postoperative analgesia after colorectal surgery.
The analgesic efficacy of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has been established for patients undergoing abdominal surgery. We evaluated the efficacy of a novel approach to TAP block for postoperative analgesia after colorectal surgery. ⋯ This new approach to the TAP block provides effective postoperative analgesia after colorectal surgery.