Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Nov 2012
Review Meta AnalysisThe role of dexamethasone in the treatment of bacterial meningitis - a systematic review.
Corticosteroids are used as an adjunct to antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial meningitis in an attempt to attenuate the intrathecal inflammatory response and thereby reduce mortality and morbidity. The purpose of the present paper is to provide a review of clinical studies of corticosteroids in the treatment of bacterial meningitis. ⋯ Taken together, dexamethasone treatment may be associated with a lower mortality in adults and fewer neurological and auditory sequelae in adults and children from high-income countries, in particular in adults suffering from pneumococcal meningitis. In contrast, studies conducted in developing countries have yielded less favourable results.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Nov 2012
Review Meta AnalysisA systematic literature review on first aid provided by laypeople to trauma victims.
Death from trauma is a significant and international problem. Outcome for patients suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrests is significantly improved by early cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The usefulness of first aid given by laypeople in trauma is less well established. ⋯ Due to great heterogeneity in the studies, firm conclusions can not be drawn. However, the results show a potential mortality reduction if first aid is administered to trauma victims. Further research is necessary to establish this.