Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Apr 2013
ReviewAn ethical analysis of proxy and waiver of consent in critical care research.
It is a central principle in medical ethics that vulnerable patients are entitled to a degree of protection that reflects their vulnerability. In critical care research, this protection is often established by means of so-called proxy consent. ⋯ If this is not fulfilled because the research is to be conducted under circumstances where the proxy is unavailable, adequate protection of the patient must be ensured by other means. Thus, the research must be designed specifically to benefit critically ill patients, and the incremental non-therapeutic risk must only comprise a minimal risk.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Apr 2013
Review Meta AnalysisPrevention of post-dural puncture headache in parturients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Post-dural puncture headaches (PDPHs) present an important clinical problem. We assessed methods to decrease accidental dural punctures (ADPs) and interventions to reduce PDPH following ADP. Multiple electronic databases were searched for randomised clinical trials (RCTs) of parturients having labour epidurals, in which the studied intervention could plausibly affect ADP or PDPH, and the incidence of at least one of these was recorded. ⋯ Special Sprotte needles, epidural morphine, and cosyntropin are thus far each supported by a single, albeit good quality trial. Prophylactic blood patches are supported by three trials, but these had flawed methodology. Mostly, trials were of limited quality, and further well-conducted, large studies are needed.