American journal of therapeutics
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Review Meta Analysis
Intravenous Acetaminophen for Renal Colic in the Emergency Department: Where Do We Stand?
The efficacy, safety, opioid-sparing effects, and cost-benefit analyses of intravenous (IV) acetaminophen (APAP) in treating renal colic remain controversial. ⋯ In this meta-analysis, we found that data on the efficacy, safety, opioid-sparing effects, and cost-benefit analyses of IV APAP for renal colic were weak. Based on the available data, IV APAP should not be considered as an alternative to opioids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the primary management of renal colic in the ED.
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Safety and Efficacy of Dexmedetomidine as a Sedative Agent for Performing Awake Intubation: A Meta-analysis.
To compare the efficacy and safety of dexmedetomidine with other alternative sedative agents used for performing awake intubation. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the effects of dexmedetomidine with other alternative sedative agents used during awake intubation. The biomedical databases PubMed, Science Direct, and the Cochrane Library were searched for relevant RCTs with no restriction on the language of publication. ⋯ Its use was associated with better intubation conditions, preservation of airway patency, and reduced recall of intubation, as compared with the traditional sedative agents. The risk of bradycardia and hypotension was significantly higher with dexmedetomidine as compared with that with other sedatives. However, these were easily managed with atropine and vasoactive agents.
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
A Network Meta-analysis of Outcomes of 7 Surgical Treatments for Distal Radius Fractures.
To determinate the optimal treatment for distal radius fractures (DRF) by comparing the pin-track infection (PTI) rates in patients treated with 7 surgical techniques [bridging external fixation (EF), nonbridging EF, K-wire fixation, plaster fixation, dorsal plating, dorsal and volar plating, and volar plating]. After an exhaustive search of electronic databases for relevant published studies, high-quality randomized controlled trails were selected for the present network meta-analysis based on predefined selection criteria. Statistical analyses of the extracted data were conducted using Stata 12.0 software. ⋯ Importantly, the surface under the cumulative ranking curve values of the surgical interventions revealed that the PTI rates of plaster fixation and of dorsal and volar plating were the lowest, suggesting that these 2 surgical techniques are optimal for DRFs treatment, compared with the other methods. Our results suggest that plaster fixation and dorsal and volar plating are the best surgical treatments for DRFs compared with 5 other most common techniques. Thus, plaster fixation and dorsal and volar plating emerge as the most effective and credible treatments in consideration of PTI rates.
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Sevoflurane is associated with a relatively high incidence of emergence agitation (EA) in children. Prophylactic treatment, including midazolam, dexmedetomidine, ketamine, fentanyl and propofol, has been used to prevent EA. However, the question of which prophylactic treatment should be preferred to decrease the incidence of EA is still unclear. ⋯ One interesting finding of this network meta-analysis is that dexmedetomidine might be the best choice to prevent EA. However, there is weak evidence that dexmedetomidine is better than ketamine for the prevention of sevoflurane-related EA in children. As a result, more studies are needed to compare dexmedetomidine with ketamine.
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Comparison of low molecular weight heparin with unfractionated heparin during percutaneous coronary interventions: a meta-analysis.
To conduct a meta-analysis of the current evidence to evaluate the safety and efficacy of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) as compared to unfractionated heparin (UFH). Several studies have demonstrated the therapeutic advantage of LMWH over UFH in the medical management of acute coronary syndromes. However, evidence comparing the 2 in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) is inconclusive. ⋯ A subgroup analysis of studies using intravenous or intraarterial administration of LMWH, demonstrated them to be safer than UFH with comparable efficacy. LMWH is at least as efficacious and safe as UFH in patients undergoing PCI. Additionally, evidence suggests that LMWH, when used intravenously, is associated with lower bleeding risks when compared with UFH.