British journal of anaesthesia
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Editorial Comment
Meta-analyses of clinical trials: are we getting lemonade from lemons?
Meta-analyses guide planning of clinical trials and clinical care, but are subject to all the methodologic problems and potential biases present in the underlying trials. Furthermore, publication bias often contributes to overestimated benefit in meta-analyses of small trials, which are often 'corrected' by subsequent large trials. Meta-analyses are no substitute for large robust trials.
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Review Meta Analysis
Prone positioning for non-intubated spontaneously breathing patients with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Prone positioning improves oxygenation & reduces mortality among non-intubated COVID positive patients, but does not appear to reduce the intubation rate.
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Seasonal trends in patient outcomes are an under-researched area in perioperative care. This systematic review evaluates the published literature on seasonal variation in surgical outcomes worldwide. ⋯ PROSPERO CRD42019137214.
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The use of motor vehicles to initiate mass casualty incidents is increasing in frequency and such events are called intentional vehicular assaults. Perpetrators are inspired by a range of terrorist ideologies or have extremist views, criminal intent, or mental health issues. Assaults using a motor vehicle as the principal weapon of attack are easy to launch and require little to no forward planning. ⋯ With the increasing frequency of intentional vehicular assaults, anaesthesiologists in various settings may be involved in caring for victims and should be engaged in preparing for them. This narrative review examines the literature on vehicle assaults committed around the world and provides an overview of the unique injury patterns and considerations for the pre-hospital, perioperative, and critical care management of victims of these mass casualty events. The article discusses planning, education, and training in an attempt to reduce the mortality and morbidity of intentional vehicular assaults.