Can J Emerg Med
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Review Meta Analysis
Validity of ultrasonography to diagnosing pneumothorax: a critical appraisal of two meta-analyses.
Can ultrasonography be used in lieu of chest radiography to diagnose pneumothorax? Articles chosen 1. Ding W, Shen Y, Yang J, et al. Diagnosis of pneumothorax by radiography and ultrasonography: a metaanalysis. ⋯ Alrajhi K, Woo MY, Vaillancourt C. Test characteristics of ultrasonography for the detection of pneumothorax: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Chest 2012; 141:703-8
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Review Meta Analysis
Tamsulosin for treatment of unilateral distal ureterolithiasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
The lifetime prevalence of ureterolithiasis is approximately 13% for men and 7% for women in the United States. Tamsulosin, an α-antagonist, has been used as therapy to facilitate the expulsion of lithiasis. Whether it is a good treatment for distal lithiasis remains controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of tamsulosin on the passage of distal ureterolithiasis. ⋯ Tamsulosin increases the rate of spontaneous passage of distal ureterolithiasis (≤ 10 mm).
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Review Meta Analysis
Incidence of postintubation hemodynamic instability associated with emergent intubations performed outside the operating room: a systematic review.
Hemodynamic instability following emergent endotracheal intubation (EETI) is a potentially life-threatening adverse event. The objectives of this systematic literature review were to document the incidence of postintubation hemodynamic instability (PIHI), to determine the definitions for PIHI used in the available literature, and to examine factors associated with PIHI in adult patients who require EETI. ⋯ PIHI was found to occur in 110 cases per 1,000 in-hospital, emergent intubations. However, heterogeneity among the included studies limits the reliability of this summary estimate. Further investigation is warranted.
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Review Meta Analysis
Prehospital triage and direct transport of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction to primary percutaneous coronary intervention centres: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) appears to be superior to in-hospital fibrinolysis for most patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, few hospitals have PCI capability. The optimal prehospital strategy for facilitating rapid coronary reperfusion in STEMI patients is unclear. We sought to determine whether direct transport of adult STEMI patients by emergency medical services to primary PCI centres improves 30-day all-cause mortality when compared with a strategy of transportation to the closest hospital. ⋯ There is insufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of direct transport of patients with STEMI for primary PCI when compared with transportation to the closest hospital.
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Review Meta Analysis
Do beta-blockers reduce short-term mortality following acute myocardial infarction? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains a major cause of death and beta-blockers are known to reduce long-term mortality in post-AMI patients. We sought to determine whether patients receiving beta-blockers acutely (within 72 h) following AMI had a lower mortality rate at 6 weeks than patients receiving placebo. ⋯ Acute intervention with beta-blockers does not result in a statistically significant short-term survival benefit following AMI but may be beneficial for low-risk (Killip class I) patients.