Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2006
ReviewTechniques for preventing hypotension during spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section.
No intervention has yet been shown to completely avoid maternal hypotension due to spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean section.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2006
Review Meta AnalysisAntibiotics for the prevention of acute and chronic suppurative otitis media in children.
Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common childhood illness. These middle ear infections may be frequent and painful. AOM may be associated with perforation of the tympanic membrane and can progress to chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). ⋯ For children at risk, antibiotics given once or twice daily will reduce the probability of AOM while the child is on treatment. Antibiotics will reduce the number of episodes of AOM per year from around three to around 1.5. We believe that larger absolute benefits are likely in high-risk children. These conclusions were not affected by sensitivity analyses.
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Helium and oxygen mixtures (heliox), have been used sporadically in respiratory medicine for decades. Their use in acute respiratory emergencies such as asthma has been the subject of considerable debate. Despite the lapse of more than 60 years since it was first proposed, the role of heliox in treating patients with severe acute asthma remains unclear. ⋯ The existing evidence does not provide support for the administration of helium-oxygen mixtures to all ED patients with acute asthma. At this time, heliox treatment does not have a role to play in the initial treatment of patients with acute asthma. Nevertheless, new evidence suggests certain beneficial effects in patients with more severe obstruction. Since these conclusions are based upon between-group comparisons and small studies, they should be interpreted with caution.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2006
Review Meta AnalysisAdenosine versus intravenous calcium channel antagonists for the treatment of supraventricular tachycardia in adults.
Patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia frequently present to the Emergency Department. Where vagal manoeuvres fail, the two most commonly used drugs are adenosine and calcium channel antagonists. Both are known to be effective but both have a significant side-effect profile. ⋯ Adenosine and verapamil are both effective treatments for supraventricular tachycardia in the majority of patients. However, given the high incidence of minor but unpleasant side effects in patients treated with adenosine and the potential for hypotension with verapamil, patients should be fully informed of these risks prior to treatment.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2006
Review Meta AnalysisPreventing occupational stress in healthcare workers.
Healthcare workers can suffer from occupational stress which may lead to serious mental and physical health problems. ⋯ Limited evidence is available for the effectiveness of interventions to reduce stress levels in healthcare workers. Larger and better quality trials are needed.