Cochrane Db Syst Rev
-
Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jul 2007
Review Meta AnalysisPimozide for schizophrenia or related psychoses.
Pimozide, formulated in the 1960s, continues to be marketed for the care of people with schizophrenia or related psychoses such as delusional disorder. It has been associated with cardiotoxicity and sudden unexplained deaths. Electrocardiogram monitoring is now required before and during use. ⋯ Although there are shortcomings in the data, there is enough overall consistency over different outcomes and time scales to confirm that pimozide is a drug with similar efficacy to other more commonly used antipsychotic drugs such as chlorpromazine for people with schizophrenia. There are no data to support or refute its use for those with delusional disorder.
-
Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jul 2007
Review Meta AnalysisPharmacological interventions for epilepsy in people with intellectual disabilities.
The development of epilepsy in a person with intellectual disabilities is a common occurrence. In view of the fact that seizures in intellectually disabled people are often complex and refractory to treatment and that antiepileptic medication may have a profound effect upon behaviour in this patient group, it is evident that good quality randomised controlled trials are needed in this population. ⋯ In summary this review broadly supports the use of AEDs to reduce seizure frequency in people with refractory epilepsy and intellectual disability. The evidence suggests that side effects are similar to those in the general population and that behavioural side effects leading to discontinuation are rare but that other effects are under researched.
-
Cyclosporin A has been used for patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, but the therapeutic responses in randomised clinical trials have been heterogeneous. ⋯ We found no evidence supporting or refuting that cyclosporin A may delay death, death or liver transplantation, or progression of primary biliary cirrhosis. Cyclosporin A caused more adverse events than placebo, like renal dysfunction and hypertension. We do not recommend the use of cyclosporin A outside randomised clinical trials.
-
Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jul 2007
Review Meta AnalysisRoutine abdominal drainage for uncomplicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the main method of treatment of symptomatic gallstones. Drains are used after laparoscopic cholecystectomy to prevent abdominal collections. However, drain use may increase infective complications and delay discharge. ⋯ Drain use after elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy reduces early post-operative pain, but increases wound infection rates and delays hospital discharge. We could not find evidence to support the use of drain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
-
Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jul 2007
ReviewWITHDRAWN: Anticoagulants or antiplatelet therapy for non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation and flutter.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) carries a high risk of stroke and other thromboembolic events. Appropriate use of drugs to prevent thromboembolism in patients with AF involves comparing the patient's risk of stroke to the risk of hemorrhage from medication use. ⋯ The evidence strongly supports warfarin in AF for patients at average or greater risk of stroke, although clearly there is a risk of hemorrhage. Although not definitively supported by the evidence, aspirin may prove to be useful for stroke prevention in sub-groups with a low risk of stroke, with less risk of hemorrhage than with warfarin. Further studies are needed of low- molecular weight heparin and aspirin in lower risk patients.