Cochrane Db Syst Rev
-
Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2008
Review Meta AnalysisInterventions for the treatment of metastatic extradural spinal cord compression in adults.
Metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) is often treated with radiotherapy and corticosteroids. Recent reports suggest benefit from decompressive surgery. ⋯ Patients with stable spines retaining the ability to walk may be treated with radiotherapy. One trial indicates that short course radiotherapy suffices in patients with unfavourable histologies or predicted survival of less than six months. There is some evidence of benefit from decompressive surgery in ambulant patients with poor prognostic factors for radiotherapy; and in non-ambulant patients with a single area of compression, paraplegia < 48 hours, non-radiosensitive tumours and a predicted survival of more than three months. High dose corticosteroids carry a significant risk of serious adverse effects.
-
Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2008
Review Meta AnalysisTarget-controlled infusion versus manually-controlled infusion of propofol for general anaesthesia or sedation in adults.
Continuous infusions of the intravenous anaesthetic propofol are commonly used to induce and maintain sedation and general anaesthesia. Infusion devices can be manually controlled (MCI) where the anaesthetist makes each change to the infusion rate or target-controlled (TCI) where the anaesthetist sets a target blood or effect-site concentration and the computerised infusion device makes the necessary changes to the infusion rate. Randomized trials have explored the differences in quality of anaesthesia, adverse event rate and cost between TCI and MCI but the effectiveness of TCI compared with MCI remains controversial. As TCI is in widespread international use, and potentially may be more expensive without added benefit, a systematic review of randomized controlled trials comparing TCI and MCI is warranted. ⋯ This systematic review does not provide sufficient evidence for us to make firm recommendations about the use of TCI versus MCI in clinical anaesthetic practice.
-
Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2008
Review Meta AnalysisPain relief for the removal of femoral sheath in interventional cardiology adult patients.
There is considerable variation in use of pain relief for managing pain or discomfort of femoral sheath removal. Efficacy of pain relief to promote comfort during this procedure or to reduce the incidence of vascular and procedural complications has not been established. ⋯ Intravenous pain regimens and levobupivacaine may have greater efficacy when compared to control for the management of pain related to femoral sheath removal. However, a definitive study is still required because the clinical difference is small. There is no evidence to support the use of subcutaneous lignocaine for the relief of femoral sheath removal related pain. There is insufficient evidence to determine if pain relief influences the rate of complications.
-
Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2008
Review Meta AnalysisCulture-specific programs for children and adults from minority groups who have asthma.
People with asthma who come from minority groups have poorer asthma outcomes and more asthma related visits to Emergency Departments (ED). Various programmes are used to educate and empower people with asthma and these have previously been shown to improve certain asthma outcomes. Models of care for chronic diseases in minority groups usually include a focus of the cultural context of the individual and not just the symptoms of the disease. Therefore, questions about whether culturally specific asthma education programmes for people from minority groups are effective at improving asthma outcomes, are feasible and are cost-effective need to be answered. ⋯ Culture-specific programmes for adults and children from minority groups with asthma, have been found to be more effective than generic programmes in improving some (Quality of Life and asthma knowledge) but not all asthma outcomes. This evidence is limited by the small number of included studies and the lack of reported outcomes. Further trials are required to answer this question conclusively.
-
Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2008
Review Meta AnalysisIbuprofen for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm and/or low birth weight infants.
A patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) complicates the clinical course of preterm infants, increasing their risks of developing chronic lung disease (CLD), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). Indomethacin is used as standard therapy to close a PDA, but is associated with reduced blood flow to the brain, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Ibuprofen, another cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, may be as effective as indomethacin, with fewer side effects. ⋯ No statistically significant difference in the effectiveness of ibuprofen compared to indomethacin in closing a PDA was found. Ibuprofen compared with indomethacin reduces the risk of oliguria and is associated with lower serum creatinine levels following treatment. Pulmonary hypertension has been observed in three infants after prophylactic use of ibuprofen and one infant receiving ibuprofen for treatment in this review developed pulmonary hypertension. One additional case of pulmonary hypertension following treatment with ibuprofen to close a PDA was identified from the literature. The available data support the use of either drug for the treatment of a PDA. As both drugs are equally effective in closing a PDA, the clinician needs to weigh the potential side effects of one drug vs. the other when making a decision which drug to use. The most urgent research question to be answered is whether ibuprofen compared to indomethacin confers an improved rate of intact survival (survival without impairment) at 18 months corrected age and at the age of school entry.