Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jul 2014
Review Comparative StudyPhysician anaesthetists versus non-physician providers of anaesthesia for surgical patients.
With increasing demand for surgery, pressure on healthcare providers to reduce costs, and a predicted shortfall in the number of medically qualified anaesthetists it is important to consider whether non-physician anaesthetists (NPAs), who do not have a medical qualification, are able to provide equivalent anaesthetic services to medically qualified anaesthesia providers. ⋯ No definitive statement can be made about the possible superiority of one type of anaesthesia care over another. The complexity of perioperative care, the low intrinsic rate of complications relating directly to anaesthesia, and the potential confounding effects within the studies reviewed, all of which were non-randomized, make it impossible to provide a definitive answer to the review question.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jul 2014
Review Meta Analysis Comparative StudyEndovenous ablation (radiofrequency and laser) and foam sclerotherapy versus open surgery for great saphenous vein varices.
Minimally invasive techniques to treat great saphenous varicose veins include ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS), radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and endovenous laser therapy (EVLT). Compared with flush saphenofemoral ligation with stripping, also referred to as open surgery or high ligation and stripping (HL/S), proposed benefits include fewer complications, quicker return to work, improved quality of life (QoL) scores, reduced need for general anaesthesia and equivalent recurrence rates. This is an update of a review first published in 2011. ⋯ Currently available clinical trial evidence suggests that UGFS, EVLT and RFA are at least as effective as surgery in the treatment of great saphenous varicose veins. Due to large incompatibilities between trials and different time point measurements for outcomes, the evidence is lacking in robustness. Further randomised trials are needed, which should aim to report and analyse results in a congruent manner to facilitate future meta-analysis.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jul 2014
Review Meta AnalysisTopical lidocaine for neuropathic pain in adults.
Lidocaine is a local anaesthetic that is sometimes used on the skin to treat neuropathic pain. ⋯ This review found no evidence from good quality randomised controlled studies to support the use of topical lidocaine to treat neuropathic pain, although individual studies indicated that it was effective for relief of pain. Clinical experience also supports efficacy in some patients. Several large ongoing studies, of adequate duration, with clinically useful outcomes should provide more robust conclusions about both efficacy and harm.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jul 2014
Review Meta AnalysisWITHDRAWN: Dipyrone for acute primary headaches.
The original authors of this review are unable to update it. The Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Review Group (PaPaS) is seeking new authors to update and split the review into two separate reviews on migraine and tension‐type headache. If you are interested, please contact the Managing Editor of PaPaS (contact details provided under 'Contact Person'). ⋯ This review is out of date although it is correct as of the date of publication. The latest version is available in the ‘Other versions’ tab on The Cochrane Library, and may still be useful to readers. The editorial group responsible for this previously published document have withdrawn it from publication.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jul 2014
Review Meta AnalysisStructural and community-level interventions for increasing condom use to prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Community interventions to promote condom use are considered to be a valuable tool to reduce the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In particular, special emphasis has been placed on implementing such interventions through structural changes, a concept that implies public health actions that aim to improve society's health through modifications in the context wherein health-related risk behavior takes place. This strategy attempts to increase condom use and in turn lower the transmission of HIV and other STIs. ⋯ There is no clear evidence that structural interventions at the community level to increase condom use prevent the transmission of HIV and other STIs. However, this conclusion should be interpreted with caution since our results have wide confidence intervals and the results for prevalence may be affected by attrition bias. In addition, it was not possible to find RCTs in which extended changes to policies were conducted and the results only apply to general populations in developing nations, particularly to Sub-Saharan Africa, a region which in turn is widely diverse.