Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Little is known about the effectiveness of ambulatory domicilary oxygen therapy. At present ambulatory oxygen in the UK is provided with small oxygen cylinders but in other countries such as the USA and Italy, liquid oxygen systems with higher oxygen carrying capacity are widely used. Both these systems are used without adequate evidence of their effectiveness. ⋯ Evidence available to date does not allow any firm conclusions to be drawn concerning the effectiveness of ambulatory domicilary oxygen therapy in patients with COPD. Further studies are required in order to understand the role of ambulatory oxygen in the management of patients with COPD on long-term oxygen therapy. These studies should separate patients who desaturate from those who do not desaturate.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2002
Review Meta AnalysisInterventions for treating tuberculous pericarditis.
Tuberculous pericarditis - tuberculosis infection of the pericardial membrane (pericardium) covering the heart - is becoming more common. The infection can result in fluid around the heart or fibrosis of the pericardium, which can be fatal. ⋯ Steroids could have important clinical benefits, but the trials published to date are too small to demonstrate an effect. This requires large placebo controlled trials. Subgroup analysis could explore whether effusion or fibrosis modify the effects. Therapeutic pericardiocentesis under local anaesthesia and pericardiectomy also require further evaluation.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2002
Review Meta AnalysisInterventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment.
Treatment of cancer is increasingly more effective but is associated with short and long-term side effects. Oral side effects remain a major source of illness despite the use of a variety of agents to prevent and treat them. One of these side effects is oral candidiasis. ⋯ There is strong evidence, from randomised controlled trials, that drugs absorbed or partially absorbed from the GI tract prevent oral candidiasis in patient receiving treatment for cancer. There is also evidence that these drugs are significantly better at preventing oral candidiasis than drugs not absorbed from the GI.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2002
ReviewSurgical versus conservative treatment for acute injuries of the lateral ligament complex of the ankle in adults.
Inversion injuries, primarily sprains, of the ankle are one of the most commonly treated injuries. The three main treatment modalities for acute lateral ankle ligament injuries are immobilisation with plaster cast or splint, 'functional treatment' comprising early mobilisation and the use of an external support (e.g. ankle brace or taping), and surgical repair or reconstruction. ⋯ There is insufficient evidence available from randomised controlled trials to determine the relative effectiveness of surgical and conservative treatment for acute injuries of the lateral ligament complex of the ankle. Sufficiently powered, good quality and adequately reported randomised trials of primary surgical repair versus the best available conservative treatment for well-defined injuries are required.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2002
ReviewTranspyloric versus gastric tube feeding for preterm infants.
Enteral feeding tubes for preterm infants may be placed in the stomach (gastric tube feeding) or in the upper small bowel (transpyloric tube feeding). There are potential advantages and disadvantages to both routes. ⋯ We did not find any evidence of benefit, but did find evidence of adverse effects, of transpyloric feeding in preterm infants. Feeding via the transpyloric route cannot be recommended for preterm infants.