Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2002
Review Meta AnalysisAnticoagulants versus antiplatelet agents for acute ischaemic stroke.
Antiplatelet agents produce a small, but worthwhile benefit in long-term functional outcome and survival, and have become standard treatment for acute ischaemic stroke. Anticoagulants are often used as an alternative treatment, despite evidence that they are ineffective in producing long-term benefits. We wanted to review trials which have directly compared anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents, to assess whether any anticoagulant regimen offers net advantages over antiplatelet agents, overall or in some particular category of patients (e.g. patients with atrial fibrillation). ⋯ Anticoagulants offered no net advantages over antiplatelet agents in acute ischaemic stroke. The combination of low-dose UFH and aspirin appeared in a subgroup analysis to be associated with net benefits compared with aspirin alone, and this merits further research.
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Worldwide, carbamazepine and phenytoin are commonly used antiepileptic drugs. This review summarizes evidence from randomized controlled trials in which these two drugs have been compared. ⋯ We have not found evidence that a significant difference exists between carbamazepine and phenytoin for the outcomes examined in this review. Confidence intervals are wide and the possibility of important differences existing has not been excluded.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2002
Review Meta AnalysisDopamine for prevention of morbidity and mortality in term newborn infants with suspected perinatal asphyxia.
Perinatal asphyxia remains an important condition with significant mortality and long-term morbidity. Multisystem involvement including hypotension and low cardiac output is common in infants with perinatal asphyxia. Dopamine is commonly used for infants with hypotension of any etiology, with the goal of improving cardiac output and preventing its detrimental consequences. ⋯ There is currently insufficient evidence from randomised controlled trials that the use of dopamine in term infants with suspected perinatal asphyxia improves mortality or long-term neurodevelopmental outcome. The question of whether dopamine improves outcome for term infants with suspected perinatal asphyxia has not been answered. Further research is required to determine whether or not the use of dopamine improves mortality and long-term morbidity for these infants and if so, issues such as which infants, at what dose and with what co-interventions should be addressed.
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Ultrasound is used in the treatment of a wide variety of musculoskeletal disorders. ⋯ The extent and quality of the available evidence for the effects of ultrasound therapy for acute ankle sprains is limited. The results of four placebo-controlled trials do not support the use of ultrasound in the treatment of ankle sprains. The magnitude of most reported treatment effects appeared to be small, and may be of limited clinical importance. As yet, only few trials are available and no conclusions can be made regarding an optimal and adequate dosage schedule for ultrasound therapy, and whether such a schedule would improve on the reported effectiveness of ultrasound for ankle sprains.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2002
ReviewPosture and fluids for preventing post-dural puncture headache.
Potentially disabling postural headache occurs after dural puncture in 1-70% of patients. It has been suggested that such headaches may be less common if patients routinely have a period of bed rest or receive supplementary fluids after the procedure. ⋯ There is no good evidence from randomised trials to suggest that routine bed rest after dural puncture is beneficial. The role of fluid supplementation in the prevention of post-dural puncture headache remains uncertain.