Singap Med J
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Patient satisfaction with the cervical ripening balloon as a method for induction of labour: a randomised controlled trial.
Evidence has shown that balloon catheters are as effective as prostaglandins (PGE) in achieving vaginal delivery within 24 hours of the start of induction of labour (IOL), with lower rates of uterine hyperstimulation, and similar Caesarean section and infection rates. International guidelines recommend mechanical methods as a method of IOL. We designed a prospective randomised controlled study to evaluate patient acceptance of the cervical ripening balloon (CRB) for IOL. ⋯ Patient experience of IOL with CRB or PGE was equally satisfactory, although pain during induction was lower in the CRB group. We found that both methods of IOL are acceptable to women and should be made available to provide more options.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Easy-to-learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation training programme: a randomised controlled trial on laypeople's resuscitation performance.
Simplifying the learning of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is advocated to improve skill acquisition and retention. A simplified CPR training programme focusing on continuous chest compression, with a simple landmark tracing technique, was introduced to laypeople. The study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the simplified CPR training in improving lay rescuers' CPR performance as compared to standard CPR. ⋯ Simplifying the learning of CPR by focusing on continuous chest compressions, with simple hand placement for chest compression, could lead to better acquisition and retention of CPR algorithms, and better quality of chest compressions than standard CPR.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Combining levodopa and virtual reality-based therapy for rehabilitation of the upper limb after acute stroke: pilot study Part II.
This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a combination of levodopa and virtual reality (VR)-based therapy for the enhancement of upper limb recovery following acute stroke. ⋯ Our results suggest that VR-based therapy and pharmacotherapy may be combined for acute stroke rehabilitation. Bedside acquisition of kinematic measurements allows accurate assessment of the quality of limb movement, offering a sensitive clinical tool for quantifying motor recovery during the rehabilitation process after acute stroke.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A randomised controlled trial investigating the analgesic efficacy of transversus abdominis plane block for adult laparoscopic appendicectomy.
We conducted a single-centre, prospective randomised clinical trial to investigate the analgesic efficacy of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in adult patients undergoing laparoscopic appendicectomy. ⋯ TAP block, a regional anaesthetic procedure performed immediately prior to skin incision for laparoscopic appendicectomy, did not significantly improve postoperative analgesia outcomes.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Prompt use of mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: the MECCA study report.
Early use of mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) may improve survival outcomes. Current evidence for such devices uses outcomes from an intention-to-treat (ITT) perspective. We aimed to determine whether early use of mechanical CPR using a LUCAS 2 device results in better outcomes. ⋯ This study showed a survival benefit with LUCAS CPR as compared to manual CPR only, when the device was applied early on-site.