Systematic reviews
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Self-management interventions have been proposed as effective strategies to improve health and well-being and promote optimal coping in cancer survivors. Several reviews have shown benefits of self-management interventions on a variety of patient-reported outcomes. Effective self-management strategies in other chronic disease populations are typically based on theories of behavior change, but the extent of theoretical underpinnings in cancer self-management programs has not been evaluated to date. Our aim is to expand on previous reviews by evaluating the effectiveness of self-management interventions in cancer survivors as well as the theoretical components of such interventions. ⋯ PROSPERO CRD42018085300.
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A patent microvascular anastomosis is of paramount importance in free tissue transfer. Anastomotic coupler devices provide an alternative to technically demanding hand-sewn venous anastomosis. Various advantages of these devices have been discussed but previous systematic reviews had methodological flaws or did not perform a meta-analysis. This review aims to evaluate the quality of the evidence and quantify the efficacy and safety of venous couplers compared to hand-sewn anastomosis. ⋯ PROSPERO CRD42018110111.
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
The effect of carbetocin compared to misoprostol in management of the third stage of labor and prevention of postpartum hemorrhage: a systematic review.
Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and the amount of blood loss are directly related to management of the third stage of labor. No previous report has compared the effects of carbetocin to those of misoprostol. The aim of this systematic review was to compare the effects of carbetocin to those of misoprostol for management of the third stage of labor and for the prevention of PPH. ⋯ Although this review showed that carbetocin is effective for decreasing PPH, blood loss, the length of the third stage of labor, and the need for additional uterotonics, this conclusion should be considered with caution. Because assessment of PPH is a subjective issue and it is uncertain whether outcomes were assessed blindly in respect to treatment. We recommend future research to verify our findings. Also clinicians may like to consider use of carbetocin for women with low risk for PPH.
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Surgical site infection describes an infectious complication of surgical wounds. This single complication is thought to occur in close to 20% of surgical cases. This complication has been described in all kinds of surgical procedure including minimally invasive procedures. Wound irrigation is frequently used as a means of reducing surgical site infection. However, there is lack of solid evidence to support routine wound irrigation. The aim of this review is to provide evidence for the efficacy of routine wound irrigation with normal saline in preventing surgical site infection. The rate of surgical site infection in cases with and without wound irrigation will be analyzed. ⋯ PROSPERO: CRD42018082287.
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Meta Analysis
Survival of patients with chronic heart failure in the community: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.
Heart failure (HF) is a common condition affecting more than 10% of those over 70 years of age. Reliable estimates of survival following a diagnosis of HF are important to guide management and facilitate advanced care planning. Most existing research has focused on survival rates for patients admitted to hospital with acute HF. However, the majority of patients with HF are diagnosed in the outpatient setting and can have periods of sustained symptom stability in the chronic phase of their illness. There has not been a systematic review of the literature to determine the prognosis of patients with chronic HF in the community. ⋯ PROSPERO 2017 CRD42017075680.