Articles: treatment.
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Review Meta Analysis
Efficacy of 8 Different Drug Treatments for Patients With Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Network Meta-analysis.
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is commonly seen in older persons and negatively influences their daily life. Although some research on the efficacy of TN drugs has been conducted, the optimal choice still remains uncertain. Therefore, this network meta-analysis (NMA) evaluated the efficacy and performance of 8 drugs with respect to TN. ⋯ Among the 8 drugs investigated, all exhibited a capacity to alleviate TN more than the placebo except for pimozide and proparacaine. Moreover, LDC, BTX-A, and CBZ stood out for their high efficacy and could be recommended as the primary choice of treatment for TN.
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Review Meta Analysis
Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Outcomes of Patients With Subsegmental Pulmonary Embolism With and Without Anticoagulation Treatment.
This systematic review addresses the controversy over the decision to anticoagulate patients with subsegmental pulmonary embolism (SSPE). ⋯ This systematic review highlights the lack of any clinical trial to make a clear inference about harm or benefit of anticoagulation for SSPE. Comparison of pooled data from uncontrolled outcome studies shows no increase in VTE recurrence or death rates for patients who were not anticoagulated. These data suggest clinical equipoise for decision to anticoagulate or not anticoagulate patients with SSPE. However, this inference is limited by small numbers, imprecision, and the lack of a controlled clinical trial.
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Meta Analysis
Transarterial Onyx Embolization of Intracranial Dural Fistulas: A Prospective Cohort, Systematic Review, and Meta-Analysis.
Onyx is important embolic material in the endovascular treatment of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF). However, its impact on DAVF occlusion rates, morbidity, mortality, and complication rates is not fully examined. ⋯ This meta-analysis suggests that transarterial embolization with Onyx is a safe treatment modality for DAVFs. Although Onyx showed a low recurrence rate at midterm, the long-term risk is poorly addressed in our study and should warrant a longer follow-up.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 2018
Meta AnalysisEmpirical metronidazole for patients with severe bacterial infection: protocol for a systematic review.
Anaerobic bacteria are believed to be common pathogens in severe infections. Yet, they are difficult to culture and consequently often unrecognised in clinical infections. Metronidazole is often used empirically for potential anaerobic infections, as the resistance to metronidazole is low. However, disadvantages of metronidazole use exist, including drug interactions, side effects and economical expenses. Currently, the balance between the benefits and harms of empirical metronidazole for severe bacterial infections is unknown. We aim to assess patient-important benefits and harms of empirical metronidazole vs. placebo or no treatment in adult patients with severe bacterial infection of any origin in a systematic review of randomised clinical trials with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis. ⋯ Ethical approval is not needed, as the outlined review exclusively will include previously published data. We aim to publish in an international, peer-reviewed journal.
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Critical care medicine · May 2018
Meta AnalysisEfficacy and Safety of Procalcitonin Guidance in Patients With Suspected or Confirmed Sepsis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Sepsis is a leading cause of mortality in noncoronary ICUs. Although immediate start of antibiotics reduces sepsis-related mortality, antibiotics are often administered for too long, leading to suboptimal treatment and, importantly, contributes to antimicrobial resistance. Prior literature suggests that procalcitonin correlates with infection and thus may help to guide the decision on when to stop antibiotic treatment. This study was conducted as part of a regulatory submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and aimed to summarize the evidence of procalcitonin guidance on efficacy and safety outcomes in adult patients with sepsis. ⋯ In adult patients with suspected or confirmed sepsis, procalcitonin guidance reduces antibiotics duration with no observed adverse effects on patient outcomes.