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summary
1
To explore the future contradiction of highly-cited research Ioannidis investigated just under 50 of the most significant and highly regarded medical research findings from 1990 to 2003. Of 45 that concluded their interventions were effective, 34 had had their hypothesis retested. Of these 34, over 40% (14) were subsequently shown to be incorrect or exaggerated. Forty percent of some of the most highly regarded, practice-changing medical evidence from the 20th century subsequently disproven!
Ioannidis JP. Contradicted and initially stronger effects in highly cited clinical research. JAMA. 2005 Jul 13;294(2):218-28.
  Daniel Jolley
summary
1
Ioannidis demonstrated that 80% of non-randomized studies were wrong, and among randomized controlled studies 25% were incorrect. Even large, multicenter, randomized clinical trials were predictably wrong in 10% of studies.
Ioannidis JP. Why most published research findings are false. PLoS Med. 2005 Aug 1; 2 (8): e124e124.
  Daniel Jolley
pearl
1
Rotating through 180^o assists intubation with a double lumen tube while reducing sore throat and vocal cord injuries.
Seo JH, Kwon TK, Jeon Y et al. Comparison of techniques for double-lumen endobronchial intubation: 90{degrees} or 180{degrees} rotation during advancement through the glottis. Br J Anaesth. 2013 Nov 1;111(5):812-7.
  Daniel Jolley
pearl
1
Use of a surgical safety checklist is associated with a reduction in all complications, and specifically with wound infection and blood loss.
Gillespie BM, Chaboyer W, Thalib L et al. Effect of Using a Safety Checklist on Patient Complications after Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Anesthesiology. 2014 Jun 1;120(6):1380-9.
  Daniel Jolley
pearl
1
Post-op nausea & vomiting incidence is related to duration of nitrous oxide exposure, but is clinically insignificant at under 1 hour exposure.
Peyton PJ Wu CY. Nitrous Oxide-related Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Depends on Duration of Exposure. Anesthesiology. 2014 May 1;120(5):1137-45.
  Daniel Jolley
pearl
1
Drug treatment for pulmonary hypertension improved 6-minute walk distance and reduced hospitalisation. Combination is more effective than monotherapy.
Coeytaux RR, Schmit KM, Kraft BD et al. Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Drug Therapy for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Chest. 2014 May 1; 145 (5): 1055-1063.
  Daniel Jolley
pearl
2
12-16h of post-op supplemental O₂ (80%) does not reduce wound infection or complication in the morbidly obese undergoing gastric bypass.
Wadhwa A, Kabon B, Fleischmann E et al. Supplemental postoperative oxygen does not reduce surgical site infection and major healing-related complications from bariatric surgery in morbidly obese patients: a randomized, blinded trial. Anesth. Analg. 2014 Aug 1;119(2):357-65.
  Daniel Jolley
pearl
1
Addition of paracetamol or NSAIDs significantly reduces post-operative opioid consumption in children, although not demonstrably opioid side effects.
Wong I, St C, Walker SM. Opioid-sparing effects of perioperative paracetamol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in children. Paediatr Anaesth. 2013 Jun 1; 23 (6): 475-95.
  Daniel Jolley
pearl
1
Perineural dexamethasone may improve post-op analgesia for sciatic blocks but not for ankle blocks when compared with systemic dexamethasone.
Fredrickson MJ, Danesh-Clough TK, White R. Adjuvant dexamethasone for bupivacaine sciatic and ankle blocks: results from 2 randomized placebo-controlled trials. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2013 Jul 1; 38 (4): 300-7.
  Daniel Jolley
pearl
1
Intraoperative nitrous oxide use does not improve post-operative analgesia or reduce opioid consumption.
Duma A, Helsten D, Brown F et al. The Effect of Nitrous Oxide Anesthesia on Early Postoperative Opioid Consumption and Pain. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2014 Jan 1; 39 (1): 31-6.
  Daniel Jolley