Medicine
-
Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Continuous adductor canal block provides better performance after total knee arthroplasty compared with the single-shot adductor canal block?: An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Adductor canal block (ACB) has emerged as an attractive alternative for femoral nerve blocks (FNB) as the peripheral nerve block of choice for total knee arthroplasty (TKA), preserving quadriceps motor function while providing analgesia comparable to FNB. However, its optimal application for TKA remains controversial. The objective of this meta-analysis was to compare continuous-injection ACB (CACB) vs single-injection ACB (SACB) for postoperative pain control in patients undergoing TKA. ⋯ This meta-analysis indicated that CACB is superior to SACB in regard to analgesic effect following TKA. However, due to the variation of the included studies, no firm conclusions can be drawn. Further investigations into RCT are required for verification.
-
Several randomized control trials (RCTs) were conducted to compare microwave ablation (MWA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) over the years. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of RFA and MWA for early stage HCC. ⋯ MWA exhibited similar therapeutic effects as RFA in the treatment of early stage HCC. Given the shorter ablation time, MWA can be performed under local anesthesia.
-
This study will systematically synthesize the evidence on the potential association between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and depression disorder (DD). ⋯ INPLASY202090026.
-
Observational Study
Clinical impact of echocardiography-defined pulmonary hypertension on the clinical outcome in patients with multiple myeloma.
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a complication of multiple myeloma (MM); however, the clinical outcomes and prognosis are relatively not well known. We aimed to investigate the risk factors of transthoracic echocardiography-defined PH and its impact on the clinical outcome in patients with MM. A retrospective study was performed using data from the Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital database for patients who underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) within 1 month of the MM diagnosis between January 2007 and December 2017. ⋯ This study reports that the prevalence of TTE-defined PH is higher in patients with MM than in the general population. Moreover, TTE-defined PH and a history of CHF are the independent prognostic factors for all-cause and cardiovascular death in patients with MM. These results highlight the risk of associated cardiovascular disease in patients with MM and emphasize the importance of management strategies that prevent the deterioration of cardiac function.
-
Observational Study
Effects of dexamethasone in traumatic brain injury patients with pericontusional vasogenic edema: A prospective-observational DTI-MRI study.
Cerebral edema is a frequent and serious complication in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. The objective is to study the effect of dexamethasone in patients with brain contusions, and to assess its effect on the vasogenic component of the pericontusional edema. Prospective-observational study to quantify, using magnetic resonance imaging, the volume of the edema before and after 10 days of dexamethasone in patients with brain contusions. ⋯ There was a significant decrease in the ADC value (from 1.78-1.59; P < .05); and a significant increase in the FA value (0.09-0.11; P < .05) in the patients treated with dexamethasone. Using diffusion tensor imaging we have shown in a selected group of TBI patients with vasogenic pericontusional edema, a reduction of edema volume, a decrease in the ADC and an increase in the FA after treatment with dexamethasone. However, we have no data if such results are beneficial in terms of improving functional outcome.