British journal of anaesthesia
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Review
Causal inference in perioperative medicine observational research: part 1, a graphical introduction.
Graphical models have emerged as a tool to map out the interplay between multiple measured and unmeasured variables, and can help strengthen the case for a causal association between exposures and outcomes in observational studies. In Part 1 of this methods series, we will introduce the reader to graphical models for causal inference in perioperative medicine, and set the framework for Part 2 of the series involving advanced methods for causal inference.
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Review Meta Analysis
Intrathecal hydrophilic opioids for abdominal surgery: a meta-analysis, meta-regression, and trial sequential analysis.
Intrathecal hydrophilic opioids show an IV morphine sparing effect and likely dose-related respiratory depression.
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Although RCTs represent the gold standard in clinical research, most clinical questions cannot be answered using this technique, because of ethical considerations, time, and cost. The goal of observational research in clinical medicine is to gain insight into the relationship between a clinical exposure and patient outcome, in the absence of evidence from RCTs. Observational research offers additional benefit when compared with data from RCTs: the conclusions are often more generalisable to a heterogenous population, which may be of greater value to everyday clinical practice. In Part 2 of this methods series, we will introduce the reader to several advanced methods for supporting the case for causality between an exposure and outcome, including: mediation analysis, natural experiments, and joint effects methods.
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Review Meta Analysis
Prevalence and intensity of persistent post-surgical pain following breast cancer surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.
The prevalence and intensity of persistent post-surgical pain (PPSP) after breast cancer surgery are uncertain. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to further elucidate this issue. ⋯ Moderate-quality evidence suggests that almost half of all women undergoing breast cancer surgery develop persistent post-surgical pain, and about one in four develop moderate-to-severe persistent post-surgical pain; the higher prevalence was associated with axillary lymph node dissection. Future studies should explore whether nerve sparing for axillary procedures reduces persistent post-surgical pain after breast cancer surgery.
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Review Meta Analysis
Prevalence and intensity of persistent post-surgical pain following breast cancer surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.
The prevalence and intensity of persistent post-surgical pain (PPSP) after breast cancer surgery are uncertain. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to further elucidate this issue. ⋯ Moderate-quality evidence suggests that almost half of all women undergoing breast cancer surgery develop persistent post-surgical pain, and about one in four develop moderate-to-severe persistent post-surgical pain; the higher prevalence was associated with axillary lymph node dissection. Future studies should explore whether nerve sparing for axillary procedures reduces persistent post-surgical pain after breast cancer surgery.