Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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The nature and indications for thyroid surgery vary and a perceived risk of haemorrhage post-surgery is one reason why wound drains are frequently inserted. However when a significant bleed occurs, wound drains may become blocked and the drain does not obviate the need for surgery or meticulous haemostasis. The evidence in support of the use of drains post-thyroid surgery is unclear therefore and a systematic review of the best available evidence was undertaken. ⋯ There is no clear evidence that using drains in patients undergoing thyroid operations significantly improves patient outcomes and drains may be associated with an increased length of hospital stay. The existing evidence is from trials involving patients having goitres without mediastinal extension, normal coagulation indices and the operation not involving any lateral neck dissection for lymphadenectomy.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2007
Review Meta AnalysisMobilisation strategies after hip fracture surgery in adults.
Hip fracture mainly occurs in older people. Mobilisation strategies such as gait retraining and exercises are used at various stages of rehabilitation after surgery. ⋯ There is insufficient evidence from randomised trials to establish the effectiveness of the various mobilisation strategies used in rehabilitation after hip fracture surgery. Further research is required to establish the possible benefits of the additional provision of interventions, including intensive supervised exercises, primarily aimed at enhancing mobility.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2007
ReviewIncentive spirometry for preventing pulmonary complications after coronary artery bypass graft.
Following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), the main causes of postoperative morbidity and mortality are postoperative pulmonary complications, respiratory dysfunction and arterial hypoxemia. Incentive spirometry is a treatment technique that uses a mechanical device (an incentive spirometer) to reduce such pulmonary complications during postoperative care. ⋯ Individual small trials suggest that there is no evidence of benefit from incentive spirometry in reducing pulmonary complications and in decreasing the negative effects on pulmonary function in patients undergoing CABG. In view of the modest number of patients studied, methodological shortcomings and poor reporting of the included trials, these results should be interpreted cautiously. An appropriately powered trial of high methodological rigour is needed to determine those patients who may derive benefit from incentive spirometry following CABG.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2007
Review Meta AnalysisSurfactant for meconium aspiration syndrome in full term/near term infants.
Surfactant replacement therapy has been proven beneficial in the prevention and treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). The deficiency of surfactant or surfactant dysfunction may contribute to respiratory failure in a broader group of disorders, including meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). ⋯ In infants with MAS, surfactant administration may reduce the severity of respiratory illness and decrease the number of infants with progressive respiratory failure requiring support with ECMO. The relative efficacy of surfactant therapy compared to, or in conjunction with, other approaches to treatment including inhaled nitric oxide, liquid ventilation, surfactant lavage and high frequency ventilation remains to be tested.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2007
ReviewAntifibrinolytic amino acids for acquired coagulation disorders in patients with liver disease.
Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is one of the most frequent causes of morbidity and mortality in the course of liver cirrhosis. Patients with liver disease frequently have haemostatic abnormalities, which include accelerated fibrinolysis. Several primary treatments are used for upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with liver diseases. Supplementary interventions are often used as well. One of them could be antifibrinolytic amino acids administration. ⋯ We were unable to identify randomised clinical trials on the safety and efficacy of antifibrinolytic amino acids for upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with liver disease (acute or chronic) plus acquired coagulation disorders. The effects of antifibrinolytic amino acids has to be tested in randomised clinical trials.