Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2009
ReviewNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain in women with endometriosis.
Endometriosis is a common gynaecological condition that affects women and can lead to painful symptoms and infertility. It greatly affects women's quality of life, impacting on their careers, everyday activities, sexual and non-sexual relationships, and fertility. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most commonly used first-line treatment for endometriosis. ⋯ There is inconclusive evidence to show whether or not NSAIDs (naproxen) are effective in managing pain caused by endometriosis. There is no evidence on whether any individual NSAID is more effective than another. As shown in other Cochrane reviews, women using NSAIDs need to be aware of the possibility that these drugs may cause unintended effects.
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The optimal treatment for patients with suspected biliary dyskinesia is controversial. Some studies found that cholecystectomy produced symptomatic improvement in patients with gallbladder dyskinesia (diagnosed by low gallbladder ejection fraction) while others found no significant benefit. Some studies have shown that gallbladder ejection fraction can discriminate patients who would benefit from cholecystectomy. Other studies have not confirmed this. ⋯ The evidence for the benefits and harms of cholecystectomy in gallbladder dyskinesia from randomised clinical trials is based on a single small trial at risk of bias. Further randomised clinical trials with improved bias control are necessary to confirm or reject the promising results.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2009
Review Meta AnalysisAtrial natriuretic peptide for preventing and treating acute kidney injury.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in hospitalised patients and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite recent advances, outcomes have not substantially changed in the last four decades. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) has shown promise in animal studies, however randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have shown inconsistent clinical benefits. ⋯ ANP may be associated with improved outcomes when used in low doses for preventing AKI and in managing postsurgery AKI and should be further explored in these two settings. There were no significant adverse events in the prevention studies, however in the high dose ANP treatment studies there were significant increases hypotension and arrhythmias.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2009
ReviewOscillating devices for airway clearance in people with cystic fibrosis.
Chest physiotherapy is widely prescribed to assist the clearance of airway secretions in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Oscillating devices generate intra- or extra-thoracic oscillations orally or external to the chest wall. Internally they create variable resistances within the airways, generating controlled oscillating positive pressure which mobilises mucus. Extra-thoracic oscillations are generated by forces outside the respiratory system, e.g. high frequency chest wall oscillation. ⋯ There was no clear evidence that oscillation was a more or less effective intervention overall than other forms of physiotherapy. More adequately-powered long-term randomised controlled trials are needed.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2009
ReviewInterprofessional collaboration: effects of practice-based interventions on professional practice and healthcare outcomes.
Poor interprofessional collaboration (IPC) can negatively affect the delivery of health services and patient care. Interventions that address IPC problems have the potential to improve professional practice and healthcare outcomes. ⋯ In this updated review, we found five studies (four new studies) that met the inclusion criteria. The review suggests that practice-based IPC interventions can improve healthcare processes and outcomes, but due to the limitations in terms of the small number of studies, sample sizes, problems with conceptualising and measuring collaboration, and heterogeneity of interventions and settings, it is difficult to draw generalisable inferences about the key elements of IPC and its effectiveness. More rigorous, cluster randomised studies with an explicit focus on IPC and its measurement, are needed to provide better evidence of the impact of practice-based IPC interventions on professional practice and healthcare outcomes. These studies should include qualitative methods to provide insight into how the interventions affect collaboration and how improved collaboration contributes to changes in outcomes.