Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2004
Review Meta AnalysisInterventions for preventing post-operative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing heart surgery.
Post-operative atrial fibrillation is a common complication of cardiac surgery and has been associated with increased incidence of other complications including post-operative stroke, increased hospital length of stay and increased cost of hospitalisation. Prevention of atrial fibrillation is a reasonable clinical goal and, consequently, many randomised trials have evaluated the effectiveness of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. We systematically reviewed the literature and prepared meta-analyses to better understand the role and effects of various prophylactic therapies against post-operative atrial fibrillation. ⋯ Intervention is favoured across the three pharmacological interventions studied and the one non-pharmacological intervention, pacing. The length of stay data favoured treatment (-0.66, 95% confidence interval -0.95 to -0.37).
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Low-back pain is a costly illness for which spinal manipulative therapy is commonly recommended. Previous systematic reviews and practice guidelines have reached discordant results on the effectiveness of this therapy for low-back pain. ⋯ There is no evidence that spinal manipulative therapy is superior to other standard treatments for patients with acute or chronic low-back pain.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2004
Review Meta AnalysisProlonged versus short course of indomethacin for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants.
Indomethacin is a prostaglandin inhibitor used to treat patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants. Although indomethacin produces ductal closure in the majority of cases, it is ineffective in up to 40% of patients. Furthermore, the ductus will re-open in up to 35% of infants who initially respond to the drug. A more prolonged course of indomethacin has been studied regarding the potential to achieve higher rates of ductal closure. ⋯ There is a paucity of data on optimal duration of indomethacin therapy for the treatment of PDA, in particular for ELBW premature infants. Future randomized clinical trials should include this high risk population and investigate the premature infants. Future randomized clinical trials should include this high risk population and investigate the possibility of tailoring duration of therapy (prolonged versus short) to individual response in terms of echocardiographic findings and/or prostaglandin levels, focusing on clinically significant outcomes and potential complications associated with either strategy. In addition, factors which may influence treatment effect need to be taken into account when designing such studies.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2004
Review Meta AnalysisPre-operative education for hip or knee replacement.
Hip or knee replacement is a major surgical procedure which can be physically and psychologically stressful for patients. It is hypothesised that education before surgery reduces anxiety and enhances postoperative outcomes. ⋯ There is little evidence to support the use of pre-operative education over and above standard care to improve postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery, especially with respect to pain, functioning and length of hospital stay. There is evidence that preoperative education has a modest beneficial effect on preoperative anxiety. There may also be beneficial effects when preoperative education is tailored according to anxiety, or targeted at those most in need of support (e.g. those who are particularly disabled, or have limited social support structures).
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2004
Review Meta AnalysisPsychosocial and psychological interventions for preventing postpartum depression.
The cause of postpartum depression remains unclear, with extensive research suggesting a multi-factorial aetiology. However, epidemiological studies and meta-analyses of predictive studies have consistently demonstrated the importance of psychosocial and psychological variables. While interventions based on these variables may be effective treatment strategies, theoretically they may also be used in pregnancy and the early postpartum period to prevent postpartum depression. ⋯ Overall psychosocial interventions do not reduce the numbers of women who develop postpartum depression. However, a promising intervention is the provision of intensive, professionally-based postpartum support.