Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2000
ReviewProphylactic synthetic surfactant for preventing morbidity and mortality in preterm infants.
This section is under preparation and will be included in the next issue. ⋯ Prophylactic intratracheal administration of synthetic surfactant to infants judged to be at risk of developing respiratory distress syndrome has been demonstrated to improve clinical outcome. Infants who receive prophylactic synthetic surfactant have a decreased risk of pneumothorax, a decreased risk of pulmonary interstitial emphysema, and a decreased risk of neonatal mortality. Infants who receive prophylactic synthetic surfactant have an increased risk of developing patent ductus arteriosus and pulmonary hemorrhage.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2000
ReviewRisperidone versus other atypical antipsychotic medication for schizophrenia.
Risperidone is one of a number of 'atypical antipsychotics' which are currently being marketed for the treatment of those with schizophrenia, largely on the basis of claims of improved tolerability and effectiveness compared to much cheaper conventional antipsychotics. The efficacy of risperidone has already been compared to conventional drugs, but it remains unclear how risperidone compares with other atypical antipsychotic drugs such as clozapine. ⋯ The equivalence of clozapine and risperidone for treatment resistant schizophrenia cannot yet be assumed and there seems to be little to chose between risperidone and both olanzapine and amisulpiride. The research is limited in many respects, and longer term studies measuring clinically important outcomes, including service use and quality of life are needed to judge the comparative value of the various atypical drugs.
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Acute traumatic brain injury is a major cause of death and disability. Calcium channel blockers have been used in an attempt to prevent cerebral vasospasm after injury, maintain blood flow to the brain and so prevent further damage. ⋯ This systematic review of randomized controlled trials of calcium channel blockers in acute traumatic head injury patients shows that considerable uncertainty remains over their effects. The effect of nimodipine in a subgroup of brain injury patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage shows a beneficial effect, though the increase in adverse reactions suffered by the intervention group may mean that the drug is harmful for some patients.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2000
ReviewOral protein calorie supplementation for children with chronic disease.
Growth failure and poor nutritional status are common features in children with chronic diseases due to reduced appetite, malabsorption and increased nutritional requirements associated with some diseases. The provision of oral protein calorie supplements is one of a number of interventions used to improve nutritional status in these children. The use of these products, which are expensive, may be associated with a number of adverse effects, for example, they may effect development of normal eating behaviour patterns or lead to unpleasant symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea. ⋯ Oral protein calorie supplements are widely used to improve the nutritional status of children with a number of chronic diseases. We have only been able to identify a small number of trials assessing these products in children with cystic fibrosis and have been unable to draw any conclusions based on the limited data extracted from these. We therefore recommend that a series of large, randomised controlled trials are undertaken investigating the use of these products in children with different chronic diseases. Until further data are available, we would suggest that these products are only used with caution.
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To estimate the short-term (up to one year) effects of cyclosporine for rheumatoid arthritis. ⋯ Cyclosporine has an important clinical benefit int the short-term (up to one year) treatment of patients with progressive rheumatoid arthritis.