Singap Med J
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The efficacy and safety of intramuscular injections of methylcobalamin in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain: a randomised controlled trial.
Chronic, nonspecific low back pain is a difficult ailment to treat and poses an economic burden in terms of medical expenses and productivity loss. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of intramuscular metylcobalamin in the treatment of chronic nonspecific low back pain. ⋯ Intramuscular methylcobalamin is both an effective and safe method of treatment for patients with nonspecific low back pain, both singly or in combination with other forms of treatment.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Perioperative administration of gabapentin 1,200 mg day-1 and pregabalin 300 mg day-1 for pain following lumbar laminectomy and discectomy: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.
Gabapentin and pregabalin have been compared in studies conducted on management of neuropathic and postoperative pain. In neuropathic pain studies, the analgesic effects of the two drugs were compared, and pregabalin has been found to be more potent. However, in postoperative pain studies, the effects of each drug were examined separately. This study compared the analgesic effects of pregabalin (300 mg day-1), gabapentin (1,200 mg day-1) and a placebo in managing postoperative pain following laminectomy and discectomy. ⋯ This study showed that both pregabalin 300 mg day-1 and gabapentin 1,200 mg day-1 have more analgesic, anxiolytic and opioid-sparing effects, higher patient satisfaction and are more effective for preventing postoperative shivering than the placebo following lumbar laminectomy and discectomy. The findings revealed that pregabalin 300 mg day-1 had equivalent analgesic, adverse and opioid-sparing effects and patient satisfaction as gabapentin 1,200 mg day-1.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of pre-emptive gabapentin on postoperative pain following lower extremity orthopaedic surgery under spinal anaesthesia.
Gabapentin has demonstrated efficacy in clinical trials as a pre-emptive analgesic and in acute postoperative pain management. However, our experience with the drug is still limited. The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of gabapentin on reduction of postoperative pain in the first 24 hours after internal fixation of the tibia under spinal anaesthesia. ⋯ Pre-emptive use of gabapentin 300 mg orally significantly decreases postoperative pain two hours after surgery.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A randomised controlled study comparing the effects of laryngeal mask airway and endotracheal tube on early postoperative pulmonary functions.
Classic laryngeal mask airway (LMA) has long been used for airway management. General anaesthesia has been associated with a significant decrease in pulmonary functions during the postoperative period. The decrease in pulmonary functions has been found to be greater with the use of a tracheal tube (TT). In this study, we compared the effects on pulmonary functions during the early postoperative period when the airway was managed using an LMA versus a TT. ⋯ The use of LMA instead of TT for airway management during peripheral limb surgeries causes less depression of pulmonary functions during the early postoperative period. The incidence of coughing is also significantly lower.
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We investigated the relationship between frequency of exacerbation and duration and change in functional status, as measured by the BODE index in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. ⋯ Change in the BODE index is a sensitive measure of deteriorating functional status in COPD patients. Duration of exacerbation has greater impact on functional status than frequency of exacerbation episodes.