Medwave
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Meta Analysis
[Is intravenous immunoglobulin effective in toxic epidermal necrolysis and Stevens-Johnson syndrome?].
Toxic epidermal necrolysis and Stevens-Johnson syndrome are severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions. Intravenous immunoglobulin is described as a therapeutic option, however its use is still controversial. ⋯ We combined the evidence using tables for summary of findings, following the GRADE approach, and concluded there is uncertainty about the effects of intravenous immunoglobulin because the certainty of the evidence is very low; it probably leads to important adverse effects; and has high cost. Intravenous immunoglobulin should not be used outside the context of a clinical trial, or only in cases where other treatments have failed and there are no resource constraints.
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Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-pharmacological therapy used to alleviate pain and is among the current available treatments offered by the Units of Pain Management (Unidades del Dolor) in Spanish Hospitals. The goal of this study was to identify the characteristics of portable electro-stimulator use, and its costs in the Unit of Pain Management of the Alcorcón Foundation University Hospital (Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón). A retrospective descriptive study was carried out between January, 1999, and October, 2010, in the Unit of Pain Management of the Alcorcón Foundation University Hospital. ⋯ It was observed that the longest period of time used was less than a year. The cost of delivery for the portable equipment was 148 050 euros and the average annual cost for the use of TENS by a patient was 854 euros. From the information gathered, it can be concluded that the use of electro-analgesia is a valid option in terms of expenses for long periods of use, thereby allowing a reduction in costs and decreasing the use of other healthcare treatments.
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This article analyzes the recent controversy regarding the introduction of a bill to Chilean Congress that aims to ban thiomersal and/or any trace of organomercurial compounds from vaccines in the country. Rather than providing a formal overview of all available evidence, this analysis focuses on the reasons behind the controversy, the scientific evidence invoked by both sides in the debate, and the anomalies in the healthcare decision-making process.
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In 2013, we wrote about the harm, waste and deception stemming from conducts adopted by the pharmaceutical industry, by concealing raw data and Clinical Study Reports (CSRs) from the regulators view when requesting the marketing patent. We described the case of Tamiflu (Roche), a drug that has been widely used in our population and profusely prescribed by physicians. Health authorities, entailing a great cost for the countries in the region, have also purchased it. In this editorial, we will show how the idea of using antivirals for prophylaxis and treatment of influenza took hold, starting from the first enthusiastic recommendations up to the systematic review published last month in the BMJ.
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There has been a significant change in the role of pediatric tracheostomy over the last twenty years. Obstruction of the upper airway caused by infectious agents is no longer the leading cause of tracheostomy in children. Structural anomalies of the upper airway as well as the need for prolonged ventilator assistance have become the most frequent indication for pediatric tracheostomy. ⋯ The need for prolonged mechanical ventilation in patients with neurologic disorders was the main indication for tracheostomy in our pediatric population; most of these children were younger than one year. The procedure had little impact in overall mortality in this group of patients.