Articles: patients.
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The selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors celecoxib and rofecoxib were designed to have similar efficacy but less gastrointestinal toxicity than traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Their efficacy has been demonstrated in the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, postoperative dental pain and dysmenorrhea. ⋯ Nephrotoxicity and hyptertension remain concerns with COX-2 inhibitors, as they are with traditional NSAIDs. COX-2 inhibitors may be safe alternatives to traditional NSAIDs for patients with aspirin-sensitive asthma.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jul 2002
Corticosteroids for the prevention of reintubation and postextubation stridor in pediatric patients: A meta-analysis.
To determine whether corticosteroids are effective in preventing or treating postextubation stridor and in reducing the need for subsequent reintubation of the trachea in critically ill infants and children. DESIGN: Meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials. DATA SOURCES: References of each trial from a MEDLINE search were reviewed, and experts in the field were contacted. STUDY SELECTION: Any randomized controlled trial comparing the administration of corticosteroids with placebo on the prevalence of reintubation or postextubation stridor in infants or children receiving mechanical ventilation via an endotracheal tube in an intensive care unit. DATA EXTRACTION: Data extraction and methodologic quality assessment were assessed independently by two reviewers. DATA SYNTHESIS: Six controlled clinical trials met the criteria for inclusion; three trials pertain to neonates and three to children. Five trials examined the use of steroids for the prevention of reintubation (four of these evaluated postextubation stridor specifically); one trial examined the use of steroids to treat existing postextubation stridor in children. There was a nonsignificant trend toward a decreased rate of reintubation in all subjects when prophylactic steroids were used (n = 376, relative risk [RR] = 0.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.05-2.33). Prophylactic use of steroids reduced postextubation stridor in the pooled studies (n = 325, RR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.28-0.88). In young children, there were significant reductions of postextubation stridor with preventive treatment (n = 216, RR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.28-0.97), and a trend toward less stridor was observed in neonates (n = 109, RR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.07-2.32). There was a nonsignificant trend toward a reduced reintubation rate when steroids were used to treat existing upper airway obstruction requiring reintubation (RR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.17-1.78). Side effects were seldom reported and could not be evaluated. ⋯ Prophylactic administration of dexamethasone before elective extubation reduces the prevalence of postextubation stridor in neonates and children and may reduce the rate of reintubation.
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Neck pain is considered to be one of the most common chronic pain conditions in modern society. Various structures identified as capable of transmitting pain in the cervical spine include facet joints, intervertebral discs, nerve root dura, ligaments, fascia, and muscles. The prevalence of cervical facet joint pain in patients with chronic pain after whiplash has been determined as 54% to 60%. ⋯ Eighty-one or 70% of the patients (70%) reported a definite response to lidocaine blocks. Confirmatory blocks with bupivacaine were performed in 81 patients with 64 patients with 60% of the total sample, or 79%, of the lidocaine-positive group reporting definite response with improvement in their pain. Thus, a prevalence rate of facet joint pain in chronic neck pain was determined to be 60% (95% CI, 50%-70%), with a false positive rate of controlled diagnostic blocks of 40% (95% CI, 34%-46%).
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Effectiveness of transforaminal epidural steroid injections in low back pain: a one year experience.
Transforaminal epidural steroid injections under fluoroscopy are an alternative treatment for lower back pain with radiculopathy. We followed 82 patients with a standardized telephone questionnaire at 2, 6, and 12 months after the first injection, in order to assess their effectiveness. Ninety-two patients with radiculopathic back pain due to spinal stenosis, herniated discs, spondylolisthesis, and degenerated discs, underwent transforaminal epidural steroid injections under fluoroscopy. ⋯ After one year, 36 patients did not take any pain medications. Greater than 50% improvement after one year was seen in 23% of Group I; 59% in Group II; 35% in Group III and 67% in Group IV. Transforaminal epidural steroid injections can offer significant pain reduction up to one year after initiation of treatment in patients with discogenic pain and possibly in patients with spinal stenosis.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jul 2002
Comparison of end-tidal CO2 and Paco2 in children receiving mechanical ventilation.
To determine whether end-tidal CO(2) (Petco(2)) measurement provides a reliable estimate of ventilation in critically ill children who are mechanically ventilated. DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized, consecutive enrollment study. SETTING: A university-affiliated children's hospital pediatric intensive care unit. PATIENTS: All intubated, mechanically ventilated pediatric patients. INTERVENTIONS: All Petco(2)-Paco(2) pairs were from patients ventilated with a Servo 300 Ventilator (Siemens-Elema AB, Stockholm, Sweden). When a blood gas sample was obtained, Petco(2) as measured by a continuous mainstream Petco(2) capnograph was recorded. Measurements: The results of blood gas measurements and corresponding Petco(2) measurements were recorded. Demographic data and primary diagnosis were noted. Petco(2)-Paco(2) pairs obtained from patients with intracardiac shunts or obtained during high-frequency oscillation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation at the time of measurement were excluded from analysis. Linear regression was used to analyze Petco(2)-Paco(2) pairs. Repeated measure analysis of variance with the mixed-model algorithm in SAS software (SAS Institute, Carey, NC) was used to analyze the trend in the Petco(2) and Paco(2) relationship. Chi-square was used to analyze categorical data. Statistical significance was considered p <.05. ⋯ In most intubated, mechanically ventilated infants and children, Petco(2) reliably estimates ventilation.