Meta-Analysis

This recent meta-analysis in the BMJ found that paracetamol (acetaminophen) was no better than placebo for the treatment of low back pain.  Low back pain (LBP) is an increasingly common condition, for which patients often present to the ED.  Treatment options are limited with NSAIDs and acetaminophen being two commonly prescribed medications for pain.  This recent meta-analysis in the BMJ found that paracetamol (acetaminophen) was no better than placebo for low back pain.  It included two trials including 1692 patients evaluated paracetamol on immediate pain reduction and found no difference compared to placebo (weighted mean difference 1.4, 95% CI -1.3 to 4.1).  One trial (1652 patients) found no effect on pain (-0.5, -2.9-1.9), disability (0.4, -1.7-2.5), or quality of life measured on a 12-item survey.  Patients received doses in the range of 3900-4000 mg/day and followed patients for up to 12 weeks.  

Although rapid response system teams have been widely adopted by many health systems, their effectiveness in reducing hospital mortality is uncertain. We conducted a meta-analysis to examine the impact of rapid response teams on hospital mortality and cardiopulmonary arrest.  

Objective To determine benefits and harms of arthroscopic knee surgery involving partial meniscectomy, debridement, or both for middle aged or older patients with knee pain and degenerative knee disease.  

Objective To determine benefits and harms of arthroscopic knee surgery involving partial meniscectomy, debridement, or both for middle aged or older patients with knee pain and degenerative knee disease.  

Objective To determine benefits and harms of arthroscopic knee surgery involving partial meniscectomy, debridement, or both for middle aged or older patients with knee pain and degenerative knee disease.  

Objective To determine benefits and harms of arthroscopic knee surgery involving partial meniscectomy, debridement, or both for middle aged or older patients with knee pain and degenerative knee disease.  

We applaud the extensive systematic review and meta-analysis by Zampieri and colleagues on inhaled antibiotics for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) [1] but would like to add some comments regarding inhaled colistin for treatment of VAP caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB).  

Objective To assess and compare the accuracy of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), visual inspection with Lugol’s iodine (VILI), and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing as alternative standalone methods for primary cervical cancer screening in sub-Saharan Africa.  

More great FOAMEd from Norway! Is the supine position associated with loss of airway patency in unconscious trauma patients? A systematic review and meta-analysis  

Interesting open access article from Switzerland! Alternative intubation techniques vs Macintosh laryngoscopy in patients with cervical spine immobilization: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials  

Objectives To examine the prospective associations between consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, artificially sweetened beverages, and fruit juice with type 2 diabetes before and after adjustment for adiposity, and to estimate the population attributable fraction for type 2 diabetes from consumption of sugar sweetened beverages in the United States and United Kingdom.  

Eradicating Helicobacter pylori infection in otherwise healthy and asymptomatic people reduces the incidence of gastric cancer, a systematic review and meta-analysis published by the Cochrane Library has concluded.1  

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can improve sleep in patients with chronic insomnia without the need for drugs, a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Annals of Internal Medicine has found.[1]  

Objectives To determine whether BCG vaccination protects against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection as assessed by interferon γ release assays (IGRA) in children.  

Objective To systematically review associations between intake of saturated fat and trans unsaturated fat and all cause mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated mortality, coronary heart disease (CHD) and associated mortality, ischemic stroke, and type 2 diabetes.  

Objective To systematically review associations between intake of saturated fat and trans unsaturated fat and all cause mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated mortality, coronary heart disease (CHD) and associated mortality, ischemic stroke, and type 2 diabetes.