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The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Apr 2020The success of digital replantation is highly dependent on the patency of the repaired vessels after microvascular anastomosis. Antithrombotic agents are frequently used... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
The success of digital replantation is highly dependent on the patency of the repaired vessels after microvascular anastomosis. Antithrombotic agents are frequently used for preventing vascular occlusion. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) has been reported to be as effective as unfractionated heparin (UFH) in peripheral vascular surgery, but with fewer adverse effects. Its benefit in microvascular surgery such as digital replantation is unclear. This is an update of the review first published in 2013.
OBJECTIVES
To assess if treatment with subcutaneous LMWH improves the salvage rate of the digits in patients with digital replantation after traumatic amputation.
SEARCH METHODS
The Cochrane Vascular Information Specialist searched the Cochrane Vascular Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, AMED and CINAHL databases, and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and ClinicalTrials.gov trials registers, to 17 March 2020. The authors searched PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Chinese Electronic Periodical Services (CEPS) on 17 March 2020 and sought additional trials from reference lists of relevant publications.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials comparing treatment with LMWH versus any other treatment in participants who received digital replantation following traumatic digital amputation.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors (PL, CC) independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included trials using Cochrane's 'Risk of bias' tool. Disagreements were resolved by discussion. We assessed the certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach.
MAIN RESULTS
We included two new randomised trials in this update, bringing the total number of included trials to four. They included a total of 258 participants, with at least 273 digits, from hospitals in China. Three studies compared LMWH versus UFH, and one compared LMWH versus no LMWH. The mean age of participants ranged from 24.5 to 37.6 years. In the studies reporting the sex of participants, there were a total of 145 men and 59 women. The certainty of the evidence was downgraded to low or very low because all studies were at high risk of performance or reporting bias (or both) and there was imprecision in the results due to the small numbers of participants. The three studies comparing LMWH versus UFH reported the success rate of replantation using different units of analysis (participant or digit), so we were unable to combine data from all three studies (one study reported results for both participants and digits). No evidence of a benefit in success of replantation was seen in the LMWH group when compared with UFH, regardless of whether the outcomes were reported by number of participants (risk ratio (RR) 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87 to 1.10; 130 participants, 2 studies; very low-certainty evidence); or by number of digits (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.04; 200 digits, 2 studies; low-certainty evidence). No studies reported the incidence of compromised microcirculation requiring surgical or non-surgical therapy, or any systemic/other causes of microvascular insufficiency. There was no evidence of a clear difference between the LMWH and UFH groups in occurrence of arterial occlusion (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.16 to 7.10; 54 participants, 1 study; very low-certainty evidence) or venous occlusion (RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.20 to 3.27; 54 participants, 1 study; very low-certainty evidence). Two studies reported adverse effects. The LMWH and UFH groups showed no evidence of a difference in wound bleeding (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.23 to 1.23; 130 participants, 2 studies; low-certainty evidence), haematuria (RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.09 to 2.11; 130 participants, 2 studies; very low-certainty evidence), ecchymoses (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.21 to 3.19; 130 participants, 2 studies; very low-certainty evidence), epistaxis (RR 0.27, 95% CI 0.03 to 2.32; 130 participants, 2 studies; very low-certainty evidence), gingival bleeding (RR 0.18, 95% CI 0.02 to 1.43; 130 participants, 2 studies; very low-certainty evidence), and faecal occult blood (RR 0.27, 95% CI 0.03 to 2.31; 130 participants, 2 studies; very low-certainty evidence). We could not pool data on coagulation abnormalities as varying definitions and tests were used in the three studies. One study compared LMWH versus no LMWH. The success rate of replantation, when analysed by digits, was reported as 91.2% success in the LMWH group and 82.1% in the control group (RR 1.11, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.33; 73 digits, 1 study; very low-certainty evidence). Compromised microcirculation requiring surgical re-exploration, analysed by digits, was 11.8% in the LMWH group and 17.9% in the control group (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.21 to 3.58; 73 digits, 1 study; very low-certainty evidence). Compromised microcirculation requiring incision occurred in five out of 34 digits (14.7%) in the LMWH group and eight out of 39 digits (20.5%) in the control group (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.26 to 1.98; 73 digits; very low-certainty evidence). Microvascular insufficiency due to arterial occlusion, analysed by digits, was 11.8% in the LMWH group and 17.9% in the control group (RR 0.66, 95% CI 0.21 to 2.05; 73 digits, 1 study; very low-certainty evidence), and venous occlusion was 14.7% in the LMWH group and 20.5% in the control (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.26 to 1.98; 73 digits, 1 study; very low-certainty evidence). The study did not report complications or adverse effects.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
There is currently low to very low-certainty evidence, based on four RCTs, suggesting no evidence of a benefit from LMWH when compared to UFH on the success rates of replantation or affect microvascular insufficiency due to vessel occlusion (analysed by digit or participant). LMWH had similar success rates of replantation; and the incidence rate of venous and arterial microvascular insufficiency showed no evidence of a difference between groups when LMWH was compared to no LMWH (analysed by digit). Similar rates of complications and adverse effects were seen between UFH and LMWH. There was insufficient evidence to draw conclusions on any effect on coagulation when comparing LMWH to UFH or no LMWH. The certainty of the evidence was downgraded due to performance and reporting bias, as well as imprecision in the results. Further adequately powered studies are warranted to provide high-certainty evidence.
Topics: Adult; Anticoagulants; Blood Coagulation Disorders; Female; Fingers; Heparin; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; Humans; Male; Microvessels; Peripheral Arterial Disease; Postoperative Hemorrhage; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Replantation; Venous Insufficiency
PubMed: 32302004
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009894.pub3 -
Journal of Vascular Surgery. Venous and... Nov 2019Endovenous thermal ablation (TA) offers an effective initial treatment option for superficial venous incompetence of the lower limb. These techniques offer lower... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
Endovenous thermal ablation (TA) offers an effective initial treatment option for superficial venous incompetence of the lower limb. These techniques offer lower complication rates with similar efficacy to traditional open surgery. In recent years, nonthermal ablation (NTA) in the form of mechanochemical ablation and cyanoacrylate vein ablation has been suggested to further reduce perioperative morbidity. This study aimed to compare the use of both thermal and nonthermal endovenous ablative techniques in the management of superficial venous incompetence.
METHODS
A search of online databases including MEDLINE, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Cochrane database was last performed in January 2019. Comparative studies comparing NTA with TA were included. The primary outcome was technical success. Secondary outcomes included operative pain, complications, modification of disease severity, and quality of life.
RESULTS
Six studies describing the outcomes of 1236 participants and 1256 truncal ablations were included for analysis. Follow-up ranged from 6 weeks to 36 months. With regard to overall technical success, 458 of 483 (94.8%) receiving NTA and 521 of 553 (94.2%) undergoing TA had successful truncal ablation on follow-up ultrasound imaging at the study end point (pooled risk ratio, 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.99-1.04). Subgroup analysis identified no difference in success between groups during immediate, 6-month, 12-month, or >12-month follow-up periods. Postprocedural pain was generally lower in those undergoing NTA with a mean difference of -18.11 (95% CI, -36.7 to 0.48). Techniques experienced significatly lower rates of ecchymosis (risk ratio, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.23-0.78), with no difference identified with regard to rates of paresthesia, phlebitis, and skin pigmentation. Further assessment of quality of life (mean difference, -0.27; 95% CI, -0.57 to 0.04) and Venous Clinical Severity Score (-0.52; 95% CI, -1.05 to 0.01) revealed no difference between groups. Included data were deemed of moderate methodologic quality.
CONCLUSIONS
Nonthermal techniques are as effective as standard TA in the first year and, in some studies, may be associated with less procedural pain. These data suggest that NTA offers an alternative and safe means to treat superficial venous disease. There is, however, a need for further powered trials with larger numbers of patients and longer follow-up to definitively examine this hypothesis.
Topics: Ablation Techniques; Embolization, Therapeutic; Endovascular Procedures; Humans; Postoperative Complications; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome; Varicose Veins; Venous Insufficiency
PubMed: 31627874
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvsv.2019.06.009 -
Medicine Apr 2019Nasal surgeries (such as Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Rhinoplasty, and Septorhinoplasty) are popular procedures. But perioperative bleeding, eyelid edema, and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
Nasal surgeries (such as Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Rhinoplasty, and Septorhinoplasty) are popular procedures. But perioperative bleeding, eyelid edema, and periorbital ecchymosis remain problems. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic, and it was used to reduce the perioperative bleeding. However, there is no enough evidence judging its safety and efficiency. Therefore, a meta-analysis is conducted by us to evaluate the role of TXA in patients undergoing nasal surgeries.
METHOD
A search of the literature was performed until June 2018; the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar databases were searched for related articles using search strategy. Two authors independently assessed the methodological quality of the included studies and extracted data. Surgical information and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. Only randomized controlled trial (RCT) articles were included, and subgroup analysis was established to deal with heterogeneity. RevMan 5.3 software was selected to conduct the meta-analysis.
RESULT
Eleven RCTs were included in our meta-analysis. There were significant differences in blood loss (P < .001), surgical field quality (P < .001), edema rating of upper (P < .001) and lower (P < .001) eyelid, ecchymosis rating of upper (P < .001) and lower eyelid (P < .001) when comparing the TXA group to the placebo group. However, the difference in operation time (P = .57) was not significant between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
Perioperative TXA could reduce the blood loss and improve the quality of surgery field during nasal surgery, and it was helpful for reducing the edema and ecchymosis after nasal surgeries, but it has little influence in reducing the operation time.
Topics: Antifibrinolytic Agents; Blood Loss, Surgical; Ecchymosis; Edema; Eyelid Diseases; Humans; Nasal Surgical Procedures; Nose; Operative Time; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Tranexamic Acid
PubMed: 31008946
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000015202 -
JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery May 2019Blood loss from surgical procedures is a major issue worldwide as the demand for blood products is increasing. Tranexamic acid is an antifibrinolytic agent commonly used... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Role of Tranexamic Acid in Reducing Intraoperative Blood Loss and Postoperative Edema and Ecchymosis in Primary Elective Rhinoplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
IMPORTANCE
Blood loss from surgical procedures is a major issue worldwide as the demand for blood products is increasing. Tranexamic acid is an antifibrinolytic agent commonly used to reduce intraoperative blood loss.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically examine the role of tranexamic acid in reducing intraoperative blood loss and postoperative edema and ecchymosis among patients undergoing primary elective rhinoplasty.
DATA SOURCES
A systematic review and meta-analysis was undertaken in an academic medical setting using Medline, Embase, and Google Scholar from inception to June 30, 2018. All references of included articles were screened for potential inclusion. The search was mapped to Medical Subject Headings, and the following terms were used to identify potential articles: reconstruction or rhinoplasty and tranexamic acid or anti-fibrinolysis or antifibrinolysis and bleeding or ecchymosis or bruising or edema or complications.
STUDY SELECTION
The population of interest consisted of adult patients undergoing primary elective rhinoplasty. The intervention was the use of tranexamic acid. The control group was composed of patients receiving a placebo. Primary outcomes were intraoperative blood loss and postoperative edema and ecchymosis. In vitro or animal studies were excluded, and only English-language articles were included.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
The PRISMA guidelines were followed, and articles were assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) guidelines. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed to determine the overall effect size.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The primary outcomes were intraoperative blood loss and postoperative edema and ecchymosis.
RESULTS
Five studies (comprising 332 patients) were included in the qualitative analysis, all of which were randomized clinical trials published within the past 5 years. The mean (SD) patient age was 27 (7) years (age range, 16-42 years), while the mean (SD) sample size was 66 (19) (range, 50-96). Meta-analysis of 4 studies (271 patients) indicated that tranexamic acid treatment resulted in a mean reduction in intraoperative blood loss of -41.6 mL (95% CI, -69.8 to -13.4 mL) compared with controls (P = .004). Three studies indicated that postoperative edema and ecchymosis were reduced with tranexamic acid treatment compared with controls; however, there was no significant difference compared with corticosteroid use. Four studies were considered of high methodological quality, with a low risk of bias. The overall quality of evidence was high.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Tranexamic acid has the ability to significantly reduce intraoperative blood loss and postoperative edema and ecchymosis among patients undergoing primary elective rhinoplasty.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
4.
Topics: Antifibrinolytic Agents; Blood Loss, Surgical; Ecchymosis; Edema; Humans; Postoperative Complications; Rhinoplasty; Tranexamic Acid
PubMed: 30605219
DOI: 10.1001/jamafacial.2018.1737 -
Hematology/oncology and Stem Cell... Jun 2019Cutaneous immunoglobulin (Ig) amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis associated with overt multiple myeloma (MM) is rare and optimal treatment is not well defined. The...
OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND
Cutaneous immunoglobulin (Ig) amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis associated with overt multiple myeloma (MM) is rare and optimal treatment is not well defined. The recently developed highly efficacious MM therapy has brought on a new set of challenges to this field for consideration. The goal of this paper is to describe the characteristics of cutaneous manifestations of systemic AL amyloidosis associated with MM according to age, sex, race, Ig type, plasma cell percentage, and cytogenetic and fluorescent in situ hybridization studies along with their outcomes.
METHODS
An electronic search of the PubMed database was performed to obtain key literature in AL amyloidosis and MM, using the following search terms: multiple myeloma, immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis, and cutaneous amyloidosis. The search results were narrowed by selecting studies in English. Results were confined to the following articles types: case reports, case series, and systematic reviews.
RESULTS
We identified 32 cases from the PubMed database search and examined their potential relevance. We found the following: (a) higher prevalence in women (two-thirds) and white population; (b) IgG and IgA were equally distributed with lambda (λ) light chain occurring in 53-66% of cases; (c) majority of cases (56%) presented as hemorrhagic bullous lesions, followed by purpura/ecchymosis in 25% of cases; and (d) majority (64%) died within 6 months since diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONS
We reviewed the constellation of the cutaneous manifestations of AL amyloidosis with concurrent MM. We found a female predominance, and more than half presented as hemorrhagic bullous lesions. There is a preponderance of λ light chains over kappa (κ) light chains, both as a free light chain (15% vs. 4%) and as an intact Ig (38% vs. 24%; absolute number of 14 vs. 7 patients, respectively). In the subgroup of patients with bullous skin lesions, λ light chain was present in eight cases and κ light chain in seven cases. All κ light chain subtypes presented with bullous lesions and no other cutaneous types of lesions. They carried very poor prognosis with majority of cases surviving only 6 months, much worse than overall patients with AL amyloidosis without myeloma or myeloma without amyloidosis.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma; Neoplasm Proteins; Sex Factors; Skin Neoplasms
PubMed: 30261180
DOI: 10.1016/j.hemonc.2018.09.003 -
JAMA Otolaryngology-- Head & Neck... Sep 2018Evidence has emerged on the efficacy of tranexamic acid to control blood loss and postoperative complications after rhinoplasty. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
IMPORTANCE
Evidence has emerged on the efficacy of tranexamic acid to control blood loss and postoperative complications after rhinoplasty.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the results of tranexamic acid use to reduce intraoperative bleeding, postoperative eyelid edema, and periorbital ecchymosis in rhinoplasty.
DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION
For this systematic review of randomized clinical trials, searches were performed in PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Science Direct, Google Scholar, OpenThesis, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to December 23, 2017. Key words included tranexamic acid, rhinoplasty, and nasal surgical procedures. The following elements were used to define eligibility criteria: (1) population: patients undergoing rhinoplasty surgery; (2) intervention and controls: tranexamic acid vs placebo solution or no-treatment control group; (3) outcomes: intraoperative bleeding, postoperative eyelid edema and periorbital ecchymosis, and thromboembolic events; and (4) study type: randomized clinical trials.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Two reviewers extracted data and assessed study quality according to the Cochrane guidelines for randomized clinical trials. Treatment effects were defined as weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% CIs. The strength of evidence was analyzed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation rating system.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
Intraoperative bleeding, postoperative eyelid edema and periorbital ecchymosis. To calculate the effect sizes, means and SDs were obtained for each study group and outcome of interest.
RESULTS
Five studies comprising 276 patients were included in the systematic review: 177 patients (64.1%) were women, and mean age was 26.8 (range, 16-42) years. Four studies comprising 246 patients estimated the amount in intraoperative bleeding as a primary outcome and were included in the meta-analysis. Eyelid edema and ecchymosis were evaluated as outcomes in 2 studies. Tranexamic acid was associated with reduced bleeding during rhinoplasty was found (WMD, -42.28 mL; 95% CI, -70.36 to -14.21 mL), with differences (P = .01) between oral (WMD, -61.70 mL; 95% CI, -83.02 to -40.39 mL; I2 = 0%) and intravenous (WMD, -23.88 mL; 95% CI, -45.19 to -2.58 mL; I2 = 56%) administration. Eyelid edema and ecchymosis scores in patients receiving tranexamic acid were significantly lower compared with the control group within the first postoperative week: lower eyelid edema, WMD, -0.76; 95% CI, -1.04 to -0.49 and lower eyelid ecchymosis, WMD, -0.94; 95% CI, -1.80 to -0.08. No cases of thromboembolic events were reported.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Current available evidence suggests that preoperative administration of tranexamic acid is safe and may reduce intraoperative bleeding as well as postoperative eyelid edema and ecchymosis in patients undergoing rhinoplasty.
Topics: Antifibrinolytic Agents; Blood Loss, Surgical; Drug Administration Schedule; Ecchymosis; Edema; Eyelids; Humans; Postoperative Complications; Preoperative Care; Rhinoplasty; Tranexamic Acid; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 30098161
DOI: 10.1001/jamaoto.2018.1381 -
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.... Dec 2017Parallel to the steady decline in surgical aesthetic procedures to the face, dermal fillers seem to have gained a more prominent place in facial rejuvenation over the...
BACKGROUND
Parallel to the steady decline in surgical aesthetic procedures to the face, dermal fillers seem to have gained a more prominent place in facial rejuvenation over the last couple of years. As a dermal, facial filler, autologous fat transfer (AFT) seems to have real potential because of the biocompatibility of adipose tissue besides being a procedure with few and primarily minor complications. This systematic review aims to evaluate the available evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of AFT for facial rejuvenation.
METHOD
A systematic review after the Preferred-Reporting-Items-for-Systematic-Reviews-and-Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement was conducted. MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched up to December 2016, with no language restrictions imposed. Case series, cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting on relevant outcomes were included.
RESULTS
Eighteen clinical articles were included, reporting on 3,073 patients in total over a mean follow-up period of 13.9 months. Meta-analysis showed an overall complication rate of 6% (95% CI 3.0-14.0), with hematoma/ecchymosis (5%), fat necrosis/oil cysts (2%), and irregular fat distribution and scars (both 2%) being among the most reported. No major complications were reported, and the overall patient satisfaction rate was 81%.
CONCLUSION
Although the evidence in this systematic review is still limited and plagued by heterogeneity between studies, AFT seems to be a promising method in facial rejuvenation with fewer complications than other fillers and high patient satisfaction rates. Further large-cohort, preferably multicenter, RCTs should substantiate these results through quantifiable volumetric assessment tools and validated patient questionnaires, while adhering to predetermined nomenclature in terms of complications.
PubMed: 29632784
DOI: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000001606 -
International Journal of Surgery... Oct 2017Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) seems to be an effective treatment for plantar fasciitis (PF) and is assumed to be safe. No systematic reviews have been... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) seems to be an effective treatment for plantar fasciitis (PF) and is assumed to be safe. No systematic reviews have been published that specifically studied the complications and side effects of ESWT in treating PF. Aim of this systematic review is therefore to evaluate the complications and side effects of ESWT in order to determine whether ESWT is a safe treatment for PF.
METHODS
For this systematic review the databases PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane and Embase were used to search for relevant literature between 1 January 2005 and 1 January 2017. PRISMA guidelines were followed.
RESULTS
Thirty-nine studies were included for this review, representing 2493 patients (2697 heels) who received between 6424 and 6497 ESWT treatment sessions, with an energy flux density between 0.01 mJ/mm and 0.64 mJ/mm and a frequency of 1000-3800 SWs. Average follow-up was 14.7 months (range: 24 h - 6 years). Two complications occurred: precordial pain and a superficial skin infection after regional anaesthesia. Accordingly, 225 patients reported pain during treatment and 247 reported transient red skin after treatment. Transient pain after treatment, dysesthesia, swelling, ecchymosis and/or petechiae, severe headache, bruising and a throbbing sensation were also reported.
CONCLUSION
ESWT is likely a safe treatment for PF. No complications are expected at one-year follow-up. However, according to the current literature long-term complications are unknown. Better descriptions of treatment protocols, patient characteristics and registration of complications and side effects, especially pain during treatment, are recommended.
Topics: Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy; Fasciitis, Plantar; Humans; Pain
PubMed: 28890412
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2017.08.587 -
Breast Cancer (Dove Medical Press) 2016Mastectomy and breast-conserving surgery (BCS) are important treatment options for breast cancer patients. A previous meta-analysis demonstrated that the risk of certain... (Review)
Review
A systematic review and meta-analysis of Harmonic technology compared with conventional techniques in mastectomy and breast-conserving surgery with lymphadenectomy for breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Mastectomy and breast-conserving surgery (BCS) are important treatment options for breast cancer patients. A previous meta-analysis demonstrated that the risk of certain complications can be reduced with the Harmonic technology compared with conventional methods in mastectomy. However, the meta-analysis did not include studies of BCS patients and focused on a subset of surgical complications. The objective of this study was to compare Harmonic technology and conventional techniques for a range of clinical outcomes and complications in both mastectomy and BCS patients, including axillary lymph node dissection.
METHODS
A comprehensive literature search was performed for randomized controlled trials comparing Harmonic technology and conventional methods in breast cancer surgery. Outcome measures included blood loss, drainage volume, total complications, seroma, necrosis, wound infections, ecchymosis, hematoma, hospital length of stay, and operating time. Risk of bias was analyzed for all studies. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models for mean differences of continuous variables and a fixed-effects model for risk ratios of dichotomous variables.
RESULTS
Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Across surgery types, compared to conventional techniques, Harmonic technology reduced total complications by 52% (P=0.002), seroma by 46% (P<0.0001), necrosis by 49% (P=0.04), postoperative chest wall drainage by 46% (P=0.0005), blood loss by 38% (P=0.0005), and length of stay by 22% (P=0.007). Although benefits generally appeared greatest in mastectomy patients with lymph node dissection, Harmonic technology showed significant reductions in complications in the BCS study subgroup.
CONCLUSION
In this meta-analysis of both mastectomy and BCS procedures, the use of Harmonic technology reduced the risk of most complications by about half across breast cancer surgery patients. These benefits may be due to superior hemostatic capabilities of Harmonic technology and better dissection, particularly lymph node dissection. Reduction in complications and other resource outcomes may engender lower downstream health care costs.
PubMed: 27486342
DOI: 10.2147/BCTT.S110461 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jun 2014Early recovery is an important factor for people undergoing facial plastic surgery. However, the normal inflammatory processes that are a consequence of surgery commonly... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Early recovery is an important factor for people undergoing facial plastic surgery. However, the normal inflammatory processes that are a consequence of surgery commonly cause oedema (swelling) and ecchymosis (bruising), which are undesirable complications. Severe oedema and ecchymosis delay full recovery, and may make patients dissatisfied with procedures. Perioperative corticosteroids have been used in facial plastic surgery with the aim of preventing oedema and ecchymosis.
OBJECTIVES
To determine the effects, including safety, of perioperative administration of corticosteroids for preventing complications following facial plastic surgery in adults.
SEARCH METHODS
In January 2014, we searched the following electronic databases: the Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library); Ovid MEDLINE; Ovid MEDLINE (In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations); Ovid Embase; EBSCO CINAHL; and Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS). There were no restrictions on the basis of date or language of publication.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included RCTs that compared the administration of perioperative systemic corticosteroids with another intervention, no intervention or placebo in facial plastic surgery.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently screened the trials for inclusion in the review, appraised trial quality and extracted data.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 10 trials, with a total of 422 participants, that addressed two of the outcomes of interest to this review: swelling (oedema) and bruising (ecchymosis). Nine studies on rhinoplasty used a variety of different types, and doses, of corticosteroids. Overall, the results of the included studies showed that there is some evidence that perioperative administration of corticosteroids decreases formation of oedema over the first two postoperative days. Meta-analysis was only possible for two studies, with a total of 60 participants, and showed that a single perioperative dose of 10 mg dexamethasone decreased oedema formation in the first two days after surgery (SMD = -1.16, 95% CI: -1.71 to -0.61, low quality evidence). The evidence for ecchymosis was less consistent across the studies, with some contradictory results, but overall there was some evidence that perioperatively administered corticosteroids decreased ecchymosis formation over the first two days after surgery (SMD = -1.06, 95% CI:-1.47 to -0.65, two studies, 60 participants, low quality evidence ). The difference was not maintained after this initial period. One study, with 40 participants, showed that high doses of methylprednisolone (over 250 mg) decreased both ecchymosis and oedema between the first and seventh postoperative days. The only study that assessed facelift surgery identified no positive effect on oedema with preoperative administration of corticosteroids. Five trials did not report on harmful (adverse) effects; four trials reported that there were no adverse effects; and one trial reported adverse effects in two participants treated with corticosteroids as well as in four participants treated with placebo. None of the studies reported recovery time, patient satisfaction or quality of life. The studies included were all at an unclear risk of selection bias and at low risk of bias for other domains.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
There is limited evidence for rhinoplasty that a single perioperative dose of corticosteroids decreases oedema and ecchymosis formation over the first two postoperative days, but the difference is not maintained after this period. There is also limited evidence that high doses of corticosteroids decrease both ecchymosis and oedema between the first and seventh postoperative days. The clinical significance of this decrease is unknown and there is little evidence available regarding the safety of this intervention. More studies are needed because at present the available evidence does not support the use of corticosteroids for prevention of complications following facial plastic surgery.
Topics: Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Dexamethasone; Ecchymosis; Edema; Glucocorticoids; Humans; Methylprednisolone; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Rhinoplasty; Rhytidoplasty
PubMed: 24887069
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009697.pub2