ABSTRACT
Objective: This study aims to identify contributing factors to adverse reactions related to central venous catheter (CVC) usage in patients with HIV/AIDS, to enhance patient care and treatment outcomes. Methods: To obtain the most relevant and recent findings, we conducted a systematic search across reputable databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library, focusing on randomized controlled trials from 2010 to 2023. Two researchers independently led the literature search and screening process, using a thorough pre-structured form for data extraction and performing a risk of bias assessment on selected studies. Statistical synthesis of the data was conducted using the advanced Review Manager 5.3 software. We compared the prevalence of opportunistic infections, the rate of venous inflammation, and the incidence of venous thrombosis in patients with HIV/AIDS undergoing central venous catheter placement. Results: The comprehensive exploration led to the inclusion of seven randomized controlled trials, involving 251 instances of central venous catheter placements in patients with HIV/AIDS. The meta-analysis findings revealed a lower prevalence of opportunistic infections in patients with CVCs placed, as indicated by the relative risk [95% Confidence Interval (CI) (2.53), P < .01]. Similarly, the rate of venous inflammation was significantly reduced [95% CI (2.53), P < .01]. However, the rates of venous thrombosis showed no statistically significant variance [95% CI (2.01), P > .1]. Conclusions: The use of central venous catheters in treating HIV/AIDS patients appears to reduce the occurrence of opportunistic infections and venous inflammation, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits. However, the presence of biases within the included studies and notable heterogeneity among them impede the reliability of these conclusions. Therefore, it is imperative to pursue validation through additional high-quality clinical trials.
ABSTRACT
Objective: Wound healing is delayed because of swelling after upper limb fracture, and the traditional rehabilitation device used in physical therapy cannot flexibly adjust the fixation. This study aims to evaluate the effect of the designed elbow joint airbag protection device used in patients with upper arm fractures. Methods: This is a quasi-randomized controlled trial. From November 2022 to March 2023, 70 hospitalized patients with unilateral upper arm fractures were recruited from a general tertiary hospital in eastern China. The patients were divided into an experimental group and a control group according to the random number table at 1:1. Among them, 35 patients who received elbow joint airbag protection for post-traumatic limb swelling were assigned to the experimental group, and the other 35 patients were assigned to the control group. The degree of swelling regression, a score of resting pain, and patient comfort level was compared between the two groups. Results: The waiting time from swelling to allowing for surgery and pain score at rest were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group (P < .05 and P < .001 respectively). The comfort score of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group (P < .05), and these differences were statistically significant. Conclusions: The elbow joint airbag protection can significantly reduce the waiting time for surgery, lessen the degree of swelling regression, reduce the pain in patients' hands caused by swelling, and significantly improve the comfort level. Hence, it is worth promoting in the clinical practice of orthopedic nursing.