ABSTRACT
AIM: To perform an updated meta-analysis comparing ß-blockers (BB) with endoscopic variceal banding ligation (EVBL) in the primary prophylaxis of esophageal variceal bleeding. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Randomized controlled trials were identified through electronic databases, article reference lists and conference proceedings. Analysis was performed using both fixed-effect and random-effect models. Heterogeneity and publication bias were systematically taken into account. Main outcomes were variceal bleeding rates and all-cause mortality, calculated overall and at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. RESULTS: 19 randomized controlled trials were analyzed including a total of 1,483 patients. Overall bleeding rates were significantly lower for the EVBL group: odds ratio (OR) 2.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.55-2.73], p < 0.0001, without evidence of publication bias. Bleeding rates were also significantly lower at 18 months (OR 2.20, 95% CI [1.04-4.60], P = 0.04), but publication bias was detected. When only high quality trials were taken into account, results for bleeding rates were no longer significant. No significant difference was found for either bleeding-related mortality or for all-cause mortality overall or at 6, 12, 18 or 24 months. BB were associated with more frequent severe adverse events (OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.60-4.40, P < 0.0001) whereas fatal adverse events were more frequent with EVBL (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.02-0.99, P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: EVBL appears to be superior to BB in preventing the first variceal bleed, although this finding may be biased as it was not confirmed by high quality trials. No difference was found for mortality. Current evidence is insufficient to recommend EVBL over BB as first-line therapy.
Subject(s)
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/therapeutic use , Endoscopy/methods , Esophageal and Gastric Varices/complications , Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology , Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/prevention & control , Follow-Up Studies , Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/epidemiology , Humans , Incidence , Ligation , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Este fue un estudio comparativo prospectivo de 104 pacientes con cáncer de seno, a quienes se ofreció la elección entre dos tratamientos quirúrgicos conservadores: cuadrantectomía con mastopexia tipo donut (Grupo CMD, n=39) o cuadrantectomía estándar (Grupo CE, n=75). Los grupos fueron similares en tamaño radiológico del tumor, localización del tumor en el seno, tamaño histológico, y la distribución por estadios pT. En el grupo CMD, la incisión de piel fue tres veces más grande que en el grupo CE, pero con ella se obtuvo al final, una cicatriz alrededor del complejo areola-pezón, sin complicaciones posoperatorias posteriores. El volumen promedio del espécimen quirúrgico y los márgenes de sección, fueron mayores en el grupo CMD comparados comparados con el grupo CE. Se obtuvieron márgenes libres de tumor con mayor frecuencia en el grupo CMD que en el grupo CE, pero la diferencia no fue significativa. Estos datos indican fuertemente que la técnica CMD puede ser más eficiente que la técnica CE, en términos de precisión en la resección del tejido mamario.
Subject(s)
Humans , Breast Neoplasms , Mammaplasty , Mastectomy, Segmental , Surgery, PlasticABSTRACT
Intravenous albumin infusion prevents complications after large-volume paracentesis (LVP), particularly paracentesis-induced circulatory dysfunction (PCD), and improves patient survival. However, albumin is expensive. We compared a low-molecular weight dextran (Dextran-40) with albumin in treating LVP in cirrhotic patients with tense ascites. Sixty-nine cirrhotic patients were included and 96 LVPs were performed. Any repeat punctures on the same patient were at least three months apart. Patients were randomized to receive either i.v. Dextran-40 infusion (Group I, n = 48) or i.v. albumin infusion after LVP (Group II, n = 48). Clinical, biochemical, and hormonal evaluations were done before and after LVP. Patients were followed up for the detection of any recurrence of ascites or complications. The two groups were similar in age, sex, and etiology of cirrhosis, and in the volumes of ascites recovered. Significant decreases in mean arterial pressure were observed in both groups 24 and 48 h after LVP. Urine volumes increased significantly at 24 h in both groups (p < 0.05), but remained high only in Group I. Plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentrations increased in both groups 48 h after LVP, but they were more marked in Group I. Complications developed in 17 % of patients treated with Dextran-40 and in 23 % treated with albumin (p > 0.05). Ascites recurrence rates and survival were similar in the two groups. In conclusion, Dextran-40 was thus not as efficacious as albumin for preventing PCD.