What do Cochrane systematic reviews say about congenital vascular anomalies and hemangiomas? A narrative review

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Congenital vascular anomalies and hemangiomas (CVAH) such as infantile hemangiomas, port-wine stains and brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) impair patients' lives and may require treatment if complications occur. However, a great variety of treatments for those conditions exist and the best interventions remain under discussion. OBJECTIVE: To summarize Cochrane systematic review (SR) evidence on treatments for CVAH. DESIGN AND SETTING: Review of SRs conducted in the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery of Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: A broad search was conducted on March 9, 2021, in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews to retrieve any Cochrane SRs that assessed treatments for CVAH. The key characteristics and results of all SRs included were summarized and discussed. RESULTS: A total of three SRs fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were presented as a qualitative synthesis. One SR reported a significant clinical reduction of skin redness by at least 20%, with more pain, among 103 participants with port-wine stains. One SR reported that propranolol improved the likelihood of clearance 13 to 16-fold among 312 children with hemangiomas. One SR reported that the relative risk of death or dependence was 2.53 times greater in the intervention arm than with conservative management, among 218 participants with brain AVMs. CONCLUSION: Cochrane reviews suggest that treatment of port-wine stains with pulsed-dye laser improves redness; propranolol remains the best option for infantile hemangiomas; and conservative management seems to be superior to surgical intervention for treating brain AVMs.

Effectiveness and safety of structured exercise vs. no exercise for asymptomatic aortic aneurysm: systematic review and meta-analysis / Efetividade e segurança de exercícios estruturados versus sem exercício em pacientes assintomáticos com aneurisma de aorta: revisão sistemática e metanálise

Abstract We conducted a systematic review to compare the effectiveness and safety of exercise versus no exercise for patients with asymptomatic aortic aneurysm. We followed the guidelines set out in the Cochrane systematic review handbook. We searched Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, LILACS, PeDRO, CINAHL, clinicaltrials.gov, ICTRP, and OpenGrey using the MeSH terms "aortic aneurysm" and "exercise". 1189 references were identified. Five clinical trials were included. No exercise-related deaths or aortic ruptures occurred in these trials. Exercise did not reduce the aneurysm expansion rate at 12 weeks to 12 months (mean difference [MD], −0.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.13 to 0.03). Six weeks of preoperative exercise reduced severe renal and cardiac complications (risk ratio, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.31-0.93) and the length of intensive care unit stay (MD, −1.00; 95% CI, −1.26 to −0.74). Preoperative and postoperative forward walking reduced the length of hospital stay (MD, −0.69; 95% CI, −1.24 to −0.14). The evidence was graded as 'very low' level.

Resumo Foi realizada revisão sistemática para comparar a efetividade e a segurança de exercícios versus não exercícios em pacientes assintomáticos com aneurisma de aorta. Usamos os termos MeSH aortic aneurysm e exercise para as bases MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, LILACS, PeDRO, CINAHL, clinicaltrials.gov, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) e OpenGrey. Foram obtidas 1.189 referências. Cinco ensaios clínicos foram incluídos. Não houve morte ou rotura associada ao exercício. Além disso, este não reduziu a velocidade de crescimento do aneurisma em 12 semanas a 12 meses [diferença de médias (DM) −0,05; intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC95%) −0,13 a 0,03]. Seis semanas de exercícios pré-operatórios reduziram complicações clínicas renais e cardíacas (razão de risco 0,54; IC95% 0,31-0,93) e a permanência em unidade de terapia intensiva (DM −1,00; IC95% −1,26 a −0,74). Caminhadas nos períodos pré e pós-operatório reduziram a permanência hospitalar. A evidência foi classificada como de muito baixa qualidade.

Kidney weight and volume among living donors in Brazil

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: The present study was performed to measure kidney weight and volume among living donors of both sexes in Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a cross-sectional survey carried out between December 2001 and August 2004. METHODS: Kidney transplantations from 219 living donors were analyzed for this study. The kidneys were weighed in grams on a single-pan digital balance just after drainage of the perfusion fluid and removal of the perirenal fat. The kidney volume was determined in milliliters by water displacement. RESULTS: The mean age at nephroureterectomy was 44 ± 9.5. The donor organs came from the left side in 172 cases and from the right side in 47 cases. The weights and volumes of the right and left kidneys were, respectively, 169.83 ± 29.91 g and 157.38 ± 31.84 ml; and 173.00 ± 33.52 g and 160.34 ± 34.40 ml. The differences between the sides were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: According to the present study, kidney weight cannot be the only factor determining the side on which nephroureterectomy is performed, because of the lack of statistical significance between the two sides. On average, females donate lower nephron doses than males do, which could in some transplants result in allograft damage.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: O atual estudo foi realizado para medir massa e volume de rins de doadores vivos brasileiros de ambos os sexos. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo transversal executado entre dezembro de 2001 e agosto de 2004, foram incluídos no estudo, 219 nefroureterectomias renais de doadores vivos. MÉTODOS: O rim do doador foi pesado em gramas em uma balança digital, imediatamente após a retirada da gordura peri-renal e drenagem do fluído perfusional. O volume renal foi determinado em mililitros por deslocamento de água. RESULTADOS: A média de idade dos doadores foi de 44 ± 9,5 anos. Foram realizadas 172 (78,54 por cento) nefroureterectomias no lado esquerdo e 47 (21,46 por cento) no lado direito. O peso renal do lado direito foi de 169,83 ± 29,91 g; enquanto que o peso renal do lado esquerdo foi de 173,00 ± 33,52 g. O volume renal do lado direito foi de 157,38 ± 31,84 ml; do lado esquerdo, 160,34 ± 34,40 ml. Não havendo diferença significativa entre os lados. CONCLUSÕES: De acordo com o estudo atual, não há diferença significativa entre o peso renal do lado direito e esquerdo, não podendo ser o peso renal um fator de escolha do lado da nefroureterectomia. Além disso, o estudo proporciona uma sobre o peso e volume de rins de brasileiros adultos de ambos os sexos.