ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Many patients using haemodialysis for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) require arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) or grafts. Patency can be variable, and this systematic review aimed to determine the effects of adjuvant drug treatment on the patency of AVFs and grafts. METHODS: The Cochrane Peripheral Vascular Diseases Group searched the Specialised Register and CENTRAL for all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of active drug versus placebo on patency. The primary outcome was fistula or graft patency rate. The odds ratio (OR) was used as the measure of effect for each outcome. If several trials assessed the same adjuvant therapy then a meta-analysis was conducted using a Mantel-Haenszel model. RESULTS: Fifteen trials were deemed suitable for inclusion, investigating nine drug treatments in 2,230 participants. Overall, the quality of evidence was low. Three trials compared ticlopidine (a platelet aggregation inhibitor) versus placebo and favoured active treatment (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.82; p = .009). Three RCTs assessed aspirin versus placebo and did not show a statistical benefit (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.07-2.25; p = .30). Two trials compared clopidogrel with placebo. The overall result did not favour treatment (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.13 to 1.19; p = .10). Three trials evaluated human type-I pancreatic elastase but did not provide evidence of improved patency (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.42-1.32; p = .31). Finally, two RCTs assessed fish oil and did not favour treatment (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.03-1.95; p = .18). Single trials comparing dipyridamole alone, dipyridamole plus aspirin, and sulfinpyrazone against placebo favoured active treatment but a meta-analysis could not be undertaken. Finally, a single trial of warfarin versus placebo found warfarin resulted in increased complications and worse patency rates. CONCLUSION: This systematic review has not demonstrated a beneficial effect for any adjuvant treatment to increase the patency of AVF or grafts in the short term, except ticlopidine which has been taken off the market.
Subject(s)
Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical/methods , Vascular Grafting/methods , Vascular Patency , Anticoagulants/therapeutic use , Chemotherapy, Adjuvant/methods , Hematologic Agents/therapeutic use , Humans , Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Vascular Patency/drug effectsSubject(s)
Catheterization/methods , Fissure in Ano/surgery , Urinary Catheters , Humans , Suture TechniquesABSTRACT
An analysis was made of the results of 566 partial gastrectomies for haemorrhage from gastroduodenal ulceration between 1953 and 1962 with regard to mortality, morbidity, and long-term follow up. With rigid criteria for selection of patients for surgery, the overall mortality rate for ulcerative gastroduodenal haemorrhage was 8.6%. The actual operative mortality rate more than doubles if an emergency operation is performed later than four days after the patient's admission with haemorrhage. Postoperative and later bleeding complications occurred in 5% of patients. Regardless of the length of ulcerative history, over 92% of patients have clinically satisfactory long-term results. Six per cent required further operation, after which, they too had clinically satisfactory results.