Efficacy of minor analgesics in primary dysmenorrhoea: a systematic review

Objective To quantify the efficacy and safety of naproxen, ibuprofen, mefenamic acid, aspirin and acetaminophen (paracetamol) in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea through a systemic overview of randomised controlled trials.
Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Science Citation Index were searched for randomised controlled trials. Efficacy was assessed by measurement of pain relief, requirement for rescue analgesics, restriction of daily life and absence from work or school. The rate ratios of side effects were used to assess safety.
Results Fifty-six trials describing 55 comparisons of analgesics with placebo and 12 direct comparisons with other analgesics met our inclusion criteria. Women taking naproxen were over three times more likely to have at least moderate pain relief than those taking placebo. Ibuprofen, mefenamic acid and aspirin were also superior to placebo but acetaminophen was not. The requirement for rescue analgesics, restriction of daily life and absence from work or school were less frequent with naproxen and ibuprofen than placebo but not with aspirin or acetaminophen. Direct comparisons did not show any difference between naproxen and ibuprofen. Side effects occurred more frequently only with naproxen when compared with placebo.
Conclusion Naproxen, ibuprofen, mefenamic acid and aspirin are all effective in primary dysmenorrhoea. Ibuprofen appears to have the most favourable risk-benefit ratio. Acetaminophen appears to be less effective than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but there was only one trial meeting our inclusion criteria and further studies are required.     

Randomised trial comparing the upright and supine positions for the second stage of labour

Objective To assess the maternal and neonatal effects of upright compared with recumbent positions during delivery, in terms of defined outcome variables.
Design A randomised controlled trial.
Setting St Monica's Nursing Home, a midwife based maternity unit in Cape Town, South Africa.
Participants Five hundred and seventeen women of low obstetrical risk assigned to deliver at the nursing home.
Results The trial showed that women who adopted the upright posture for delivery experienced less pain, perineal trauma and fewer episiotomies than those who delivered in the supine position.
Conclusion The data suggest that in women of low obstetrical risk, choice of posture during delivery may be encouraged.     

Preoperative imaging versus intraoperative localization of tumors in adult surgical patients with hyperinsulinemia: A multicenter study of 338 patients

Three hundred thirty-eight patients with organic hypoglycemia were referred to French-speaking surgeons during an 18-year period (1965–1983). Two hundred sixty-eight (79%) of these patients proved to have benign tumors (12 multiple), 37 (11%) had carcinoma, and 11 (3%) had hyperplasia. Of the remaining 22 patients, 9 (2%) were not operated, 12 (4%) underwent negative pancreatic explorations, and 1 (0.3%) was misdiagnosed. The use of preoperative localization studies (computed tomographic scan, arteriography, ultrasound, and transhepatic portal sampling) were successful in 195 (62%) of 315 patients. Intraoperative diagnostic studies (blood sugar and insulin assays) in peripheral and portal blood, and intraoperative ultrasound were positive in 86% (265/305) of patients.

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Resumen Fuimos comisionados por la Asociación Francesa de Cirugía para resumir la experiencia de los cirujanos de habla francesa que manejaron insulinomas a partir del advenimiento de la arteriografía en 1965. El período cubierto por el estudio fue el de 1965–1983; su enfoque principal fue el análisis de las imágenes diagnósticas pre- e intraoperatorias y la localización de los insulinomas.Trescientos treinta y ocho pacientes con hipoglicemia orgánica fueron referidos a cirujanos de habla francesa durante el período de 18 años del estudio. Doscientos sesenta y ocho (79%) de estos pacientes presentaron tumores benignos (12 fueron múltiples), 37 (11%) presentaron carcinoma, y 11 (3%) presentaron hiperplasia. De los restantes 22 pacientes, 9 (2%) no fueron operados, 12 (4%) tuvieron una exploración pancreática negativa, y 1 (0.3%) tuvo un diagnóstico erróneo. La realización de estudios preoperatorios de localización (tomografía computadorizada, arteriografía, ultrasonografía, y muestreo portal transhepático) fue exitosa en 195 (62%) de 315 pacientes.Los estudios intraoperatorios de diagnóstico (determinación de glicemia y de niveles de insulina) en la sangre periférica y la sangre portal, y la ultrasonografía intraoperatoria fueron positivos en 86% (265/305) de los pacientes.

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Résumé Nous avons étudié les résultats de 338 patients adressés pour hypoglycémie organique entre 1965 et 1983. Deux cent soixante-huit patients (79%) avaient une tumeur bénigne (12 tumeurs multiples), 37 (11%) avaient une lésion maligne, et 11 (3%) avaient une hyperplasie. Des 22 patients restants, 9 (2%) n'avaient pas eu d'opération, 12 (4%) ont eu des explorations pancréatiques négatives, et chez 1 (0.3%) patient, le diagnostic était faux.La localisation préopératoire par tomodensitométrie, artériographie, échographie, et dosages de la veine porte par voie transhépatique était positive chez 195 (62%) des 315 patients.Les études diagnostiques préopératoires (glycémie et dosage d'insuline) dans les prélèvements sanguins périphérique et porte, et l'échographie étaient positives chez 265/305 (86%) des patients.

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Commissioned by the French Association of Surgery.     

Monitoring of central venous oxygen saturation versus mixed venous oxygen saturation in critically ill patients

Continous monitoring of mixed venous (SvO₂) and central venous (ScO₂) oxygen saturation was compared in 7 critically-ill patients (Apache II score: 19±2.1) to determine whether or not information derived from ScO₂ were reliable in clinical practice. Patients were catheterized with both a pulmonary artery (PA) and a central venous (CV) catheter, each of them mounted with fiberoptic sensors (Opticath PA Catheter P7110 and Opticath CV Catheter U440, Abbott). A total of 580 comparative measurements were obtained during periods without and with therapeutic interventions (drug-titration, bronchial suction, use of PEEP, changes in FiO₂...). The systematic error between the 2 measurement techniques was 0.6% and 0.3% in periods with and without therapeutic interventions, respectively. The variability between the 2 techniques was 10% for both periods. Differences between the values were 5% in 49% of values during periods of stability and in 50% of values during periods with therapeutic interventions. There were poor correlations between the values during periods without (r=0.48) and with therapeutic interventions (r=0.62). Better, but still less than ideal, correlations were obtained with changes in SvO₂ and ScO₂ during periods without (r=0.70) and with therapeutic interventions (r=0.77). Although there is a need to develop a simple technique to monitor mixed venous oxygen saturation, the present study indicates that ScO₂ monitoring was not reliable in the study patients.