Cochrane

Why is this question important? When people have a severe attack of COPD, their breathing becomes very difficult. This can turn into breathing failure (acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF)) that often requires urgent hospital-based medical care. One of the treatments that may be given is breathing support (intubation and mechanical ventilation). ...

Background Acute postoperative pain is one of the most disturbing complaints after open heart surgery. It is related to impaired wound healing, chronic pain, or depression. Psychological treatment is designed to improve participant’ knowledge and to alter surgery-related mental distress, negative beliefs and noncompliance. It aims to reduce pain and ...

Background High altitude illness (HAI) is a term used to describe a group of brain and breathing conditions that can occur while travelling to altitudes above 2500 metres (8202 feet). HAI is generally characterized by headache, nausea, vomiting and tiredness (often called acute mountain sickness), but may affect the brain or the lungs in different ...

Protocol: To assess the effects and safety of interventions targeting cognition, emotion or both as the predominant underlying mechanism of effect to relieve breathlessness in adults suffering from advanced diseases.

Protocol: To assess the effects and safety of interventions targeting respiration as the predominant underlying mechanism of effect to relieve breathlessness in adults suffering from advanced diseases.

Protocol: To assess the effects and safety of interventions targeting physical functioning as the predominant underlying mechanism of effect to relieve breathlessness in adults suffering from advanced diseases.

Bottom line We found low-quality evidence that oral tramadol has any important beneficial effect on pain in people with moderate or severe neuropathic pain. There is very little evidence from which to take these conclusions. Background Neuropathic pain is pain coming spontaneously or abnormally from damaged nerves. It is different from pain messages ...

Bottom line There is moderate-quality evidence that oral gabapentin at doses of 1200 mg daily or more has an important effect on pain in some people with moderate or severe neuropathic pain after shingles or due to diabetes. Background Neuropathic pain comes from damaged nerves. It is different from pain messages that are carried along healthy nerves ...

Background A common reason for intensive care unit (ICU) admission is the need for breathing (or respiratory) support. HFNC are small plastic tubes that sit inside the nostrils and deliver a heated mix of air and oxygen at high flow rates to patients requiring breathing support. They are used frequently in the ICU, yet no clear evidence shows whether ...

Bottom line This review found that most people with moderate or severe pain after an operation get good pain relief from taking ketoprofen 50 mg or dexketoprofen 25 mg. Background Acute pain is short-lived pain often felt soon after injury, including after operations. Most people who have an operation have moderate or severe pain afterwards. Painkillers ...