Cochrane

Review question What are the benefits and harms of various gases for insufflation (inflation with gas) of the abdominal (tummy) cavity to allow easier access to organs during laparoscopic (key-hole) abdominal surgery? Background Laparoscopic (key hole) surgery is now widely performed to treat various abdominal diseases. An ideal gas for insufflation ...

What was the aim of this review? The aim of this Cochrane Review was to find out if focal laser therapy in addition to treatment by systemic chemotherapy for retinoblastoma reduces the risk of tumour recurrence. Key messages There were no data comparing systemic chemotherapy alone to systemic chemotherapy with laser therapy. What was studied in the ...

Review question For the treatment of early unfavourable and advanced stage Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) two different international standards are commonly used, either chemotherapy with escalated (intensified) BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone) regimen or chemotherapy with ABVD (doxorubicin, ...

Bottom line No firm conclusions could be drawn about the effectiveness or harms of tramadol, alone or with paracetamol, in cancer pain. Background One person in two or three who gets cancer will suffer from pain that becomes moderate or severe in intensity. The pain tends to get worse as the cancer progresses. Tramadol hydrochloride is an opioid ...

Background Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a malignancy of the lymphatic system. It occurs in children and adults, but it is more common in the third decade of life. It is one of the most curable forms of cancer. There are four stages of HL, stages I and II are considered as early stage HL and stages III and IV as advanced stage. Using risk factors such ...

Review question We reviewed the evidence of the effectiveness and side effects of 131I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (131I-MIBG) therapy in patients with newly diagnosed high-risk (HR) neuroblastoma (NBL). Background NBL is a rare solid cancer that develops from special nerves cells. Patients with newly diagnosed HR NBL have a poor outcome, despite intensive ...

Review question We reviewed the evidence about the effect of high-dose chemotherapy (medicines to kill the cancer) followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation compared to standard-dose chemotherapy on overall survival (time from cancer diagnosis, or treatment, to death from any cause) in people with nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue ...

Review question We reviewed the evidence of the effects and safety of urate oxidase for the prevention and treatment of tumour lysis syndrome (TLS) in children with malignancies. Background TLS occurs when uric acid and other cellular substances are rapidly released into the circulation when tumour cells are broken down spontaneously or during treatment. ...

Review question To determine the benefit and harm of a restrictive red blood cell transfusion strategy when compared with a liberal red blood cell transfusion strategy for people diagnosed with a blood cancer (for example leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma) who were receiving intensive treatments for their disease (chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation). Background People ...

Review question We reviewed the evidence about what helps children with cancer to take part in decisions about their health care. We found no studies. Background Cancer is a serious illness that involves complex treatments with unpleasant side effects. Children with cancer generally prefer to be involved in some way in decisions about their care ...