Decompressive craniectomy: a meta-analysis of influences on intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure in the treatment of traumatic brain injury.

Object: In recent years, the role of decompressive craniectomy for the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in patients with refractory intracranial hypertension has been the subject of several studies. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the contribution of decompressive craniectomy in reducing intracranial pressure (ICP) and increasing cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) in these patients.

Methods: Comprehensive literature searches were performed for articles related to the effects of decompressive craniectomy on ICP and CPP in patients with TBI.

Oropharyngeal examination as a predictor of obstructive sleep apnea: pilot study of gag reflex and palatal reflex.

Unlabelled: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has high prevalence and may cause serious comorbidities. The aim of this trial was to show if simple noninvasive methods such as gag reflex and palatal reflex are prospective multivariate assessments of predictor variables for OSA.

Method: We evaluate gag reflex and palatal reflex, of fifty-five adult patients, and their subsequent overnight polysomnography.

Swallowing dysfunction related to obstructive sleep apnea: a nasal fibroscopy pilot study.

Purpose: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may have subclinical swallowing abnormalities due to progressive mechanical trauma of the pharyngeal tissues caused by snoring. There are few trials on swallowing among OSA patients, and most of them used videoradiography. The aim of this trial was to show swallowing function in OSA patients by nasal fibroscopy.

Methods for increasing upper airway muscle tonus in treating obstructive sleep apnea: systematic review.

Objective: Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using methods for increasing upper airway muscle tonus has been controversial and poorly reported. Thus, a review of the evidence is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of these methods.

Design: The design used was a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

The pharmacological treatment for uremic restless legs syndrome: evidence-based review.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common and often misdiagnosed entity among the general population and it may be more common among dialysis patients, with an estimated prevalence of 6.6 to 21.5%.

Methods to increase muscle tonus of upper airway to treat snoring: systematic review.

Background: Snoring is the noise caused by vibration during the in-breath; and which structure actually vibrates depends on many factors.

Objective: The treatment of snoring with methods to increase muscle tonus of upper airway has been controversial, and poorly reported, thus a review of evidence is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of these methods.

Method: A review of randomized or quasi-randomized, double blind trials on snoring treatment that have employed any method to increase muscle tonus of upper airway like phonotherapy or physical therapy among others.

Anticonvulsants to treat idiopathic restless legs syndrome: systematic review.

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensory motor disorder characterized by a distressing urge to move the legs and sometimes also other parts of the body usually accompanied by a marked sense of discomfort or pain in the leg or other affected body part. Many treatments have been used to minimize the discomfort of the disease, among them the anticonvulsant therapy.

Aim: This review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anticonvulsant treatment for idiopathic RLS.

Levodopa for idiopathic restless legs syndrome: evidence-based review.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensory motor disorder characterized by a distressing urge to move the legs and sometimes also other parts of the body usually accompanied by a marked sense of discomfort or pain in the leg or other affected body part. The prevalence of RLS is estimated at 2.7 to 5% of adults and it is more common in women.