Philip J Devereaux

McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

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Publications (20)79.55 Total impact

  • Article: Cognitive dysfunction in hip fracture patients.
    Harman Chaudhry, Philip J Devereaux, Mohit Bhandari
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    ABSTRACT: Hip fractures represent a widespread morbidity among the geriatric population. In North America, more than 320,000 hip fractures are sustained annually, a number that is expected to increase dramatically as the population continues to age. Disorders of cognition, primarily dementia and delirium, also have a higher-than-average incidence and prevalence among the geriatric population. The co-occurrence of cognitive dysfunction and hip fracture is an important entity for orthopedic surgeons and other clinicians involved in hip fracture care to recognize. This article provides an overview of the currently available evidence regarding cognitive dysfunction, specifically dementia and delirium, in patients with hip fractures.
    Orthopedic Clinics of North America 04/2013; 44(2):153-62. · 1.25 Impact Factor
  • Article: Nitrous Oxide and Serious Morbidity and Mortality in the POISE Trial.
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    ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:In this post hoc subanalysis of the Perioperative Ischemic Evaluation (POISE) trial, we sought to determine whether nitrous oxide was associated with the primary composite outcome of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), and nonfatal cardiac arrest within 30 days of randomization.METHODS:The POISE trial of perioperative β-blockade was undertaken in 8351 patients. Nitrous oxide anesthesia was defined as the coadministration of nitrous oxide in patients receiving general anesthesia, with or without additional neuraxial blockade or peripheral nerve blockade. Logistic regression, with inverse probability weighting using estimated propensity scores, was used to determine the association of nitrous oxide with the primary outcome, MI, stroke, death, and clinically significant hypotension.RESULTS:Nitrous oxide was administered to 1489 (29%) of the 5133 patients included in this analysis. Nitrous oxide had no significant effect on the risk of the primary outcome (112 [7.5%] vs 248 [6.9%]; odds ratio [OR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82-1.44; 99% CI, 0.75-1.57; P = 0.58), MI (89 [6.0] vs 204 [5.6]; OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.75-1.31; 99% CI, 0.69-1.42; P = 0.94), stroke (6 [0.4%] vs 28 [0.8%]; OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.26-2.82; 99% CI, 0.17-4.11; P = 0.79), death (40 [2.7%] vs 100 [2.8%]; OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.6-1.81; 99% CI, 0.51-2.15; P = 0.88) or clinically significant hypotension (219 [14.7%] vs 544 [15.0%]; OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.74-1.15; 99% CI, 0.70-1.23; P = 0.48).CONCLUSIONS:In this post hoc subanalysis, nitrous oxide was not associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes in the POISE trial patients. This analysis was limited by the observational nature of the data and the lack of information on the concentration and duration of nitrous oxide administration. Further randomized controlled trial evidence is required.
    Anesthesia and analgesia 01/2013; · 3.08 Impact Factor
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    Article: Rationale and design of the coronary artery bypass grafting surgery off or on pump revascularization study: a large international randomized trial in cardiac surgery.
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    ABSTRACT: Uncertainty remains regarding the benefits and risks of the technique of operating on a beating heart (off pump) for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery versus on-pump CABG. Prior trials had few events and relatively short follow-up. There is a need for a large randomized, controlled trial with long-term follow-up to inform both the short- and long-term impact of the 2 approaches to CABG. We plan to randomize 4,700 patients in whom CABG is planned to undergo the procedure on pump or off pump. The coprimary outcomes are a composite of total mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and renal failure at 30 days and a composite of total mortality, MI, stroke, renal failure, and repeat revascularization at 5 years. We will also undertake a cost-effectiveness analysis at 30 days and 5 years after CABG surgery. Other outcomes include neurocognitive dysfunction, recurrence of angina, cardiovascular mortality, blood transfusions, and quality of life. As of May 3, 2011, CORONARY has recruited >3,884 patients from 79 centers in 19 countries. Currently, patient's mean age is 67.6 years, 80.7% are men, 47.0% have a history of diabetes, 51.4% have a history of smoking, and 34.4% had a previous MI. In addition, 20.9% of patients have a left main disease, and 96.6% have double or triple vessel disease. CORONARY is the largest trial yet conducted comparing off-pump CABG to on-pump CABG. Its results will lead to a better understanding of the safety and efficacy of off-pump CABG.
    American heart journal 01/2012; 163(1):1-6. · 4.65 Impact Factor
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    Article: Biomarkers for predicting serious cardiac outcomes at 72 hours in patients presenting early after chest pain onset with symptoms of acute coronary syndromes.
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    ABSTRACT: Most outcome studies of patients presenting early to the emergency department with potential acute coronary syndromes have focused on either the index diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI) or a composite end point at a later time frame (30 days or 1 year). We investigated the performance of 9 biomarkers for an early serious outcome. Patients (n=186) who presented to the emergency department within 6 h of chest pain onset had their presentation serum sample measured for the following analytes: creatine kinase, creatine kinase isoenzyme MB, enhanced AccuTnI troponin I (Beckman Coulter), high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), ischemia-modified albumin, interleukin-6, investigation use only hs-cTnI (Beckman Coulter), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, and cardiac troponin I (Abbott AxSym). We followed patients until 72 h after presentation and determined whether they experienced the following serious cardiac outcomes: MI, heart failure, serious arrhythmia, refractory ischemic cardiac pain, or death. ROC curves were analyzed to determine the area under the ROC curve (AUC) and optimal cutoffs for the biomarkers. The AUCs for the hs-cTnI assay (0.86; 95% CI, 0.76-0.96), the AccuTnI assay (0.86; 95% CI, 0.78-0.95), and the hs-cTnT assay (0.82; 95% CI, 0.71-0.94) assays were significantly higher than those for the other 6 assays (AUC values≤0.71 for the rest of the biomarkers, P<0.05). The ROC curve-derived optimal cutoffs were ≥19 ng/L (diagnostic sensitivity, 80%; specificity, 88%), ≥0.018 μg/L (diagnostic sensitivity, 75%; specificity, 86%), and ≥32 ng/L (diagnostic sensitivity, 68%; specificity, 92%) for the hs-cTnI, AccuTnI, and hs-cTnT assays, respectively. The optimal cutoffs for predicting serious cardiac outcomes in this low-risk population are different from the published 99th percentiles. Larger studies are required to verify these findings.
    Clinical Chemistry 09/2011; 58(1):298-302. · 7.91 Impact Factor
  • Article: Multiplex protein assay performance/evaluation and the requirement for precision and correlation to clinical assays.
    Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine 08/2011; 49(11):1915-8. · 2.15 Impact Factor
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    Article: The number of patients and events required to limit the risk of overestimation of intervention effects in meta-analysis--a simulation study.
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    ABSTRACT: Meta-analyses including a limited number of patients and events are prone to yield overestimated intervention effect estimates. While many assume bias is the cause of overestimation, theoretical considerations suggest that random error may be an equal or more frequent cause. The independent impact of random error on meta-analyzed intervention effects has not previously been explored. It has been suggested that surpassing the optimal information size (i.e., the required meta-analysis sample size) provides sufficient protection against overestimation due to random error, but this claim has not yet been validated. We simulated a comprehensive array of meta-analysis scenarios where no intervention effect existed (i.e., relative risk reduction (RRR) = 0%) or where a small but possibly unimportant effect existed (RRR = 10%). We constructed different scenarios by varying the control group risk, the degree of heterogeneity, and the distribution of trial sample sizes. For each scenario, we calculated the probability of observing overestimates of RRR>20% and RRR>30% for each cumulative 500 patients and 50 events. We calculated the cumulative number of patients and events required to reduce the probability of overestimation of intervention effect to 10%, 5%, and 1%. We calculated the optimal information size for each of the simulated scenarios and explored whether meta-analyses that surpassed their optimal information size had sufficient protection against overestimation of intervention effects due to random error. The risk of overestimation of intervention effects was usually high when the number of patients and events was small and this risk decreased exponentially over time as the number of patients and events increased. The number of patients and events required to limit the risk of overestimation depended considerably on the underlying simulation settings. Surpassing the optimal information size generally provided sufficient protection against overestimation. Random errors are a frequent cause of overestimation of intervention effects in meta-analyses. Surpassing the optimal information size will provide sufficient protection against overestimation.
    PLoS ONE 01/2011; 6(10):e25491. · 4.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: Pros and cons of composite endpoints in anesthesia trials.
    Paul S Myles, Philip J Devereaux
    Anesthesiology 10/2010; 113(4):776-8. · 5.36 Impact Factor
  • Article: Kidney disease after preeclampsia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
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    ABSTRACT: Preeclampsia (the development of proteinuria and hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation) is common; however, there is uncertainty about the natural history of subsequent kidney disease. Our objective is to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine whether women with a history of preeclampsia are at increased risk of subsequent kidney disease. Systematic review and meta-analyses of observational studies. Studies examining kidney outcomes in women with a history of preeclampsia compared with women with unaffected pregnancies. From MEDLINE and EMBASE searches, we included case-control and cohort studies of kidney outcomes at least 6 weeks postpartum in women with and without a history of preeclampsia. 2 independent reviewers determined study eligibility, extracted data, and assessed quality. STUDY FACTOR: Preeclampsia. Microalbuminuria, proteinuria, serum creatinine level, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. 7 cohort studies were included, involving 273 patients with preeclampsia and 333 patients with uncomplicated pregnancies. At a weighted mean of 7.1 years postpartum, 31% of women with a history of preeclampsia had microalbuminuria compared with 7% of women with uncomplicated pregnancies, a 4-fold increased risk, whereas women with severe preeclampsia had an 8-fold increase. Serum creatinine level and estimated glomerular filtration rate were not significantly different at follow-up in women with and without preeclampsia, making it unlikely that they would have been different at baseline. Limitations of this systematic review include potential confounders that were not explored in most or any of the original studies, the small size of many studies, and possible publication bias (lack of negative studies). Women with a history of preeclampsia have an increased risk of microalbuminuria with a prevalence similar to the published prevalence in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Further research is needed to determine whether the increased risk of microalbuminuria persists after adjustment for a thorough set of confounding factors in larger populations and the mechanisms underlying this association.
    American Journal of Kidney Diseases 03/2010; 55(6):1026-39. · 5.43 Impact Factor
  • Article: Etiology of troponin elevation in critically ill patients.
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    ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to assess the etiology of cardiac troponin elevation among patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and to examine whether etiology affects mortality and length of stay. All patients admitted over 2 months underwent screening with troponin measurements and were included if 1 or more measurements were elevated. Two adjudicators retrospectively reviewed patient charts to determine the likely cause of troponin elevation. Of 103 patient admissions, 52 (50.5%) had 1 or more elevated troponin measurements, and 49 (94.2%) had medical charts available for review. Troponin elevation was adjudicated as myocardial infarction (MI) in 53.1% of patients, sepsis in 18.4%, renal failure in 12.2%, and other causes in 16.3%. Overall ICU mortality was 16.0%; 2.0% for patients with no troponin elevation, 23.1% in patients with MI, and 39.1% in patients with troponin elevation not due to MI. Having an elevated troponin level not due to MI was significantly associated with increased hospital mortality compared with having no troponin elevation. The most common cause of troponin elevation among critically ill patients was MI. Patients with elevated troponin had worse outcomes compared with patients without troponin elevation, and troponin elevation not due to MI was predictive of increased hospital mortality.
    Journal of critical care 09/2009; 25(2):322-8. · 2.13 Impact Factor
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    Article: Nitrous oxide and perioperative cardiac morbidity (ENIGMA-II) Trial: rationale and design.
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    ABSTRACT: Globally there are >200 million major surgical procedures undertaken annually, and about 20% of these involve patients who have coronary artery disease. Many receive nitrous oxide, which impairs methionine synthase, thus inhibiting folate synthesis and increasing postoperative homocysteine levels. Nitrous oxide anesthesia leads to postoperative endothelial dysfunction, and there is some evidence that it increases myocardial ischemia and, possibly, myocardial infarction. We have initiated the Nitrous oxide and perioperative cardiac morbidity (ENIGMA-II) Trial to test the hypothesis that in inpatients undergoing anesthesia for major noncardiac surgery, avoidance of nitrous oxide will reduce the incidence of death and major cardiovascular events. ENIGMA-II is a 7,000-patient, international randomized trial involving patients at risk of coronary artery disease undergoing noncardiac surgery. The patients, health care providers (except for the anesthesiologists), data collectors, and outcome adjudicators are blinded to whether patients receive nitrous oxide-containing or nitrous oxide-free anesthetic. The primary outcome is a composite of death and major nonfatal events (ie, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, pulmonary embolism, and stroke) at 30 days after surgery. At present, ENIGMA-II has randomized >1,000 patients in 22 hospitals in 5 countries. To date, patients' mean age is 70 years, 66% are men, 38% have a history of coronary artery disease, 19% have a history of cerebrovascular disease, and 84% have a history of hypertension. Most patients have undergone intra-abdominal 28%, vascular 32%, and orthopedic 16% surgery. The ENIGMA-II Trial will be the largest study yet conducted to ascertain the benefits and risks of removing nitrous oxide from the gas mixture in anesthesia. The results of this large international trial will guide the clinical care of the hundreds of millions of adults undergoing noncardiac surgery annually.
    American heart journal 03/2009; 157(3):488-494.e1. · 4.65 Impact Factor
  • Article: Primary prevention of cardiovascular mortality and events with statin treatments: a network meta-analysis involving more than 65,000 patients.
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    ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) in primary prevention of cardiovascular events. The role of statins is well established for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) clinical events and mortality. Little is known of their role in primary cardiovascular event prevention. We conducted comprehensive searches of 10 electronic databases from inception to May 2008. We contacted study investigators and maintained a comprehensive bibliography of statin studies. We included randomized trials of at least 12-month duration in predominantly primary prevention populations. Two reviewers independently extracted data in duplicate. We performed random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression, calculated optimal information size, and conducted a mixed-treatment comparison analysis. We included 20 randomized clinical trials. We pooled 19 trials (n = 63,899) for all-cause mortality and found a relative risk (RR) of 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.87 to 0.99, p = 0.03 [I(2) = 5%, 95% CI: 0% to 51%]). Eighteen trials (n = 59,469) assessed cardiovascular deaths (RR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.81 to 0.98, p = 0.01 [I(2) = 0%, 95% CI: 0% to 41%]). Seventeen trials (n = 53,371) found an RR of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.77 to 0.95, p = 0.004 [I(2) = 61%, 95% CI: 38% to 77%]) for major cardiovascular events, and 17 trials (n = 52,976) assessed myocardial infarctions (RR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.63 to 0.95, p = 0.01 [I(2) = 59%, 95% CI: 24% to 74%]). Incidence of cancer was not elevated in 10 trials (n = 45,469) (RR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.94 to 1.11, p = 0.59 [I(2) = 0%, 95% CI: 0% to 46%]), nor was rhabdomyolysis (RR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.25 to 3.83, p = 0.96 [I(2) = 0%, 95% CI: 0% to 40%]). Our analysis included a sufficient sample to reliably answer our primary outcome of CVD mortality. Statins have a clear role in primary prevention of CVD mortality and major events.
    Journal of the American College of Cardiology 12/2008; 52(22):1769-81. · 14.16 Impact Factor
  • Article: Cardiovascular sequelae of preeclampsia/eclampsia: a systematic review and meta-analyses.
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    ABSTRACT: Preeclampsia affects 3% to 5% of gestations and eclampsia 0.05% to 0.93%, but their subsequent cardiovascular sequelae are unclear. The aim of this study was to determine if women with a history of preeclampsia/eclampsia are at increased risk of long-term cardiovascular sequelae. From Medline and Embase searches, we included case-control and cohort studies that examined cardiac, cerebrovascular or peripheral arterial disease, or cardiovascular mortality>6 weeks postpartum, in women with and without a history of preeclampsia/eclampsia and that controlled for or matched for confounders. Two independent reviewers determined study eligibility and extracted data. Five case-control and 10 cohort studies met eligibility criteria, with a total of 116,175 women with and 2,259,576 women without preeclampsia/eclampsia. Most studies focused on women<56 years of age. Relative to women with uncomplicated pregnancies, women with a history of preeclampsia/eclampsia had an increased risk of subsequent cardiac disease in both the case-control studies (odds ratio 2.47, 95% CI 1.22-5.01) and the cohort studies (relative risk [RR] 2.33, 1.95-2.78), as well as an increased risk of cerebrovascular disease (RR 2.03, 1.54-2.67), peripheral arterial disease (RR 1.87, 0.94-3.73), and cardiovascular mortality (RR 2.29, 1.73-3.04). Meta-regression revealed a graded relationship between the severity of preeclampsia/eclampsia and the risk of cardiac disease (mild: RR 2.00, 1.83-2.19, moderate: RR 2.99, 2.51-3.58, severe: RR 5.36, 3.96-7.27, P<.0001). Women with a history of preeclampsia/eclampsia have approximately double the risk of early cardiac, cerebrovascular, and peripheral arterial disease, and cardiovascular mortality. Further research is needed to determine the mechanisms underlying these associations and to identify effective prevention strategies.
    American heart journal 12/2008; 156(5):918-30. · 4.65 Impact Factor
  • Article: Should physicians initiate beta-blocker therapy in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery? Insights from the POISE trial.
    Polskie archiwum medycyny wewnȩtrznej 12/2008; 118(11):616-8. · 1.37 Impact Factor
  • Article: Open versus endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm: a survey of Canadian vascular surgeons.
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    ABSTRACT: The aim of this survey was to determine Canadian vascular surgeons' experience with elective endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) and traditional open repair and their interest in participating in an expertise- based randomized controlled trial (RCT) as opposed to a conventional RCT comparing these 2 procedures. A single-page questionnaire was developed and sent by fax, email or post to all vascular surgeons in Canada. Nonresponders were recontacted on 2 additional occasions to improve the response rate. The questionnaire had 2 sections. The first inquired about current and past practice patterns, including experience in both open and endovascular techniques. The second investigated the surgeons' belief in the value of open as opposed to endovascular repair and the value of expertise-based RCT methodology; it also canvassed their interest in participating in a future trial. Definitions of expertise in open and endovascular repair were drawn from the published literature. Criteria to determine the feasibility of conducting an expertise-based RCT were established a priori. The questionnaire was sent to 259 surgeons who appeared in multiple vascular surgery databases, and the overall response rate was 56% (95% confidence interval [CI] 50%-62%). The mean career experience was 406 cases (standard deviation [SD] 359) for conventional open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair and 24 cases (SD 48) for endovascular repair. Of the responding surgeons, 51% (95% CI 41%-60%) ranked conventional open repair as "probably superior." Respondents were equally interested in participating in an RCT using either expertise-based methodology (54%, 95% CI 44%-63%) or conventional design (51%, 95% CI 41%-60%). Uncertainty exists among vascular surgeons in Canada as to the role of endovascular surgery in the repair of AAA. A national RCT comparing open with endovascular repair in the elective setting is potentially feasible with either expertise-based or conventional design. Increases in the number of surgeons who are willing to participate and have expertise in EVAR, in addition to high recruitment rates among eligible patients, will be necessary to make such a trial feasible in Canada.
    Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie 05/2008; 51(2):142-8; quiz 149. · 1.05 Impact Factor
  • Article: Sensible guidelines for the conduct of large randomized trials.
    Clinical Trials 02/2008; 5(1):38-9. · 1.92 Impact Factor
  • Article: Incidence and timing of myocardial infarction after total joint arthroplasty.
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    ABSTRACT: Retrospective review of 3471 patients who underwent total joint arthroplasty (TJA) (1479 hips, 1992 knees) to determine the incidence and timing of inhospital myocardial infarction (MI) after TJA. Sixty-three patients (1.8%; 95% CI, 1.4%-2.4%) suffered a perioperative MI occurring at a mean of 3 days post surgery. In multivariate analysis, increased age, body mass index, bilateral TJA, diabetes, and American Society of Anesthesiologists rating 3 were associated with perioperative MI. Our data cautions against hospital discharge within 3 days of surgery.
    The Journal of Arthroplasty 10/2006; 21(6):874-7. · 2.38 Impact Factor
  • Article: A large trial is vital to prove perioperative beta-blockade effectiveness and safety before widespread use.
    Kate Leslie, Philip J Devereaux
    Anesthesiology 10/2004; 101(3):803; author reply 804-6. · 5.36 Impact Factor
  • Article: Doubling the impact: publication of systematic review articles in orthopaedic journals.
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    ABSTRACT: Investigators aim to publish their research papers in top journals to disseminate their findings to the widest possible audience. Systematic reviews of the literature occupy the highest position in currently proposed hierarchies of evidence. We hypothesized that the number of citations (a measure of scholarly interest) for systematic reviews (or meta-analyses) published in leading orthopaedic journals would be greater than the number of citations for narrative reviews published in the same journals. We identified fifteen journals that had high Science Citation Index impact factors for the orthopaedic subspecialty and were believed to have a higher yield of studies and reviews of scientific merit and clinical relevance. For the year 2000, six research associates applied methodological criteria to each article in each issue of the fifteen journals to determine whether the article was scientifically sound (rigorous versus nonrigorous). Of the 3916 articles identified, 2331 were original or review articles. We queried the ISI (Institute for Scientific Information) Web of Science database to ascertain, as of March 2003, the number of subsequent citations to each one of the reviews after its original publication in all journals that published both narrative and systematic reviews. Of the 2331 articles published across the fifteen journals in the year 2000, 110 were review articles. Only seventeen (15%) of the 110 reviews met our criteria for systematic reviews with rigor. Rigorous systematic reviews received more than twice the mean number of citations compared with other systematic or narrative reviews (13.8 compared with 6.0, p = 0.008). The rigor of a review was a significant predictor of the number of citations in other orthopaedic journals (p = 0.01). In addition, rigor was significantly associated with the number of citations in nonorthopaedic journals (p = 0.03). Our findings suggest that journal editors and authors can improve the relevance and scholarly interest in their reviews (as shown by the number of citations) by meeting standard guidelines for methodological rigor.
    The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 06/2004; 86-A(5):1012-6. · 3.27 Impact Factor
  • Article: Best evidence in anesthetic practice. Prevention: alpha2- and beta-adrenergic antagonists reduce perioperative cardiac events.
    Philip J Devereaux, Kate Leslie
    Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia 05/2004; 51(4):290-2. · 2.35 Impact Factor
  • Article: Best evidence in anesthetic practice
    Philip J. Devereaux, Kate Leslie
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    ABSTRACT: QuestionIn patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery, what is the efficacy and harm of pharmacological interventions in preventing perioperative myocardial ischemia, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), or cardiac mortality? Data sourcesStudies were identified by computerized searches (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library) up to November 2002 and citation review. No language restrictions were applied. Study selectionStudies were selected if they were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing a cardioprotective drug to placebo or another cardioprotective drug in patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery, followed patients over the entire intraoperative period or longer, enrolled at least ten patients per group, initiated the drug regimen no later than 24 hr after surgery, and did not focus on cardiovascular responses during the induction of anesthesia. Data extractionData were extracted in triplicate on trial design, surgical setting, patient characteristics, drug regimens, length of postoperative follow-up, prevalence of previous MI, and outcomes including adverse events. The main outcomes were intraoperative myocardial ischemia, postoperative myocardial ischemia, perioperative nonfatal MI, and cardiac mortality. Main resultsTwenty-one trials with a total of 3,646 patients met the selection criteria. Studied drugs included β-blockers (11 RCTs, 866 patients), α2-agonists (six RCTs, 2,614 patients), calcium channel blockers (three RCTs, 121 patients), and nitrates (one RCT, 45 patients). All compared a single cardioprotective drug with placebo. Meta-analyses were only performed for drugs tested in at least two trials. β-blockers and α2-agonists reduced intraoperative ischemia; β-blockers also reduced postoperative ischemia (Table). β-blockers reduced the risk of nonfatal MI (odds ratio [OR] 0.19; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.08–0.48; Table). This effect was not significant when the two trials with extremely high control event rates were excluded. β-blockers and α2-agonists reduced the risk of cardiac mortality (Table). Again, this effect was not significant for β-blockers when the single trial with extremely high baseline risk was excluded. β-blockers and calcium channel blockers increased the risk of bradycardia compared to placebo (Table). ConclusionsCompared to placebo, β-blockers and α2-agonists reduce the risk of perioperative cardiac events in patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery; the magnitude of risk reduction with β-blockers appears to be dependent on the baseline risk. FundingProsper Grant No. 3233-051939.97/2, Swiss National Research Foundation.
    Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia 03/2004; 51(4):290-292. · 2.35 Impact Factor