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Objectives To evaluate the analgesic and anti‐haemorrhagic efficacy of platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) among patients undergoing tonsillectomy. Design A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Setting PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and Google Scholar databases were screened from inception until July 2021, and updated in December 2021. Participants Patients undergoing tonsillectomy. Main outcome measures The efficacy endpoints of postoperative pain and haemorrhage were summarised as standardised mean difference (SMD) and risk ratio (RR), respectively, with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Seven RCTs Seven RCTs were analysed, comprising a total of 392 patients. Risk of bias evaluation showed an overall high risk in one RCT, low risk in four RCTs and some concerns in two RCTs. The pooled results revealed that the mean postoperative pain score was significantly reduced in favour of the PRP group compared with the control group (SMD = −1.38, 95% CI [−1.91, −0.85], p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed the effect estimate was statistically significant for early postoperative pain (Day 0 to Day 3), without substantial difference between both groups on late postoperative pain (Days 5 and 7). Moreover, the rate of postoperative haemorrhage was significantly reduced in favour of the PRP group compared with the control group (RR = 0.16, 95% CI [0.05, 0.50], p = 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed the effect estimate was statistically significant for the rate of primary and secondary haemorrhage. Conclusion PRP was associated with significant reduction in postoperative pain and haemorrhage among patients undergoing tonsillectomy.

We aimed to assess the efficacy of Hibiscus sabdariffa in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension or metabolic syndrome (MetS) by comparing it against placebo, antihypertensive drugs, or other herbal products. Four databases were searched for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) examining the efficacy of H. sabdariffa in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension or hypertension associated with MetS. Data on the change in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were extracted and analyzed using Review Manager Version 5.3. A total of 13 RCTs (1205 participants) were analyzed. Hibiscus sabdariffa significantly reduced both SBP and DBP compared with placebo (mean difference 26.67, P = 0.004 and 24.35 mm Hg, P = 0.02). Subgroup analysis showed that change in SBP and DBP was statistically significant in patients with only hypertension, whereas not significant in patients with hypertension associated with MetS. When H. sabdariffa was compared with active controls (antihypertensive drugs or other herbals), the change in SBP and DBP was not statistically significant (all P . 0.05). Hibiscus sabdariffa is effective in reducing the SBP and DBP in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension, but was neither effective in those with MetS nor superior to antihypertensive drugs. Further RCTs are required to determine the long-term efficacy of H. sabdariffa and to describe patients who would benefit most from this treatment.

Bariatric surgeries are effective long-term management for morbid obesity with its adverse sequelae. Anesthesia of bariatric surgeries poses unique challenges for the anesthesiologist in every step starting with vascular access till tracheal extubation. The usage of ultrasound in anesthesia is becoming more prevalent with a variety of benefits, especially in the obese population. Ultrasound is successfully used for obtaining vascular access, with more than 15 million catheters placed in the United States alone. Ultrasound can also be used to predict difficult intubation, as it can confirm the tracheal intubation and assess the gastric content to prevent pulmonary aspiration. Ultrasound is also used in the management of mechanically ventilated patients to monitor lung aeration and to identify respiratory complications during positive pressure ventilation. Moreover, intraoperative echocardiography helps to discover the pulmonary embolism and guides the fluid therapy. Finally, ultrasound can be used to perform neuraxial and fascial plane block with a less overall time of the procedures and minimal complications. The wide use of ultrasound in bariatric anesthesia reflects the learning curve of the anesthesiologists and their mounting efforts to provide safe anesthesia utilizing the updated technology. In this review, we highlight the role of ultrasonography in anesthesia of bariatric surgery and discuss the recent guidelines.