Little, Mark, and Murray, Lindsay M. (2008) Unplanned Admissions to two Sydney public hospitals after naltrexone implants. Medical Journal of Australia, 189 (8). p. 469.

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Abstract

[Extract] To the Editor: We read with interest the report of 12 hospital presentations related to the use of naltrexone implants. The accompanying editorial highlights how the rigorous scrutiny required to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this procedure is lacking. Regrettably, this study is likely to distort rather than inform the debate.

Lintzeris and colleagues only identified patients with naltrexone implants who were referred to the Drug and Alcohol Consultation–Liaison services, not all patients presenting to the study hospitals. Additionally, the authors did not follow the methodology of chart reviews, as recommended by Gilbert and colleagues. Four of the 12 patients clearly had problems unrelated to their naltrexone implants. There was no attempt to identify the number of naltrexone implantations performed (ie, the denominator), nor was there any attempt to compare the naltrexone group with others being treated with agents such as methadone or buprenorphine.

Item ID:	38736
Item Type:	Article (Editorial)
ISSN:	1326-5377
Related URLs:	Publisher
Date Deposited:	09 Sep 2016 05:54
FoR Codes:	11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1199 Other Medical and Health Sciences > 119999 Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9299 Other Health > 929999 Health not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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