What do systematic reviews say?

Early enteral nutrition within 24 hours of lower gastrointestinal surgery vs later commencement

• Early enteral nutrition within 24 hours of lower gastrointestinal surgery versus later commencement for length of… 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  16 studies · 1346 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in hospital length of stay (patients recovering from orthopaedic surgery) (moderate certainty).

• Early discharge hospital at home 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 411 participants
  Moderate

Enhanced recovery protocol vs traditional care

• Perioperative enhanced recovery programmes for women with gynaecological cancers 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  6 studies · 638 participants
  Low

Prehabilitation vs no prehabilitation

• Prehabilitation versus no prehabilitation to improve functional capacity, reduce postoperative complications and… 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 250 participants
  GRADE not reported

Summary of findings table ‐ Combined mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation vs oral antibiotics

• Preoperative combined mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation for preventing complications in elective… 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 2 participants
  Moderate

Summary of findings table ‐ Combined mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation vs no bowel preparation

• Preoperative combined mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation for preventing complications in elective… 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 396 participants
  Low

Summary of findings table ‐ Combined mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation vs mechanical bowel preparation alone

• Preoperative combined mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation for preventing complications in elective… 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 621 participants
  Moderate

High vs low blood pressure target

• High versus low blood pressure targets for cardiac surgery while on cardiopulmonary bypass 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 540 participants
  Very low

Active drain vs passive drain

It is very uncertain whether active drain changes length of hospital stay compared with passive drain following pancreatic surgery (very low certainty).

• Prophylactic abdominal drainage for pancreatic surgery 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 321 participants
  Very low

Early vs late drain removal following pancreatic surgery

It is very uncertain whether early changes length of hospital stay compared with late drain removal following pancreatic surgery (very low certainty).

• Prophylactic abdominal drainage for pancreatic surgery 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 399 participants
  Very low

Drain use vs No drain

Drain use showed no clear difference in length of hospital stay compared with no drain use following pancreatic surgery (low certainty).

• Prophylactic abdominal drainage for pancreatic surgery 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 876 participants
  Low

rHuEPO with iron vs control treatment with or without iron

• Erythropoietin plus iron versus control treatment including placebo or iron for preoperative anaemic adults undergoing… 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 293 participants
  Low

Prophylactic levosimendan vs usual care

• Prophylactic levosimendan for the prevention of low cardiac output syndrome and mortality in paediatric patients… 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 75 participants
  Low

Enhanced recovery protocol vs usual care

• Enhanced recovery protocols for major upper gastrointestinal, liver and pancreatic surgery 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  9 studies · 1014 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

• Preoperative statin therapy for patients undergoing cardiac surgery 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  11 studies · 1137 participants
  Moderate

Fibrin glue instillation under skin flaps vs no‐fibrin

• Fibrin glue instillation under skin flaps to prevent seroma‐related morbidity following breast and axillary surgery 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  6 studies · 364 participants
  Low

Immune‐enhancing supplements (oral or enteral) vs usual care or control

• Preoperative nutrition therapy in people undergoing gastrointestinal surgery 2024 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  6 studies · 688 participants
  Low

Oral nutritional supplements vs usual care or control

• Preoperative nutrition therapy in people undergoing gastrointestinal surgery 2024 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 299 participants
  Low

Preoperative parenteral nutrition vs usual care or control

• Preoperative nutrition therapy in people undergoing gastrointestinal surgery 2024 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 135 participants
  Very low

Preoperative enteral nutrition (standard formula) vs usual care or control

• Preoperative nutrition therapy in people undergoing gastrointestinal surgery 2024 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 126 participants
  Very low