What do systematic reviews say?

Prophylactic platelet transfusion at threshold of 10,000 vs higher transfusion threshold (20,000 or 30,000)

Prophylactic platelet transfusion at threshold of 10,000 showed no clear difference in mortality from all causes up to 30 days from study entry compared with higher transfusion threshold (20,000 or 30,000) (low certainty).

• Comparison of different platelet count thresholds to guide administration of prophylactic platelet transfusion for… 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.78 [0.83, 3.81]
  1 study · 255 participants
  Low

Prophylactic platelet transfusions with low‐dose schedule vs high‐dose schedule

Prophylactic platelet transfusions with low‐dose schedule showed no clear difference in mortality from all causes up to 30 days from study entry compared with high‐dose schedule (low certainty).

• Different doses of prophylactic platelet transfusion for preventing bleeding in people with haematological disorders… 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.33 [0.5, 3.54]
  1 study · 849 participants
  Low

Prophylactic platelet transfusions with high‐dose schedule vs standard‐dose strategies

Prophylactic platelet transfusions with high‐dose schedule showed no clear difference in mortality from all causes up to 30 days from study entry compared with standard‐dose schedule (low certainty).

• Different doses of prophylactic platelet transfusion for preventing bleeding in people with haematological disorders… 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.71 [0.51, 5.81]
  1 study · 855 participants
  Low

Prophylactic plasma transfusion before surgery/invasive procedures vs alternative haemostatic agents

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Prophylactic plasma transfusion for patients without inherited bleeding disorders or anticoagulant use undergoing… 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Prophylactic cholinesterase inhibitor vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for preventing delirium in hospitalised non‐ICU patients 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Prophylactic administration of paracetamol vs placebo or no intervention

Prophylactic administration of paracetamol showed no clear difference in all‐cause mortality during initial hospital stay (by clinical… compared with placebo or no intervention (low certainty).

• Paracetamol (acetaminophen) for patent ductus arteriosus in preterm or low birth weight infants 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.59 [0.24, 1.44]
  3 studies · 240 participants
  Low

MSCs vs placebo or control

MSCs showed no clear difference in all‐cause mortality (prophylactic trials) (over duration of trial) compared with control/placebo (low certainty).

• Mesenchymal stromal cells as treatment or prophylaxis for acute or chronic graft‐versus‐host disease in haematopoietic… 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.85 [0.5, 1.42]
  5 studies · 301 participants
  Low

Direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) prophylaxis vs no prophylaxis

Direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) prophylaxis showed no clear difference in mortality compared with no prophylaxis (moderate certainty).

• Oral anticoagulation in people with cancer who have no therapeutic or prophylactic indication for anticoagulation 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.94 [0.64, 1.38]
  3 studies · 1440 participants
  Moderate

Vitamin K antagonist (VKA) prophylaxis vs no prophylaxis

Vitamin K antagonist (VKA) prophylaxis showed no clear difference in mortality compared with no prophylaxis (moderate certainty).

• Oral anticoagulation in people with cancer who have no therapeutic or prophylactic indication for anticoagulation 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.95 [0.87, 1.03]
  5 studies · 1281 participants
  Moderate

Drain use vs No drain

Drain use showed no clear difference in mortality compared with no drain use following pancreatic surgery (low certainty).

• Prophylactic abdominal drainage for pancreatic surgery 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.78 [0.31, 1.99]
  4 studies · 1055 participants
  Low
• Prophylactic abdominal drainage for pancreatic surgery 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.23 [0.06, 0.9]
  2 studies · 478 participants
  Low

Early vs late drain removal following pancreatic surgery

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

• Prophylactic abdominal drainage for pancreatic surgery 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.99 [0.06, 15.45]
  3 studies · 399 participants
  Very low
• Prophylactic abdominal drainage for pancreatic surgery 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Active drain vs passive drain

It is very uncertain whether active drain changes mortality compared with passive drain following pancreatic surgery (very low certainty).

• Prophylactic abdominal drainage for pancreatic surgery 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.23 [0.3, 5.06]
  2 studies · 382 participants
  Very low
• Prophylactic abdominal drainage for pancreatic surgery 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Anaerobic coverage only vs gram‐positive and gram‐negative coverage

• Prophylactic antibiotics for penetrating abdominal trauma: duration of use and antibiotic choice 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 160 participants
  Very low

Anaerobic coverage only vs gram‐negative and anaerobic coverage

• Prophylactic antibiotics for penetrating abdominal trauma: duration of use and antibiotic choice 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 417 participants
  Very low

Gram‐negative and anaerobic coverage vs gram‐positive, gram‐negative, and anaerobic coverage

• Prophylactic antibiotics for penetrating abdominal trauma: duration of use and antibiotic choice 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 177 participants
  Very low

More than 24 hours of antibiotics vs 24 hours of antibiotics

It is very uncertain whether more than 24 hours of antibiotics changes mortality compared with 24 hours of antibiotics (very low certainty).

• Prophylactic antibiotics for penetrating abdominal trauma: duration of use and antibiotic choice 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.67 [0.73, 3.82]
  7 studies · 1261 participants
  Very low

Gram‐positive and gram‐negative coverage vs gram‐negative and anaerobic coverage

It is very uncertain whether gram‐positive and gram‐negative coverage changes mortality compared with gram‐negative and anaerobic coverage (very low certainty).

• Prophylactic antibiotics for penetrating abdominal trauma: duration of use and antibiotic choice 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.55 [0.11, 2.77]
  3 studies · 555 participants
  Very low

Single‐dose antibiotic vs 24 hours of antibiotics

• Prophylactic antibiotics for penetrating abdominal trauma: duration of use and antibiotic choice 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 360 participants
  Very low

Anaerobic coverage only vs gram‐positive, gram‐negative, and anaerobic coverage

• Prophylactic antibiotics for penetrating abdominal trauma: duration of use and antibiotic choice 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 309 participants
  Very low

Lidocaine vs tocainide

It is very uncertain whether lidocaine changes cardiac mortality compared with tocainide (very low certainty).

• Prophylactic lidocaine for myocardial infarction 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.23 [0.08, 17.83]
  1 study · 29 participants
  Very low