What do systematic reviews say?

Non‐surgical vs surgical treatment of oesophageal cancer (primary outcomes)

Non‐surgical showed no clear difference in long‐term mortality (binary): definitive chemoradiotherapy versus… compared with surgical treatment of oesophageal cancer (primary outcomes) (low certainty).

• Non‐surgical versus surgical treatment for oesophageal cancer 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.04 [0.93, 1.16]
  2 studies · 431 participants
  Low

Prehabilitation vs no prehabilitation

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Prehabilitation versus no prehabilitation to improve functional capacity, reduce postoperative complications and… 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

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

Summary of findings table ‐ Combined mechanical and oral antibiotic… showed no clear difference in mortality compared with no bowel preparation (low certainty).

• Preoperative combined mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation for preventing complications in elective… 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.2 [0.01, 4.22]
  1 study · 396 participants
  Low

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

Summary of findings table ‐ Combined mechanical and oral antibiotic… showed no clear difference in mortality compared with mechanical bowel preparation alone (moderate certainty).

• Preoperative combined mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation for preventing complications in elective… 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.87 [0.27, 2.82]
  3 studies · 639 participants
  Moderate

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

Summary of findings table ‐ Combined mechanical and oral antibiotic… showed no clear difference in mortality compared with oral antibiotics alone (low certainty).

• Preoperative combined mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation for preventing complications in elective… 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.02 [0.3, 3.5]
  2 studies · 709 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in mortality (moderate certainty).

• Interventions for improving mobility after hip fracture surgery in adults 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.01 [0.49, 2.06]
  8 studies · 737 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in mortality (low certainty).

• Interventions for improving mobility after hip fracture surgery in adults 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.06 [0.48, 2.3]
  6 studies · 489 participants
  Low

Helium vs carbon dioxide

• Gases for establishing pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic abdominal surgery 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  5 studies · 177 participants
  Very low

Room air vs carbon dioxide

• Gases for establishing pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic abdominal surgery 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 146 participants
  Very low

Nitrous oxide vs carbon dioxide

• Gases for establishing pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic abdominal surgery 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 260 participants
  Very low

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

Paravertebral anaesthesia with or without sedation vs general anaesthesia

• Paravertebral anaesthesia with or without sedation versus general anaesthesia for women undergoing breast cancer surgery 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  9 studies · 9 participants
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in mortality (moderate certainty).

• Prolonged thromboprophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin for abdominal or pelvic surgery 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.15 [0.72, 1.84]
  7 studies · 1881 participants
  Moderate

Prophylactic levosimendan vs usual care

Prophylactic levosimendan showed no clear difference in mortality compared with standard treatment (low certainty).

• Prophylactic levosimendan for the prevention of low cardiac output syndrome and mortality in paediatric patients… 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.47 [0.12, 1.82]
  3 studies · 123 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in mortality (moderate certainty).

• Preoperative statin therapy for patients undergoing cardiac surgery 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.8 [0.38, 8.54]
  2 studies · 300 participants
  Moderate

Liberal vs restrictive transfusion protocols

Liberal showed no clear difference in 30‐day mortality compared with restrictive threshold transfusion (low certainty).

• Red blood cell transfusion for people undergoing hip fracture surgery 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.92 [0.67, 1.26]
  5 studies · 2683 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in 30‐day mortality4 (low certainty).

• Concomitant atrial fibrillation surgery for people undergoing cardiac surgery 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.25 [0.71, 2.2]
  18 studies · 1566 participants
  Low

Antibiotics vs surgery

It is very uncertain whether antibiotics changes mortality compared with surgery (very low certainty).

• Appendectomy versus antibiotic treatment for acute appendicitis 2024 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.51 [0.05, 4.95]
  5 studies · 2377 participants
  Very low