What do systematic reviews say?

Surgery vs no surgery

• Surgery for weight loss in adults 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  5 studies · 478 participants
  Moderate

Prophylactic platelet transfusion prior to surgery vs no prophylactic platelet transfusion prior to surgery

It is very uncertain whether prophylactic platelet transfusion prior to surgery changes all‐cause mortality within 30 days of surgery compared with no prophylactic platelet transfusion prior to surgery (very low certainty).

• Prophylactic platelet transfusions prior to surgery for people with a low platelet count 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.78 [0.41, 1.45]
  1 study · 72 participants
  Very low

Prophylactic platelet transfusion prior to surgery vs no prophylactic platelet transfusion prior to surgery

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Prophylactic platelet transfusions prior to surgery for people with a low platelet count 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Prophylactic platelet transfusion prior to surgery vs no prophylactic platelet transfusion prior to surgery

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Prophylactic platelet transfusions prior to surgery for people with a low platelet count 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Prophylactic platelet transfusion prior to surgery vs no prophylactic platelet transfusion prior to surgery

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Prophylactic platelet transfusions prior to surgery for people with a low platelet count 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to interval surgery (NACT) vs surgery followed by chemotherapy (PDS)

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to interval surgery (NACT) leads to lower surgically‐related postoperative mortality (28 days to 6 months of… compared with surgery followed by chemotherapy (PDS) (high certainty).

• Neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery versus surgery followed by chemotherapy for initial treatment in advanced… 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.16 [0.06, 0.46]
  5 studies · 1623 participants
  High

Surgery vs radiofrequency ablation

It is very uncertain whether surgery changes all‐cause mortality at maximal compared with radiofrequency ablation (very low certainty).

• Management of people with early‐ or very early‐stage hepatocellular carcinoma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.8 [0.6, 1.08]
  4 studies · 574 participants
  Very low

Surgery vs radiofrequency ablation

Surgery may leads to lower cancer‐related mortality at maximal compared with radiofrequency ablation (low certainty).

• Management of people with early‐ or very early‐stage hepatocellular carcinoma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.35 [0.19, 0.65]
  1 study · 230 participants
  Low

Day‐surgery vs overnight stay surgery

• Day‐surgery versus overnight stay surgery for laparoscopic cholecystectomy 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 86 participants
  Low

Surgery vs Radiotherapy alone

Surgery showed no clear difference in total mortality compared with radiotherapy alone (low certainty).

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment 2023 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 years
  HR 0.83 [0.09, 7.46]
  1 study · 68 participants
  Low

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

Early enteral nutrition within 24 hours of lower gastrointestinal… showed no clear difference in mortality compared with later commencement (low certainty).

• Early enteral nutrition within 24 hours of lower gastrointestinal surgery versus later commencement for length of… 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.56 [0.21, 1.52]
  12 studies · 1179 participants
  Low

Prophylactic platelet transfusion prior to surgery vs alternative treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Prophylactic platelet transfusions prior to surgery for people with a low platelet count 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Prophylactic platelet transfusion prior to surgery vs alternative treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Prophylactic platelet transfusions prior to surgery for people with a low platelet count 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Prophylactic platelet transfusion prior to surgery vs alternative treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Prophylactic platelet transfusions prior to surgery for people with a low platelet count 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Prophylactic platelet transfusion prior to surgery vs alternative treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Prophylactic platelet transfusions prior to surgery for people with a low platelet count 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Surgery vs conservative treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Endoscopic or surgical intervention for painful obstructive chronic pancreatitis 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Prophylactic plasma transfusion before surgery/invasive procedures vs no prophylactic plasma transfusion before surgery/invasive procedures (colloid, crystalloid, placebo, or no treatment)

It is very uncertain whether prophylactic plasma transfusion before surgery/invasive procedures changes all‐cause mortality up to 30 days № of participants: 72 (1 RCT) compared with no prophylactic plasma transfusion before surgery/invasive… (very low certainty).

• Prophylactic plasma transfusion for patients without inherited bleeding disorders or anticoagulant use undergoing… 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.38 [0.13, 1.1]
  Studies not reported
  Very low

Surgery vs preoperative pharmacological therapy and surgery

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Surgical and non‐surgical interventions for primary and salvage treatment of growth hormone‐secreting pituitary… 2024 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Beta‐blockers vs control—non‐cardiac surgery

Beta‐blocker showed no clear difference in all‐cause mortality (30 days)—non‐cardiac surgery compared with control—non‐cardiac surgery (low certainty).

• Perioperative beta‐blockers for preventing surgery‐related mortality and morbidity 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.25 [1, 1.57]
  13 studies · 11413 participants
  Low

Open surgery vs ERCP

• Surgical versus endoscopic treatment of bile duct stones 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  8 studies · 733 participants
  Moderate