Gap finder

Search review questions

Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

806 questions in 76 reviews · ENT

current versions
No studies 293 · 36.4%Ungraded 6 · 0.7%Very low 244 · 30.3%Low 170 · 21.1%Moderate 85 · 10.5%High 8 · 1%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Sinonasal debridement vs no debridement
Adhesion rate · adult patients who underwent primary endoscopic sinus surgery, with a diagnosis of recurrent acute or chronic…
Sinonasal debridement versus no debridement for the postoperative care of patients undergoing endoscopic… (2018) · Cochrane
RR 0.43 [0.28, 0.68]4 studies · 152 participantsLow
Sinonasal debridement vs no debridement
Rate of revision surgeries · adult patients who underwent primary endoscopic sinus surgery, with a diagnosis of recurrent acute or chronic…
Sinonasal debridement versus no debridement for the postoperative care of patients undergoing endoscopic… (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Grommets vs active monitoring
Proportion of patients who have no AOM recurrences at 6 months post‐randomisation
Grommets (ventilation tubes) for recurrent acute otitis media in children (2018) · Cochrane
RR 9.49 [2.38, 37.8]1 study · 95 participantsLow
Grommets vs placebo medication
Significant adverse effect: a tympanic membrane perforation persisting for 3 months or longer
Grommets (ventilation tubes) for recurrent acute otitis media in children (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 76 participantsLow
Grommets vs placebo medication
Total number of AOM recurrences at 6 months post‐randomisation
Grommets (ventilation tubes) for recurrent acute otitis media in children (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 42 participantsVery low
Grommets vs active monitoring
Significant adverse effect: a tympanic membrane perforation persisting for 3 months or longer
Grommets (ventilation tubes) for recurrent acute otitis media in children (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 54 participantsLow
Grommets vs active monitoring
Proportion of patients who have no AOM recurrences at 12 months post‐randomisation
Grommets (ventilation tubes) for recurrent acute otitis media in children (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1.41 [1, 1.99]1 study · 200 participantsLow
Grommets vs active monitoring
Total number of AOM recurrences at 6 months post‐randomisation
Grommets (ventilation tubes) for recurrent acute otitis media in children (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 95 participantsLow
Grommets vs active monitoring
Total number of AOM recurrences at 12 months post‐randomisation
Grommets (ventilation tubes) for recurrent acute otitis media in children (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 200 participantsLow
Grommets vs active monitoring
Disease‐specific health‐related quality of life of the child at 4 and 12 months post‐randomisation using the OM‐6 questionnaire
Grommets (ventilation tubes) for recurrent acute otitis media in children (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 85 participantsLow
Grommets vs antibiotic prophylaxis
Proportion of patients who have no AOM recurrences at 6 months post‐randomisation
Grommets (ventilation tubes) for recurrent acute otitis media in children (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1.68 [1.07, 2.65]2 studies · 96 participantsVery low
Grommets vs antibiotic prophylaxis
Total number of AOM recurrences at 6 months post‐randomisation
Grommets (ventilation tubes) for recurrent acute otitis media in children (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 43 participantsVery low
Grommets vs placebo medication
Proportion of patients who have no AOM recurrences at 6 months post‐randomisation
Grommets (ventilation tubes) for recurrent acute otitis media in children (2018) · Cochrane
RR 3.64 [1.2, 11.04]1 study · 42 participantsVery low
Local anaesthetic injection vs no treatment/placebo
Pain intensity at 12 hours postoperatively ‐ not reported · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Local anaesthetic application via nasal packing vs no packing/packing with placebo
Pain intensity at 48 hours postoperatively ‐ not reported · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Local anaesthetic application via nasal packing vs no packing/packing with placebo
Requirement for additional analgesia · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
OR 0.15 [0.07, 0.34]2 studies · 151 participantsModerate
Local anaesthetic application via nasal packing vs no packing/packing with placebo
Duration of hospitalisation ‐ not reported · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Local anaesthetic application via nasal packing vs no packing/packing with placebo
Adverse effect (postoperative vomiting) ‐ not reported · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Local anaesthetic application via nasal packing vs no packing/packing with placebo
Adverse effect (postoperative bleeding) ‐ not reported · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Sphenopalatine ganglion block vs no treatment/placebo
Pain intensity at 12 hours postoperatively ‐ not reported · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Sphenopalatine ganglion block vs no treatment/placebo
Pain intensity at 24 hours postoperatively ‐ not reported · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Sphenopalatine ganglion block vs no treatment/placebo
Pain intensity at 48 hours postoperatively ‐ not reported · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Sphenopalatine ganglion block vs no treatment/placebo
Requirement for additional analgesia · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Sphenopalatine ganglion block vs no treatment/placebo
Duration of hospitalisation ‐ not reported · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Local anaesthetic injection vs no treatment/placebo
Pain intensity at 24 hours postoperatively ‐ not reported · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Sphenopalatine ganglion block vs no treatment/placebo
Adverse effect (postoperative vomiting) ‐ not reported · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Sphenopalatine ganglion block vs no treatment/placebo
Adverse effect (postoperative bleeding) ‐ not reported · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Local anaesthetic injection vs no treatment/placebo
Pain intensity at 48 hours postoperatively ‐ not reported · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Local anaesthetic injection vs no treatment/placebo
Requirement for additional analgesia · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Local anaesthetic injection vs no treatment/placebo
Duration of hospitalisation ‐ not reported · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Local anaesthetic injection vs no treatment/placebo
Adverse effect (postoperative vomiting) · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
OR 3.1 [0.12, 79.23]1 study · 60 participantsLow
Local anaesthetic injection vs no treatment/placebo
Adverse effect (postoperative bleeding) ‐ not reported · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Local anaesthetic application via nasal packing vs no packing/packing with placebo
Pain intensity at 12 hours postoperatively · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 151 participantsLow
Local anaesthetic application via nasal packing vs no packing/packing with placebo
Pain intensity at 24 hours postoperatively · septal surgery
Perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain following septal surgery (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 268 participantsVery low
Ear drops (any active treatment) vs no treatment
Proportion of patients (or ears) with complete clearance of ear wax · adults and children with ear wax requiring removal
Ear drops for the removal of ear wax (2018) · Cochrane
RR 4.091 study · 73 participantsLow
Ear drops (any active treatment) vs no treatment
Adverse effects: discomfort, irritation or pain · adults and children with ear wax requiring removal
Ear drops for the removal of ear wax (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRLow
Ear drops (any active treatment) vs ear drops (water or saline)
Proportion of patients (or ears) with complete clearance of ear wax · adults and children with ear wax requiring removal
Ear drops for the removal of ear wax (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1.473 studies · 213 participantsLow
Ear drops (any active treatment) vs ear drops (water or saline)
Adverse effects: discomfort, irritation or pain · adults and children with ear wax requiring removal
Ear drops for the removal of ear wax (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted10 participantsLow
Ear drops (water or saline) vs no treatment
Proportion of patients (or ears) with complete clearance of ear wax · adults and children with ear wax requiring removal
Ear drops for the removal of ear wax (2018) · Cochrane
RR 41 study · 48 participantsLow
Ear drops (water or saline) vs no treatment
Adverse effects: discomfort, irritation or pain · adults and children with ear wax requiring removal
Ear drops for the removal of ear wax (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRLow
Intervention NR
Proportion of patients with control of vertigo or decrease in vertigo attacks · adults with Ménière's disease or syndrome
Restriction of salt, caffeine and alcohol intake for the treatment of Ménière's disease or syndrome (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Proportion of patients with adverse effects (e.g. hyponatraemia, mood disturbance and headaches) · adults with Ménière's disease or syndrome
Restriction of salt, caffeine and alcohol intake for the treatment of Ménière's disease or syndrome (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Proportion of patients with loss or gain of hearing/reduction in progression of hearing loss · adults with Ménière's disease or syndrome
Restriction of salt, caffeine and alcohol intake for the treatment of Ménière's disease or syndrome (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Proportion of patients with a reduction in the severity of tinnitus · adults with Ménière's disease or syndrome
Restriction of salt, caffeine and alcohol intake for the treatment of Ménière's disease or syndrome (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Proportion of patients with a reduction in the perception of aural fullness · adults with Ménière's disease or syndrome
Restriction of salt, caffeine and alcohol intake for the treatment of Ménière's disease or syndrome (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Overall changes in well‐being and quality of life · adults with Ménière's disease or syndrome
Restriction of salt, caffeine and alcohol intake for the treatment of Ménière's disease or syndrome (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Any other adverse effects · adults with Ménière's disease or syndrome
Restriction of salt, caffeine and alcohol intake for the treatment of Ménière's disease or syndrome (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Topical antifungal vs placebo/no treatment
Heath‐related quality of life (HRQL) · chronic rhinosinusitis
Topical and systemic antifungal therapy for chronic rhinosinusitis (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRLow
Systemic antifungal vs placebo/no treatment
Adverse effects ‐ hepatic toxicity · chronic rhinosinusitis
Topical and systemic antifungal therapy for chronic rhinosinusitis (2018) · Cochrane
RR 3.35 [0.14, 78.6]NRLow
Systemic antifungal vs placebo/no treatment
Adverse effects ‐ gastrointestinal disturbances · chronic rhinosinusitis
Topical and systemic antifungal therapy for chronic rhinosinusitis (2018) · Cochrane
RR 0.37 [0.04, 3.36]NRLow