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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)

1,463 questions in 125 reviews · Anaesthesia

current versions
No studies 197 · 13.5%Ungraded 203 · 13.9%Very low 307 · 21%Low 441 · 30.1%Moderate 245 · 16.7%High 70 · 4.8%

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
Perioperative restrictive fluid therapy vs goal‐directed fluid therapy
Length of hospital stay (days) · adults receiving intravenous fluids while undergoing major non‐cardiac surgery
Perioperative restrictive versus goal‐directed fluid therapy for adults undergoing major non‐cardiac surgery (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 464 participantsVery low
Perioperative restrictive fluid therapy vs goal‐directed fluid therapy
Surgery‐related complications (during longest · adults receiving intravenous fluids while undergoing major non‐cardiac surgery
Perioperative restrictive versus goal‐directed fluid therapy for adults undergoing major non‐cardiac surgery (2019) · Cochrane
RR 1.54 [0.87, 2.72]4 studies · 364 participantsVery low
Perioperative restrictive fluid therapy vs goal‐directed fluid therapy
Non‐surgery‐related complications (during longest · adults receiving intravenous fluids while undergoing major non‐cardiac surgery
Perioperative restrictive versus goal‐directed fluid therapy for adults undergoing major non‐cardiac surgery (2019) · Cochrane
RR 1 [0.52, 1.93]1 study · 74 participantsVery low
Perioperative restrictive fluid therapy vs goal‐directed fluid therapy
Renal failure (during longest · adults receiving intravenous fluids while undergoing major non‐cardiac surgery
Perioperative restrictive versus goal‐directed fluid therapy for adults undergoing major non‐cardiac surgery (2019) · Cochrane
RR 1.38 [0.57, 3.36]4 studies · 410 participantsVery low
Perioperative restrictive fluid therapy vs goal‐directed fluid therapy
Quality of surgical recovery assessed in any way (e.g. as a surgical recovery score) (during longest · adults receiving intravenous fluids while undergoing major non‐cardiac surgery
Perioperative restrictive versus goal‐directed fluid therapy for adults undergoing major non‐cardiac surgery (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 74 participantsVery low
Epidural analgesia vs systemic analgesia
Pain · children having undergone thoraco‐lumbar spine surgery. 3 trials included in the analysis contained participants older…
Postoperative epidural analgesia versus systemic analgesia for thoraco‐lumbar spine surgery in children (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 116 participantsModerate
Epidural analgesia vs systemic analgesia
Vomiting up to 48 hours after surgery · children having undergone thoraco‐lumbar spine surgery. 3 trials included in the analysis contained participants older…
Postoperative epidural analgesia versus systemic analgesia for thoraco‐lumbar spine surgery in children (2019) · Cochrane
RR 0.87 [0.58, 1.3]6 studies · 215 participantsLow
Epidural analgesia vs systemic analgesia
Return of gastrointestinal function · children having undergone thoraco‐lumbar spine surgery. 3 trials included in the analysis contained participants older…
Postoperative epidural analgesia versus systemic analgesia for thoraco‐lumbar spine surgery in children (2019) · Cochrane
RR 1.63 [1.08, 2.47]1 study · 30 participantsVery low
Epidural analgesia vs systemic analgesia
Time to first mobilization: time ambulate (days) · children having undergone thoraco‐lumbar spine surgery. 3 trials included in the analysis contained participants older…
Postoperative epidural analgesia versus systemic analgesia for thoraco‐lumbar spine surgery in children (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 60 participantsVery low
Epidural analgesia vs systemic analgesia
Hospital length of stay (days) · children having undergone thoraco‐lumbar spine surgery. 3 trials included in the analysis contained participants older…
Postoperative epidural analgesia versus systemic analgesia for thoraco‐lumbar spine surgery in children (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 89 participantsVery low
Epidural analgesia vs systemic analgesia
Satisfaction with postoperative analgesia regimen · children having undergone thoraco‐lumbar spine surgery. 3 trials included in the analysis contained participants older…
Postoperative epidural analgesia versus systemic analgesia for thoraco‐lumbar spine surgery in children (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 60 participantsVery low
Epidural analgesia vs systemic analgesia
Complications · children having undergone thoraco‐lumbar spine surgery. 3 trials included in the analysis contained participants older…
Postoperative epidural analgesia versus systemic analgesia for thoraco‐lumbar spine surgery in children (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 126 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
All‐cause mortality (within 30 days) · adults undergoing cardiac surgery under general anaesthesia
Perioperative beta‐blockers for preventing surgery‐related mortality and morbidity in adults undergoing… (2019) · Cochrane
RR 0.95 [0.47, 1.9]29 studies · 4099 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Acute myocardial infarction (within 30 days) · adults undergoing cardiac surgery under general anaesthesia
Perioperative beta‐blockers for preventing surgery‐related mortality and morbidity in adults undergoing… (2019) · Cochrane
RR 1.05 [0.72, 1.52]25 studies · 3946 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Cerebrovascular events (within 30 days) · adults undergoing cardiac surgery under general anaesthesia
Perioperative beta‐blockers for preventing surgery‐related mortality and morbidity in adults undergoing… (2019) · Cochrane
RR 1.375 studies · 1471 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Ventricular arrhythmias (within 30 days) · adults undergoing cardiac surgery under general anaesthesia
Perioperative beta‐blockers for preventing surgery‐related mortality and morbidity in adults undergoing… (2019) · Cochrane
RR 0.4 [0.25, 0.63]12 studies · 2296 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Atrial fibrillation or flutter, or both (within 30 days) · adults undergoing cardiac surgery under general anaesthesia
Perioperative beta‐blockers for preventing surgery‐related mortality and morbidity in adults undergoing… (2019) · Cochrane
RR 0.5 [0.42, 0.59]40 studies · 5650 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Bradycardia (within 30 days; as defined by study authors, minimum heart rate < 60 beats per minute or requiring medication) · adults undergoing cardiac surgery under general anaesthesia
Perioperative beta‐blockers for preventing surgery‐related mortality and morbidity in adults undergoing… (2019) · Cochrane
RR 1.63 [0.92, 2.91]12 studies · 1640 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Hypotension (within 30 days; as defined by study authors, minimum systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg or requiring medication) · adults undergoing cardiac surgery under general anaesthesia
Perioperative beta‐blockers for preventing surgery‐related mortality and morbidity in adults undergoing… (2019) · Cochrane
RR 1.84 [0.89, 3.8]10 studies · 1538 participantsLow
Perioperative beta‐blockers vs placebo or standard care
Early all‐cause mortality (within 30 days) · adults undergoing non‐cardiac surgery under general anaesthesia (to include: low‐risk, medium‐risk, and high‐risk…
Perioperative beta‐blockers for preventing surgery‐related mortality and morbidity in adults undergoing… (2019) · Cochrane
RR 1.17 [0.89, 1.54]16 studies · 11446 participantsLow
Perioperative beta‐blockers vs placebo or standard care
Acute myocardial infarction (within 30 days) · adults undergoing non‐cardiac surgery under general anaesthesia (to include: low‐risk, medium‐risk, and high‐risk…
Perioperative beta‐blockers for preventing surgery‐related mortality and morbidity in adults undergoing… (2019) · Cochrane
RR 0.72 [0.6, 0.87]12 studies · 10520 participantsLow
Perioperative beta‐blockers vs placebo or standard care
Cerebrovascular events (within 30 days) · adults undergoing non‐cardiac surgery under general anaesthesia (to include: low‐risk, medium‐risk, and high‐risk…
Perioperative beta‐blockers for preventing surgery‐related mortality and morbidity in adults undergoing… (2019) · Cochrane
RR 1.65 [0.97, 2.81]6 studies · 9460 participantsLow
Perioperative beta‐blockers vs placebo or standard care
Ventricular arrhythmias (within 30 days) · adults undergoing non‐cardiac surgery under general anaesthesia (to include: low‐risk, medium‐risk, and high‐risk…
Perioperative beta‐blockers for preventing surgery‐related mortality and morbidity in adults undergoing… (2019) · Cochrane
RR 0.72 [0.35, 1.47]5 studies · 476 participantsVery low
Perioperative beta‐blockers vs placebo or standard care
Atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, or both (within 30 days) · adults undergoing non‐cardiac surgery under general anaesthesia (to include: low‐risk, medium‐risk, and high‐risk…
Perioperative beta‐blockers for preventing surgery‐related mortality and morbidity in adults undergoing… (2019) · Cochrane
RR 0.41 [0.21, 0.79]9 studies · 9080 participantsLow
Perioperative beta‐blockers vs placebo or standard care
Bradycardia (within 30 days; as defined by study authors, minimum heart rate < 60 beats per minute or requiring medication) · adults undergoing non‐cardiac surgery under general anaesthesia (to include: low‐risk, medium‐risk, and high‐risk…
Perioperative beta‐blockers for preventing surgery‐related mortality and morbidity in adults undergoing… (2019) · Cochrane
RR 2.49 [1.74, 3.56]49 studies · 12239 participantsLow
Perioperative beta‐blockers vs placebo or standard care
Hypotension (within 30 days; as defined by study authors, minimum systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg or requiring medication) · adults undergoing non‐cardiac surgery under general anaesthesia (to include: low‐risk, medium‐risk, and high‐risk…
Perioperative beta‐blockers for preventing surgery‐related mortality and morbidity in adults undergoing… (2019) · Cochrane
RR 1.4 [1.29, 1.51]49 studies · 12304 participantsModerate
2% mepivacaine, 1:20,000 levonordefrin vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Duration of anaesthesia (soft tissue, simulated) · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
MD 4.43 [-10.63, 19.48]2 studies · 458 participantsVery low
4% prilocaine plain vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Adverse effects: pain following injection · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine vs 2% mepivacaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Adverse effects: pain following injection · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine vs 2% mepivacaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Duration of anaesthesia · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
3% mepivacaine plain vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Success of local anaesthesia (soft tissue, self-reported; 100% success in all studies) · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
'100% success' (lidocaine 1:100,000 vs 3% mepivacaine plain): infraorbital block - Berberich 2009 40/40 vs 40/40; IANB - Cohen 1993 27/27 vs 34/34, McLean 1993 30/30 vs 30/30. Both 100% successful.3 studies · 121 participantsUngraded
4% articaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Adverse effects: pain on injection (solution deposition) · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
SoF: See comment (orphan study); 86 participants, 172 interventions (1 study). Not pooled/graded.1 study · 86 participantsUngraded
4% articaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Duration of anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps) · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
MD -8.98 [-15.17, -2.79]5 studies · 162 participantsVery low
4% prilocaine plain vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Success of local anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps) · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
RR 0.93 [0.75, 1.17]2 studies · 60 participantsLow
0.5% bupivacaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Adverse effects: allergy to local anaesthetic · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
2% mepivacaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Speed of onset of anaesthesia · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Success of local anaesthesia, absence of pain (clinical testing of diseased pulps with irreversible pulpitis) · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario… · 10 minutes post-injection to end of clinical procedure
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1.6 [1.1, 2.32]4 studies · 203 participantsLow
4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Participants' experience of the procedures · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
No data from the included studies were available.0 studiesNo studies
4% articaine plain vs 4% articaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine
Success of local anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps) · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
RR 0.58 [0.33, 1.01]2 studies · 134 participantsVery low
4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine vs 2% mepivacaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Adverse effects: allergy to local anaesthetic · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
2% mepivacaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Success of local anaesthesia (soft tissue, self-reported; 100% success in all studies) · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
'Other comparisons with 100% success': IANB - Allegretti 2016 22/22 vs 22/22; Visconti 2016 21/21 vs 21/21. Both formulations 100% successful; no meta-analysis (no difference).2 studies · 43 participantsUngraded
4% articaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 0.5% bupivacaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine
Speed of onset of anaesthesia · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
4% prilocaine plain vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Duration of anaesthesia (soft tissue, simulated) · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
MD -33.95 [-48.05, -19.84]3 studies · 698 participantsVery low
4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Speed of onset of anaesthesia (soft tissue, simulated) · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
MD -0.23 [-0.45, -0.01]6 studies · 637 participantsVery low
4% prilocaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Speed of onset of anaesthesia (soft tissue, simulated) · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
MD -0.01 [-0.14, 0.11]2 studies · 421 participantsLow
4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine vs 2% mepivacaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Speed of onset of anaesthesia · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
4% articaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 0.5% bupivacaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine
Duration of anaesthesia · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
2% lidocaine, 1:50,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Success of local anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps) · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
RR 0.99 [0.88, 1.12]7 studies · 210 participantsVery low
4% articaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Duration of anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps) · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
MD 10.33 [-22.08, 42.74]2 studies · 40 participantsVery low
4% prilocaine plain vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine
Duration of anaesthesia · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies