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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)

915 questions in 93 reviews · Emergency and Critical Care

current versions
No studies 141 · 15.4%Ungraded 22 · 2.4%Very low 216 · 23.6%Low 272 · 29.7%Moderate 188 · 20.5%High 76 · 8.3%

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
Summary of findings for the main comparison: cough augmentation techniques vs no cough augmentation technique
Duration of mechanical ventilationb · critically‐ill mechanically‐ventilated adults and children requiring extubation from mechanical ventilation
Cough augmentation techniques for extubation or weaning critically ill patients from mechanical ventilation (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 75 participantsVery low
Summary of findings for the main comparison: cough augmentation techniques vs no cough augmentation technique
ICU mortalitya · critically‐ill mechanically‐ventilated adults and children requiring extubation from mechanical ventilation
Cough augmentation techniques for extubation or weaning critically ill patients from mechanical ventilation (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 75 participantsVery low
Summary of findings for the main comparison: cough augmentation techniques vs no cough augmentation technique
Adverse events 1. Hypotensionc 2. Hypertensiond 3. Secretion encumbrance resulting in severe hypoxaemia requiring reintubationc · critically‐ill mechanically‐ventilated adults and children requiring extubation from mechanical ventilation
Cough augmentation techniques for extubation or weaning critically ill patients from mechanical ventilation (2017) · Cochrane
RR 3.4 [0.1, 81.3]1 study · 75 participantsVery low
INO vs control group
Overall mortality · critically ill participants with ALI and ARDS
Inhaled nitric oxide for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in children and adults (2016) · Cochrane
RR 1.04 [0.9, 1.19]13 studies · 1243 participantsModerate
INO vs control group
Overall mortality at 28 days · critically ill participants with ALI and ARDS
Inhaled nitric oxide for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in children and adults (2016) · Cochrane
RR 1.08 [0.92, 1.27]9 studies · 1105 participantsModerate
INO vs control group
Mortality in paediatric population (subgroup) · critically ill participants with ALI and ARDS
Inhaled nitric oxide for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in children and adults (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.78 [0.51, 1.18]185 participantsModerate
INO vs control group
PaO2/FiO2 up to 24 hours · critically ill participants with ALI and ARDS
Inhaled nitric oxide for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in children and adults (2016) · Cochrane
MD 15.91 [8.25, 23.56]11 studies · 614 participantsModerate
INO vs control group
Oxygenation index, 24 hours · critically ill participants with ALI and ARDS
Inhaled nitric oxide for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in children and adults (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 368 participantsModerate
INO vs control group
Ventilation‐free days, up to 30 days · critically ill participants with ALI and ARDS
Inhaled nitric oxide for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in children and adults (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 804 participantsHigh
INO vs control group
Renal impairment · critically ill participants with ALI and ARDS
Inhaled nitric oxide for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in children and adults (2016) · Cochrane
RR 1.59 [1.17, 2.16]4 studies · 945 participantsHigh
Dopamine vs norepinephrine
Total mortalitya · hypotensive shock
Vasopressors for hypotensive shock (2016) · Cochrane
RR 1.07 [0.99, 1.16]6 studies · 1400 participantsHigh
Dopamine vs norepinephrine
Arrhythmia < BR/> · hypotensive shock
Vasopressors for hypotensive shock (2016) · Cochrane
RR 2.33 [1.45, 3.85]2 studies · 1931 participantsHigh
Terlipressin vs norepinephrine
Total mortalitya · hypotensive shock
Vasopressors for hypotensive shock (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.93 [0.69, 1.26]7 studies · 231 participantsVery low
Vasopressin vs norepinephrine
Total mortalitya · hypotensive shock
Vasopressors for hypotensive shock (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.9 [0.78, 1.03]8 studies · 1108 participantsModerate
Phenylephrine vs norepinephrine
Total mortalitya · hypotensive shock
Vasopressors for hypotensive shock (2016) · Cochrane
RR 1.08 [0.76, 1.55]2 studies · 86 participantsVery low
Epinephrine vs norepinephrine
Total mortalitya · hypotensive shock
Vasopressors for hypotensive shock (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.88 [0.63, 1.25]1 study · 269 participantsLow
High‐frequency oscillation vs conventional ventilation
Outcomes** · people with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
High‐frequency oscillatory ventilation versus conventional ventilation for acute respiratory distress syndrome (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
High‐frequency oscillation vs conventional ventilation
Mortality (at 30 days or until hospital discharge) · people with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
High‐frequency oscillatory ventilation versus conventional ventilation for acute respiratory distress syndrome (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.92 [0.72, 1.16]8 studies · 1779 participantsVery low
High‐frequency oscillation vs conventional ventilation
Mortality (at 6 months) · people with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
High‐frequency oscillatory ventilation versus conventional ventilation for acute respiratory distress syndrome (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.79 [0.58, 1.08]1 study · 148 participantsVery low
High‐frequency oscillation vs conventional ventilation
Treatment failure · people with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
High‐frequency oscillatory ventilation versus conventional ventilation for acute respiratory distress syndrome (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.64 [0.48, 0.85]6 studies · 956 participantsVery low
High‐frequency oscillation vs conventional ventilation
Duration of mechanical ventilation days. Scale from: 14 to 22 · people with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
High‐frequency oscillatory ventilation versus conventional ventilation for acute respiratory distress syndrome (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 1142 participantsVery low
High‐frequency oscillation vs conventional ventilation
Barotrauma · people with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
High‐frequency oscillatory ventilation versus conventional ventilation for acute respiratory distress syndrome (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.82 [0.51, 1.32]7 studies · 951 participantsVery low
High‐frequency oscillation vs conventional ventilation
Hypotension · people with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
High‐frequency oscillatory ventilation versus conventional ventilation for acute respiratory distress syndrome (2016) · Cochrane
RR 1.02 [0.54, 1.9]4 studies · 392 participantsVery low
Untargeted antifungal treatment with any antifungal drug (systemic or nonabsorbable) vs placebo/no antifungal/any other antifungal
Total (all‐cause) mortality · preventing fungal infections in non‐neutropenic critically ill patients
Antifungal agents for preventing fungal infections in non‐neutropenic critically ill patients (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.93 [0.79, 1.09]19 studies · 2374 participantsModerate
Untargeted antifungal treatment with any antifungal drug (systemic or nonabsorbable) vs placebo/no antifungal/any other antifungal
Proven invasive fungal infection · preventing fungal infections in non‐neutropenic critically ill patients
Antifungal agents for preventing fungal infections in non‐neutropenic critically ill patients (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.57 [0.39, 0.83]17 studies · 2024 participantsLow
Untargeted antifungal treatment with any antifungal drug (systemic or nonabsorbable) vs placebo/no antifungal/any other antifungal
Superficial fungal infection · preventing fungal infections in non‐neutropenic critically ill patients
Antifungal agents for preventing fungal infections in non‐neutropenic critically ill patients (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.69 [0.37, 1.29]5 studies · 662 participantsLow
Untargeted antifungal treatment with any antifungal drug (systemic or nonabsorbable) vs placebo/no antifungal/any other antifungal
Fungal colonization · preventing fungal infections in non‐neutropenic critically ill patients
Antifungal agents for preventing fungal infections in non‐neutropenic critically ill patients (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.71 [0.52, 0.97]12 studies · 1030 participantsLow
Untargeted antifungal treatment with any antifungal drug (systemic or nonabsorbable) vs placebo/no antifungal/any other antifungal
Adverse events requiring cessation of study drug(s) · preventing fungal infections in non‐neutropenic critically ill patients
Antifungal agents for preventing fungal infections in non‐neutropenic critically ill patients (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.89 [0.62, 1.27]11 studies · 1691 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Mortality · children with critical illness
Nutritional support for critically ill children (2016) · Cochrane
RR 1.33 [0.32, 5.54]1 study · 72 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Sepsis · children with critical illness
Nutritional support for critically ill children (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.81 [0.52, 1.26]1 study · 72 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Ventilator days · children with critical illness
Nutritional support for critically ill children (2016) · Cochrane
MD 21 study · 72 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Length of stay (days) · children with critical illness
Nutritional support for critically ill children (2016) · Cochrane
MD 01 study · 72 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Unexpected adverse events · children with critical illness
Nutritional support for critically ill children (2016) · Cochrane
RR 2.67 [0.77, 9.25]1 study · 72 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Mortality (subgroup analysis on bias risk) · critically ill participants
Antithrombin III for critically ill patients (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.95 [0.88, 1.03]29 studies · 3882 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Bleeding events · critically ill participants
Antithrombin III for critically ill patients (2016) · Cochrane
RR 1.58 [1.35, 1.84]11 studies · 3019 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Incidence of respiratory failure not present at admission · critically ill participants
Antithrombin III for critically ill patients (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.93 [0.76, 1.14]6 studies · 2591 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Duration of mechanical ventilation · critically ill participants
Antithrombin III for critically ill patients (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 190 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Length of stay in hospital · critically ill participants
Antithrombin III for critically ill patients (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 202 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Mean length of stay in ICU · critically ill participants
Antithrombin III for critically ill patients (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted7 studies · 376 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Overall mortality among patients with severe sepsis & DIC · critically ill participants
Antithrombin III for critically ill patients (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.95 [0.88, 1.03]12 studies · 2858 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
28‐Day mortality · mechanically ventilated adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Participants were recruited from ICUs…
Recruitment manoeuvres for adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome receiving mechanical ventilation (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.86 [0.74, 1.01]5 studies · 1450 participantsLow
Intervention NR
ICU mortality · mechanically ventilated adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Participants were recruited from ICUs…
Recruitment manoeuvres for adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome receiving mechanical ventilation (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.83 [0.72, 0.97]5 studies · 1370 participantsLow
Intervention NR
In‐hospital mortality · mechanically ventilated adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Participants were recruited from ICUs…
Recruitment manoeuvres for adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome receiving mechanical ventilation (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.88 [0.77, 1.01]4 studies · 1313 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Rate of barotrauma · mechanically ventilated adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Participants were recruited from ICUs…
Recruitment manoeuvres for adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome receiving mechanical ventilation (2016) · Cochrane
RR 1.09 [0.78, 1.51]7 studies · 1508 participantsModerate
Lateral positioning vs supine immobilization
Mortality ‐ not measured · critically ill adult patients
Lateral positioning for critically ill adult patients (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Lateral positioning vs supine immobilization
Morbiditya ‐ not reported · critically ill adult patients
Lateral positioning for critically ill adult patients (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 85 participantsUngraded
Right lateral position vs left lateral position
Hypoxaemiaa Partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) < 60 mmHg · critically ill adult patients
Lateral positioning for critically ill adult patients (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 70 participantsLow
Right lateral position vs left lateral position
Hypotensione ‐ not reported · critically ill adult patients
Lateral positioning for critically ill adult patients (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Right lateral position vs left lateral position
Profound hypertensiong ‐ not reported · critically ill adult patients
Lateral positioning for critically ill adult patients (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Right lateral position vs left lateral position
Low oxygen delivery (DO2)h ‐ not reported · critically ill adult patients
Lateral positioning for critically ill adult patients (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies