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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)

759 questions in 57 reviews · Colorectal

current versions
No studies 91 · 12%Ungraded 12 · 1.6%Very low 209 · 27.5%Low 229 · 30.2%Moderate 160 · 21.1%High 58 · 7.6%

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
Intervention NR
Change in core temperature for operations > 120 min · Laparoscopic abdominal surgery (core temperature)
Heated insufflation with or without humidification for laparoscopic abdominal surgery (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 194 participantsModerate
IRI with fluoropyrimidines vs single agent IRI
Overall survival (Death) · patients with advanced and/or metastatic colorectal cancer
Irinotecan chemotherapy combined with fluoropyrimidines versus irinotecan alone for overall survival and… (2016) · Cochrane
HR 0.91 [0.81, 1.02]5 studies · 1728 participantsLow
IRI with fluoropyrimidines vs single agent IRI
Progression‐free survival (Disease progression) · patients with advanced and/or metastatic colorectal cancer
Irinotecan chemotherapy combined with fluoropyrimidines versus irinotecan alone for overall survival and… (2016) · Cochrane
HR 0.68 [0.53, 0.83]3 studies · 600 participantsModerate
IRI with fluoropyrimidines vs single agent IRI
Grade 3/4 diarrhea · patients with advanced and/or metastatic colorectal cancer
Irinotecan chemotherapy combined with fluoropyrimidines versus irinotecan alone for overall survival and… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.66 [0.51, 0.85]5 studies · 1179 participantsModerate
IRI with fluoropyrimidines vs single agent IRI
Grade 3/4 nausea · patients with advanced and/or metastatic colorectal cancer
Irinotecan chemotherapy combined with fluoropyrimidines versus irinotecan alone for overall survival and… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.33 [0.07, 1.58]3 studies · 209 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Time to first flatus Hours · individuals undergoing abdominal surgery
Chewing gum for postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal function (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted77 studies · 8293 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Time to first bowel movement Hours · individuals undergoing abdominal surgery
Chewing gum for postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal function (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted62 studies · 7283 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Length of hospital stay Days · individuals undergoing abdominal surgery
Chewing gum for postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal function (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted50 studies · 5278 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Time to first bowel sounds Hours · individuals undergoing abdominal surgery
Chewing gum for postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal function (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted23 studies · 3981 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Complications Frequency · individuals undergoing abdominal surgery
Chewing gum for postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal function (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRLow
Intervention NR
Tolerability of gum Anecdotal evidence, interviews, questionnaires and surveys · individuals undergoing abdominal surgery
Chewing gum for postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal function (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRLow
Intervention NR
Cost · individuals undergoing abdominal surgery
Chewing gum for postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal function (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRVery low
Combination chemotherapy vs single‐agent chemotherapy
Overall survival (3 years) · people with resectable stage II and III rectal cancer undergoing preoperative chemoradiation followed by surgery
Combination chemotherapy versus single‐agent chemotherapy during preoperative chemoradiation for resectable… (2015) · Cochrane
HR 0.94 [0.59, 1.48]1 study · 598 participantsVery low
Combination chemotherapy vs single‐agent chemotherapy
Disease‐free survival (3 years) · people with resectable stage II and III rectal cancer undergoing preoperative chemoradiation followed by surgery
Combination chemotherapy versus single‐agent chemotherapy during preoperative chemoradiation for resectable… (2015) · Cochrane
HR 0.88 [0.65, 1.18]1 study · 598 participantsVery low
Combination chemotherapy vs single‐agent chemotherapy
Complete response rate after preoperative chemoradiation (ypCR) · people with resectable stage II and III rectal cancer undergoing preoperative chemoradiation followed by surgery
Combination chemotherapy versus single‐agent chemotherapy during preoperative chemoradiation for resectable… (2015) · Cochrane
OR 1.23 [1.04, 1.46]4 studies · 3875 participantsHigh
Combination chemotherapy vs single‐agent chemotherapy
Toxicity ‐ early adverse events G3/4 · people with resectable stage II and III rectal cancer undergoing preoperative chemoradiation followed by surgery
Combination chemotherapy versus single‐agent chemotherapy during preoperative chemoradiation for resectable… (2015) · Cochrane
OR 2.07 [1.31, 3.27]4 studies · 3875 participantsModerate
Combination chemotherapy vs single‐agent chemotherapy
Metastases intra‐abdominal · people with resectable stage II and III rectal cancer undergoing preoperative chemoradiation followed by surgery
Combination chemotherapy versus single‐agent chemotherapy during preoperative chemoradiation for resectable… (2015) · Cochrane
OR 0.46 [0.21, 1.01]3 studies · 2567 participantsModerate
Combination chemotherapy vs single‐agent chemotherapy
Radiotherapy compliance · people with resectable stage II and III rectal cancer undergoing preoperative chemoradiation followed by surgery
Combination chemotherapy versus single‐agent chemotherapy during preoperative chemoradiation for resectable… (2015) · Cochrane
OR 0.32 [0.14, 0.75]3 studies · 2567 participantsModerate
Combination chemotherapy vs single‐agent chemotherapy
Chemotherapy compliance · people with resectable stage II and III rectal cancer undergoing preoperative chemoradiation followed by surgery
Combination chemotherapy versus single‐agent chemotherapy during preoperative chemoradiation for resectable… (2015) · Cochrane
OR 0.36 [0.26, 0.52]2 studies · 1331 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Cecal intubation rate (intention‐to‐treat analysis) · Participants with colonoscopy
Water infusion versus air insufflation for colonoscopy (2015) · Cochrane
RR 1 [0.97, 1.03]16 studies · 2933 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Adenoma detection rate (endoscopists with all levels of experience) · Participants with colonoscopy
Water infusion versus air insufflation for colonoscopy (2015) · Cochrane
RR 1.16 [1.04, 1.3]12 studies · 2457 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Adenoma detection rate (experienced endoscopists only) · Participants with colonoscopy
Water infusion versus air insufflation for colonoscopy (2015) · Cochrane
RR 1.17 [1.05, 1.32]12 studies · 2200 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Number of adenomas per participant · Participants with colonoscopy
Water infusion versus air insufflation for colonoscopy (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 902 participantsModerate
Antibiotic vs no antibiotic/placebo
Surgical wound infection (SWI) · patients undergoing colorectal surgery
Antimicrobial prophylaxis for colorectal surgery (2014) · Cochrane
RR 0.34 [0.28, 0.41]30 studies · 2455 participantsHigh
Combined oral and intravenous vs oral or intravenous alone
Surgical wound infection: oral + iv versus iv alone · colorectal surgery
Antimicrobial prophylaxis for colorectal surgery (2014) · Cochrane
RR 0.55 [0.43, 0.71]15 studies · 2929 participantsHigh
Combined oral and intravenous vs oral or intravenous alone
Surgical wound infection: combined oral and iv versus oral alone · colorectal surgery
Antimicrobial prophylaxis for colorectal surgery (2014) · Cochrane
RR 0.52 [0.35, 0.76]9 studies · 1880 participantsHigh
Laparoscopic vs open total mesorectal excision
Disease‐free survival at 5 years · people with Rectal Cancer
Laparoscopic versus open total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer (2014) · Cochrane
OR 1.02 [0.76, 1.38]4 studies · 943 participantsModerate
Laparoscopic vs open total mesorectal excision
Overall survival at 5 years · people with Rectal Cancer
Laparoscopic versus open total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer (2014) · Cochrane
OR 1.15 [0.87, 1.52]4 studies · 987 participantsModerate
Laparoscopic vs open total mesorectal excision
Local recurrences · people with Rectal Cancer
Laparoscopic versus open total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer (2014) · Cochrane
OR 0.89 [0.57, 1.39]8 studies · 1538 participantsModerate
Laparoscopic vs open total mesorectal excision
Lymph nodes retrieved · people with Rectal Cancer
Laparoscopic versus open total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted11 studies · 3682 participantsHigh
Laparoscopic vs open total mesorectal excision
CRM positivity · people with Rectal Cancer
Laparoscopic versus open total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer (2014) · Cochrane
OR 0.99 [0.71, 1.4]8 studies · 2313 participantsModerate
Laparoscopic vs open total mesorectal excision
30‐day morbidity (total) · people with Rectal Cancer
Laparoscopic versus open total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer (2014) · Cochrane
OR 0.94 [0.8, 1.1]11 studies · 3397 participantsModerate
Laparoscopic vs open total mesorectal excision
Hospital stay (days) · people with Rectal Cancer
Laparoscopic versus open total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted11 studies · 3084 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
CRC Mortality ‐ Flexible sigmoidoscopy · Asymptomatic individuals
Flexible sigmoidoscopy versus faecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer screening in asymptomatic… (2013) · Cochrane
RR 0 [0.65, 0.79]5 studies · 414744 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
CRC Mortality ‐ Faecal occult blood testing · Asymptomatic individuals
Flexible sigmoidoscopy versus faecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer screening in asymptomatic… (2013) · Cochrane
RR 0 [0.8, 0.92]4 studies · 329642 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
CRC incidence ‐ Flexible sigmoidoscopy · Asymptomatic individuals
Flexible sigmoidoscopy versus faecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer screening in asymptomatic… (2013) · Cochrane
RR 0 [0.73, 0.9]5 studies · 414744 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
CRC incidence ‐ Faecal occult blood testing · Asymptomatic individuals
Flexible sigmoidoscopy versus faecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer screening in asymptomatic… (2013) · Cochrane
RR 04 studies · 329536 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
All‐cause Mortality ‐ Flexible sigmoidoscopy · Asymptomatic individuals
Flexible sigmoidoscopy versus faecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer screening in asymptomatic… (2013) · Cochrane
RR 0 [0.95, 1.01]4 studies · 364827 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
All‐cause Mortality ‐ Faecal occult blood testing · Asymptomatic individuals
Flexible sigmoidoscopy versus faecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer screening in asymptomatic… (2013) · Cochrane
RR 14 studies · 329642 participantsHigh
GTN vs Placebo
NON ‐ Healing of fissure (persistence or recurrence) · patients with anal fissure
Non surgical therapy for anal fissure (2012) · Cochrane
OR 0.35 [0.19, 0.65]18 studies · 1315 participantsLow
Any Surgery vs any Medical Therapy
NON ‐ Healing (persistence or recurrence) · patients with anal fissure
Non surgical therapy for anal fissure (2012) · Cochrane
OR 0.11 [0.06, 0.23]15 studies · 979 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Pain · Patients with haemorrhoids
Phlebotonics for haemorrhoids (2012) · Cochrane
OR 0.11 [0.01, 1.11]2 studies · 190 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Bleeding · Patients with haemorrhoids
Phlebotonics for haemorrhoids (2012) · Cochrane
OR 0.12 [0.04, 0.37]2 studies · 190 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Bleeding post‐haemorrhoidectomy · Patients with haemorrhoids
Phlebotonics for haemorrhoids (2012) · Cochrane
OR 0.18 [0.06, 0.58]2 studies · 314 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Pruritus · Patients with haemorrhoids
Phlebotonics for haemorrhoids (2012) · Cochrane
OR 0.23 [0.07, 0.79]2 studies · 176 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Discharge or leakage · Patients with haemorrhoids
Phlebotonics for haemorrhoids (2012) · Cochrane
OR 0.12 [0.04, 0.42]2 studies · 139 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Analgesic consumption (day 2) post‐operative · Patients with haemorrhoids
Phlebotonics for haemorrhoids (2012) · Cochrane
OR 0.54 [0.3, 0.99]3 studies · 202 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Overall symptom improvement (positive outcome) · Patients with haemorrhoids
Phlebotonics for haemorrhoids (2012) · Cochrane
OR 15.97 [5.97, 42.84]5 studies · 368 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Overall five year survival ‐ Colorectal cancer · Patients with outcomes after colorectal cancer surgery
Workload and surgeon´s specialty for outcome after colorectal cancer surgery (2012) · Cochrane
HR 0.9 [0.84, 0.95]2 studies · 36858 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Permanent stoma rate ‐ Rectal cancer · Patients with outcomes after colorectal cancer surgery
Workload and surgeon´s specialty for outcome after colorectal cancer surgery (2012) · Cochrane
OR 0.57 [0.35, 0.92]2 studies · 7093 participantsVery low