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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
Etomidate vs all other induction agents
Organ system dysfunction Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score. Scale from: 1 to 24 · patients with endotracheal intubation in critically ill patients
Single induction dose of etomidate versus other induction agents for endotracheal intubation in critically… (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 469 participantsHigh
Etomidate vs all other induction agents
ICU length of stay (days) · patients with endotracheal intubation in critically ill patients
Single induction dose of etomidate versus other induction agents for endotracheal intubation in critically… (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 621 participantsModerate
Etomidate vs all other induction agents
Hospital length of stay (days) · patients with endotracheal intubation in critically ill patients
Single induction dose of etomidate versus other induction agents for endotracheal intubation in critically… (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 152 participantsModerate
Etomidate vs all other induction agents
Duration of mechanical ventilation (days) · patients with endotracheal intubation in critically ill patients
Single induction dose of etomidate versus other induction agents for endotracheal intubation in critically… (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 621 participantsModerate
Dexmedetomidine vs traditional sedative agents
Duration of mechanical ventilation · Critically ill patients requiring long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation
Alpha‐2 agonists for long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 1120 participantsLow
Dexmedetomidine vs traditional sedative agents
Risk of delirium · Critically ill patients requiring long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation
Alpha‐2 agonists for long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.85 [0.63, 1.14]7 studies · 1624 participantsVery low
Dexmedetomidine vs traditional sedative agents
Risk of coma · Critically ill patients requiring long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation
Alpha‐2 agonists for long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.69 [0.55, 0.86]1 study · 103 participantsVery low
Dexmedetomidine vs traditional sedative agents
Incidence of bradycardia · Critically ill patients requiring long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation
Alpha‐2 agonists for long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients (2015) · Cochrane
RR 2.11 [1.39, 3.2]6 studies · 1587 participantsVery low
Dexmedetomidine vs traditional sedative agents
Duration of weaning · Critically ill patients requiring long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation
Alpha‐2 agonists for long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 85 participantsUngraded
Dexmedetomidine vs traditional sedative agents
ICU length of stay · Critically ill patients requiring long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation
Alpha‐2 agonists for long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 1223 participantsVery low
Dexmedetomidine vs traditional sedative agents
Mortality · Critically ill patients requiring long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation
Alpha‐2 agonists for long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.99 [0.79, 1.24]6 studies · 1584 participantsVery low
Prothrombin complex concentrate vs any comparator
Overall mortality ‐ longest · patients with vitamin K antagonist‐induced bleeding requiring acute intervention
Prothrombin complex concentrate for reversal of vitamin K antagonist treatment in bleeding and non‐bleeding… (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.93 [0.37, 2.33]3 studies · 421 participantsVery low
Prothrombin complex concentrate vs any comparator
Number of new occurrences of RBC transfusion · patients with vitamin K antagonist‐induced bleeding requiring acute intervention
Prothrombin complex concentrate for reversal of vitamin K antagonist treatment in bleeding and non‐bleeding… (2015) · Cochrane
RR 1.08 [0.82, 1.43]2 studies · 376 participantsVery low
Prothrombin complex concentrate vs any comparator
Number of complications probably related to the intervention · patients with vitamin K antagonist‐induced bleeding requiring acute intervention
Prothrombin complex concentrate for reversal of vitamin K antagonist treatment in bleeding and non‐bleeding… (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.92 [0.78, 1.09]4 studies · 442 participantsVery low
Prothrombin complex concentrate vs any comparator
Transfusion of RBCs · patients with vitamin K antagonist‐induced bleeding requiring acute intervention
Prothrombin complex concentrate for reversal of vitamin K antagonist treatment in bleeding and non‐bleeding… (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 370 participantsVery low
Ultrasound or Doppler guidance vs anatomical landmark
Complication rate total · patients with the need for subclavian vein cannulation for central vein catheterization
Ultrasound guidance versus anatomical landmarks for subclavian or femoral vein catheterization (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.52 [0.23, 1.17]6 studies · 1478 participantsVery low
Ultrasound guidance vs anatomical landmarks
Other complications (thrombosis, embolism, haematomediastinum and hydromediastinum, haematothorax and hydrothorax, pneumothorax, subcutaneous emphysema, nerve injury) · patients with femoral vein cannulation for central vein catheterization
Ultrasound guidance versus anatomical landmarks for subclavian or femoral vein catheterization (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.49 [0.11, 2.12]4 studies · 311 participantsLow
Ultrasound guidance vs anatomical landmarks
Success with attempt number 1 · patients with femoral vein cannulation for central vein catheterization
Ultrasound guidance versus anatomical landmarks for subclavian or femoral vein catheterization (2015) · Cochrane
RR 1.73 [1.34, 2.22]3 studies · 224 participantsHigh
Ultrasound or Doppler guidance vs anatomical landmark
Overall success rate · patients with the need for subclavian vein cannulation for central vein catheterization
Ultrasound guidance versus anatomical landmarks for subclavian or femoral vein catheterization (2015) · Cochrane
RR 1.05 [0.97, 1.13]8 studies · 1809 participantsLow
Ultrasound or Doppler guidance vs anatomical landmark
Number of attempts until success · patients with the need for subclavian vein cannulation for central vein catheterization
Ultrasound guidance versus anatomical landmarks for subclavian or femoral vein catheterization (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 471 participantsVery low
Ultrasound or Doppler guidance vs anatomical landmark
Arterial puncture · patients with the need for subclavian vein cannulation for central vein catheterization
Ultrasound guidance versus anatomical landmarks for subclavian or femoral vein catheterization (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.21 [0.06, 0.82]3 studies · 498 participantsLow
Ultrasound or Doppler guidance vs anatomical landmark
Other complications (thrombosis, embolism, haematomediastinum and hydromediastinum, haematothorax and hydrothorax, pneumothorax, subcutaneous emphysema, nerve injury) · patients with the need for subclavian vein cannulation for central vein catheterization
Ultrasound guidance versus anatomical landmarks for subclavian or femoral vein catheterization (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.29 [0.07, 1.21]6 studies · 1058 participantsVery low
Ultrasound or Doppler guidance vs anatomical landmark
Time to successful cannulation · patients with the need for subclavian vein cannulation for central vein catheterization
Ultrasound guidance versus anatomical landmarks for subclavian or femoral vein catheterization (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 471 participantsLow
Ultrasound or Doppler guidance vs anatomical landmark
Success with attempt number 1 · patients with the need for subclavian vein cannulation for central vein catheterization
Ultrasound guidance versus anatomical landmarks for subclavian or femoral vein catheterization (2015) · Cochrane
RR 1.08 [0.85, 1.36]2 studies · 115 participantsHigh
Ultrasound guidance vs anatomical landmarks
Overall success rate · patients with femoral vein cannulation for central vein catheterization
Ultrasound guidance versus anatomical landmarks for subclavian or femoral vein catheterization (2015) · Cochrane
RR 1.11 [1, 1.23]4 studies · 311 participantsModerate
Ultrasound guidance vs anatomical landmarks
Arterial puncture · patients with femoral vein cannulation for central vein catheterization
Ultrasound guidance versus anatomical landmarks for subclavian or femoral vein catheterization (2015) · Cochrane
RR 0.4 [0.14, 1.16]4 studies · 311 participantsLow
Monotherapy vs combination therapy compared
All‐cause mortality—same beta lactam Survival · participants with sepsis
Beta lactam antibiotic monotherapy versus beta lactam‐aminoglycoside antibiotic combination therapy for sepsis (2014) · Cochrane
RR 0.97 [0.73, 1.3]13 studies · 1431 participantsLow
Monotherapy vs combination therapy compared
All‐cause mortality—different beta lactam · participants with sepsis
Beta lactam antibiotic monotherapy versus beta lactam‐aminoglycoside antibiotic combination therapy for sepsis (2014) · Cochrane
RR 0.85 [0.71, 1.01]31 studies · 4146 participantsLow
Monotherapy vs combination therapy compared
Clinical failure—same beta lactam Antibiotic modifications · participants with sepsis
Beta lactam antibiotic monotherapy versus beta lactam‐aminoglycoside antibiotic combination therapy for sepsis (2014) · Cochrane
RR 1.11 [0.95, 1.29]20 studies · 1870 participantsVery low
Monotherapy vs combination therapy compared
Clinical failure—different beta lactam Antibiotic modifications · participants with sepsis
Beta lactam antibiotic monotherapy versus beta lactam‐aminoglycoside antibiotic combination therapy for sepsis (2014) · Cochrane
RR 0.75 [0.67, 0.84]46 studies · 4933 participantsVery low
Pressure support vs T‐tube
Weaning success · patients on weaning from mechanical ventilation in adults.
Pressure support versus T‐tube for weaning from mechanical ventilation in adults (2014) · Cochrane
RR 1.07 [0.97, 1.17]9 studies · 935 participantsLow
Pressure support vs T‐tube
ICU mortality · patients on weaning from mechanical ventilation in adults.
Pressure support versus T‐tube for weaning from mechanical ventilation in adults (2014) · Cochrane
RR 0.81 [0.53, 1.23]5 studies · 725 participantsLow
Pressure support vs T‐tube
Reintubation · patients on weaning from mechanical ventilation in adults.
Pressure support versus T‐tube for weaning from mechanical ventilation in adults (2014) · Cochrane
RR 0.92 [0.66, 1.26]7 studies · 823 participantsLow
Pressure support vs T‐tube
ICU or LWU length of stay (days) · patients on weaning from mechanical ventilation in adults.
Pressure support versus T‐tube for weaning from mechanical ventilation in adults (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 118 participantsLow
Pressure support vs T‐tube
Pneumonia · patients on weaning from mechanical ventilation in adults.
Pressure support versus T‐tube for weaning from mechanical ventilation in adults (2014) · Cochrane
RR 0.67 [0.08, 5.85]2 studies · 118 participantsVery low
Pressure support vs T‐tube
Successful spontaneous breathing trial · patients on weaning from mechanical ventilation in adults.
Pressure support versus T‐tube for weaning from mechanical ventilation in adults (2014) · Cochrane
RR 1.09 [1.02, 1.17]4 studies · 940 participantsModerate
Music vs standard care
State anxiety STAI, VAS · mechanically ventilated patients
Music interventions for mechanically ventilated patients (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 288 participantsLow
Music vs standard care
Heart rate beats per minute · mechanically ventilated patients
Music interventions for mechanically ventilated patients (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted8 studies · 338 participantsVery low
Music vs standard care
Respiratory rate breaths per minute · mechanically ventilated patients
Music interventions for mechanically ventilated patients (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted9 studies · 357 participantsVery low
Music vs standard care
Systolic blood pressure mmHg · mechanically ventilated patients
Music interventions for mechanically ventilated patients (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted6 studies · 269 participantsVery low
Music vs standard care
Diastolic blood pressure mmHg · mechanically ventilated patients
Music interventions for mechanically ventilated patients (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted6 studies · 269 participantsVery low
Music vs standard care
Mean arterial pressure mmHg · mechanically ventilated patients
Music interventions for mechanically ventilated patients (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 98 participantsVery low
Music vs standard care
Oxygen saturation level · mechanically ventilated patients
Music interventions for mechanically ventilated patients (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 193 participantsLow
Music vs standard care
CI: Confidence interval · mechanically ventilated patients
Music interventions for mechanically ventilated patients (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Total duration of mechanical ventilation (hours) · mechanically ventilated adult patients
Protocolized versus non‐protocolized weaning for reducing the duration of mechanical ventilation in… (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted14 studies · 2205 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Weaning duration (hours) · mechanically ventilated adult patients
Protocolized versus non‐protocolized weaning for reducing the duration of mechanical ventilation in… (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted8 studies · 989 participantsLow
Intervention NR
ICU length of stay (days) · mechanically ventilated adult patients
Protocolized versus non‐protocolized weaning for reducing the duration of mechanical ventilation in… (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted9 studies · 1378 participantsLow
Intervention NR
ICU mortality · mechanically ventilated adult patients
Protocolized versus non‐protocolized weaning for reducing the duration of mechanical ventilation in… (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted6 studies · 651 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Reintubation · mechanically ventilated adult patients
Protocolized versus non‐protocolized weaning for reducing the duration of mechanical ventilation in… (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted11 studies · 1487 participantsModerate
Continuous outcomes automated vs non‐automated weaning
Weaning time (from randomization to extubation) based on ICU type: purely medical · patients with weaning time in invasively ventilated critically ill adults
Automated weaning and SBT systems versus non‐automated weaning strategies for weaning time in invasively… (2014) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 38 participantsModerate