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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.
1,463 questions in 125 reviews · Anaesthesia
current versionsNo 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.
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Alpha‐2 adrenergic agonist vs placebo/control Shivering · people with surgical requirement for general anaesthesia Alpha‐2 adrenergic agonists for the prevention of shivering following general anaesthesia (2015) · Cochrane | RR 0.28 [0.18, 0.43] | 20 studies · 1391 participants | Very low |
Alpha‐2 adrenergic agonist vs placebo/control Incidence of core hypothermia ‐ not measured · people with surgical requirement for general anaesthesia Alpha‐2 adrenergic agonists for the prevention of shivering following general anaesthesia (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Alpha‐2 adrenergic agonist vs placebo/control Participant satisfaction/experience of shivering ‐ not measured · people with surgical requirement for general anaesthesia Alpha‐2 adrenergic agonists for the prevention of shivering following general anaesthesia (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Sedation (sedative agents administered via any route) vs General anaesthesia Outcome NR · Children and adolescents younger than 18 years having dental treatment (fillings, pulp treatment or tooth extraction);… Sedation versus general anaesthesia for provision of dental treatment to patients younger than 18 years (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Continuous pulse oximetry vs no/intermittent pulse oximetry Episodes of hypoxaemia (SpO2 < 90%) · patients undergoing surgery requiring anaesthesia Pulse oximetry for perioperative monitoring (2014) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 235 participants | Ungraded |
Continuous pulse oximetry vs no/intermittent pulse oximetry Changes to patient care · patients undergoing surgery requiring anaesthesia Pulse oximetry for perioperative monitoring (2014) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 21037 participants | Ungraded |
Continuous pulse oximetry vs no/intermittent pulse oximetry Complications · patients undergoing surgery requiring anaesthesia Pulse oximetry for perioperative monitoring (2014) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 20802 participants | Ungraded |
Continuous pulse oximetry vs no/intermittent pulse oximetry In‐hospital mortality · patients undergoing surgery requiring anaesthesia Pulse oximetry for perioperative monitoring (2014) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 22021 participants | Ungraded |
Inhaled nitric oxide vs placebo or conventional therapy Long‐term mortality · all infants and children with congenital heart disease having postoperative management of pulmonary hypertension Inhaled nitric oxide for the postoperative management of pulmonary hypertension in infants and children with… (2014) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies · 0 participants | Ungraded |
Inhaled nitric oxide vs placebo or conventional therapy Mortality prior to discharge1 · all infants and children with congenital heart disease having postoperative management of pulmonary hypertension Inhaled nitric oxide for the postoperative management of pulmonary hypertension in infants and children with… (2014) · Cochrane | OR 1.67 [0.38, 7.3] | 2 studies · 162 participants | Very low |
Inhaled nitric oxide vs placebo or conventional therapy Difference in MPAP change score (SE) ‐ Conventional Management4 · all infants and children with congenital heart disease having postoperative management of pulmonary hypertension Inhaled nitric oxide for the postoperative management of pulmonary hypertension in infants and children with… (2014) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 4 participants | Very low |
Inhaled nitric oxide vs placebo or conventional therapy Difference in MPAP change score (SE) ‐ Placebo4 · all infants and children with congenital heart disease having postoperative management of pulmonary hypertension Inhaled nitric oxide for the postoperative management of pulmonary hypertension in infants and children with… (2014) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 2 participants | Very low |
Inhaled nitric oxide vs placebo or conventional therapy Difference in MAP change score (SE) ‐ Conventional Mangement4 · all infants and children with congenital heart disease having postoperative management of pulmonary hypertension Inhaled nitric oxide for the postoperative management of pulmonary hypertension in infants and children with… (2014) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 4 participants | Very low |
Inhaled nitric oxide vs placebo or conventional therapy Difference in MAP change score (SE) ‐ Placebo4 · all infants and children with congenital heart disease having postoperative management of pulmonary hypertension Inhaled nitric oxide for the postoperative management of pulmonary hypertension in infants and children with… (2014) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 2 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Pulmonary complications · postoperative pulmonary complications in upper abdominal surgery Incentive spirometry for prevention of postoperative pulmonary complications in upper abdominal surgery (2014) · Cochrane | RR 0.83 [0.51, 1.34] | 2 studies · 946 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Respiratory failure · postoperative pulmonary complications in upper abdominal surgery Incentive spirometry for prevention of postoperative pulmonary complications in upper abdominal surgery (2014) · Cochrane | RR 0.67 [0.04, 10.5] | 2 studies · 194 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Clinical complications · postoperative pulmonary complications in upper abdominal surgery Incentive spirometry for prevention of postoperative pulmonary complications in upper abdominal surgery (2014) · Cochrane | RR 0.59 [0.3, 1.18] | 4 studies · 152 participants | Low |
Other GA/adjunct vs sevoflurane anaesthesia Emergence agitation—Propofol induction and maintenance · patients with emergence agitation Effects of sevoflurane versus other general anaesthesia on emergence agitation in children (2014) · Cochrane | RR 0.35 [0.25, 0.51] | 14 studies · 1098 participants | High |
Other GA/adjunct vs sevoflurane anaesthesia Emergence agitation—Dexmedetomidine · patients with emergence agitation Effects of sevoflurane versus other general anaesthesia on emergence agitation in children (2014) · Cochrane | RR 0.37 [0.29, 0.47] | 12 studies · 851 participants | High |
Other GA/adjunct vs sevoflurane anaesthesia Emergence agitation—Fentanyl · patients with emergence agitation Effects of sevoflurane versus other general anaesthesia on emergence agitation in children (2014) · Cochrane | RR 0.37 [0.27, 0.5] | 15 studies · 1247 participants | High |
Other GA/adjunct vs sevoflurane anaesthesia Emergence agitation—Clonidine · patients with emergence agitation Effects of sevoflurane versus other general anaesthesia on emergence agitation in children (2014) · Cochrane | RR 0.45 [0.31, 0.66] | 9 studies · 739 participants | High |
Other GA/adjunct vs sevoflurane anaesthesia Emergence agitation—Halothane · patients with emergence agitation Effects of sevoflurane versus other general anaesthesia on emergence agitation in children (2014) · Cochrane | RR 0.51 [0.41, 0.63] | 34 studies · 3534 participants | High |
Other GA/adjunct vs sevoflurane anaesthesia Emergence agitation—Isoflurane · patients with emergence agitation Effects of sevoflurane versus other general anaesthesia on emergence agitation in children (2014) · Cochrane | RR 0.76 [0.46, 1.23] | 6 studies · 379 participants | Moderate |
Other GA/adjunct vs sevoflurane anaesthesia Emergence agitation—Desflurane · patients with emergence agitation Effects of sevoflurane versus other general anaesthesia on emergence agitation in children (2014) · Cochrane | RR 1.46 [0.92, 2.31] | 6 studies · 408 participants | Moderate |
PEEP vs zero end‐expiratory pressure (ZEEP) during mechanical ventilation Postoperative mortality · adult participants given general anaesthesia Positive end‐expiratory pressure (PEEP) during anaesthesia for prevention of mortality and postoperative… (2014) · Cochrane | RR 0.97 | 6 studies · 268 participants | Very low |
PEEP vs zero end‐expiratory pressure (ZEEP) during mechanical ventilation Oxygen efficiency (PaO2/FiO2) day 1 postoperative · adult participants given general anaesthesia Positive end‐expiratory pressure (PEEP) during anaesthesia for prevention of mortality and postoperative… (2014) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 80 participants | Very low |
PEEP vs zero end‐expiratory pressure (ZEEP) during mechanical ventilation Oxygen efficiency (PaO2/FiO2) day 3 postoperative · adult participants given general anaesthesia Positive end‐expiratory pressure (PEEP) during anaesthesia for prevention of mortality and postoperative… (2014) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 80 participants | Very low |
PEEP vs zero end‐expiratory pressure (ZEEP) during mechanical ventilation Pneumonia · adult participants given general anaesthesia Positive end‐expiratory pressure (PEEP) during anaesthesia for prevention of mortality and postoperative… (2014) · Cochrane | RR 0.4 | 3 studies · 120 participants | Very low |
PEEP vs zero end‐expiratory pressure (ZEEP) during mechanical ventilation Postoperative atelectasis Using a scale from 0‐67 · adult participants given general anaesthesia Positive end‐expiratory pressure (PEEP) during anaesthesia for prevention of mortality and postoperative… (2014) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 88 participants | Very low |
Epidural anaesthesia in addition to general anaesthesia vs general anaesthesia alone Death from all causes Range of · patients undergoing primary tumour surgery Anaesthetic techniques for risk of malignant tumour recurrence (2014) · Cochrane | HR 1.03 [0.86, 1.24] | 3 studies · 647 participants | Low |
Epidural anaesthesia in addition to general anaesthesia vs general anaesthesia alone Tumour progression or death from all causes Range of · patients undergoing primary tumour surgery Anaesthetic techniques for risk of malignant tumour recurrence (2014) · Cochrane | HR 0.88 [0.56, 1.38] | 2 studies · 535 participants | Very low |
Epidural anaesthesia in addition to general anaesthesia vs general anaesthesia alone Tumour progression Median · patients undergoing primary tumour surgery Anaesthetic techniques for risk of malignant tumour recurrence (2014) · Cochrane | HR 1.5 [1, 2.25] | 2 studies · 545 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Reported mortality As reported in the trials · patients having major abdominal surgery Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) during the postoperative period for prevention of postoperative… (2014) · Cochrane | RR 1.28 [0.35, 4.66] | 2 studies · 413 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Atelectasis As reported in the trials · patients having major abdominal surgery Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) during the postoperative period for prevention of postoperative… (2014) · Cochrane | RR 0.62 [0.45, 0.86] | 6 studies · 249 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Pneumonia As reported in the included trials · patients having major abdominal surgery Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) during the postoperative period for prevention of postoperative… (2014) · Cochrane | RR 0.43 [0.21, 0.84] | 5 studies · 563 participants | Very low |
Induction and maintenance: sevoflurane + nitrous oxide (N2O) vs propofol + N2O Postoperative nausea and vomiting · paediatric Intravenous versus inhalational anaesthesia for paediatric outpatient surgery (2014) · Cochrane | OR 2.96 [1.35, 6.49] | 4 studies · 176 participants | Low |
Induction and maintenance: sevoflurane + nitrous oxide (N2O) vs propofol + N2O Postoperative behavioural disturbances Different scales · paediatric Intravenous versus inhalational anaesthesia for paediatric outpatient surgery (2014) · Cochrane | OR 2.67 [1.14, 6.23] | 4 studies · 176 participants | Very low |
Induction and maintenance: sevoflurane + nitrous oxide (N2O) vs propofol + N2O Intraoperative and postoperative respiratory and cardiovascular complications · paediatric Intravenous versus inhalational anaesthesia for paediatric outpatient surgery (2014) · Cochrane | OR 0.75 [0.27, 2.13] | 3 studies · 130 participants | Very low |
Maintenance anaesthesia: inhalational vs intravenous Nausea and vomiting ‐ subgroup analysis: thiopentone or halothane + N2O versus propofol or propofol + N2O · paediatric Intravenous versus inhalational anaesthesia for paediatric outpatient surgery (2014) · Cochrane | OR 3.23 [1.49, 7.02] | 4 studies · 176 participants | Low |
Maintenance anaesthesia: inhalational vs intravenous Nausea and vomiting ‐ subgroup analysis: thiopentone or halothane + N2O versus propofol or propofol + N2O · paediatric Intravenous versus inhalational anaesthesia for paediatric outpatient surgery (2014) · Cochrane | OR 7.44 [2.6, 21.26] | 2 studies · 87 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Complication rate · adult patients undergoing elective surgery Preoperative carbohydrate treatment for enhancing recovery after elective surgery (2014) · Cochrane | RR 0.98 [0.86, 1.11] | 14 studies · 913 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Length of hospital stay (days) · adult patients undergoing elective surgery Preoperative carbohydrate treatment for enhancing recovery after elective surgery (2014) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 19 studies · 1351 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Postoperative well‐being by visual analogue scale or by standardized questionnaire · adult patients undergoing elective surgery Preoperative carbohydrate treatment for enhancing recovery after elective surgery (2014) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 4 studies · 310 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR Postoperative nausea by visual analogue scale at 24 hours postop · adult patients undergoing elective surgery Preoperative carbohydrate treatment for enhancing recovery after elective surgery (2014) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 292 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR Postoperative vomiting · adult patients undergoing elective surgery Preoperative carbohydrate treatment for enhancing recovery after elective surgery (2014) · Cochrane | RR 1.25 [0.77, 2.04] | 4 studies · 407 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Postoperative fatigue by visual analogue scale or by 10‐point ordinal scale · adult patients undergoing elective surgery Preoperative carbohydrate treatment for enhancing recovery after elective surgery (2014) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 6 studies · 576 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR Postop insulin sensitivity (clamp) measured as standardized glucose infusion rate (mg/kg/min)l · adult patients undergoing elective surgery Preoperative carbohydrate treatment for enhancing recovery after elective surgery (2014) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 41 participants | High |
Clonidine vs placebo or no treatment Number requiring additional analgesia at any time postoperatively ‐ low dose clonidine · patients with postoperative pain Clonidine premedication for postoperative analgesia in children (2014) · Cochrane | RR 1 [0.78, 1.28] | 1 study · 45 participants | Low |
Clonidine vs fentanyl Number requiring opioids postoperatively · patients with postoperative pain Clonidine premedication for postoperative analgesia in children (2014) · Cochrane | RR 0.89 [0.56, 1.42] | 1 study · 36 participants | Moderate |
Clonidine vs fentanyl Single, small study. · patients with postoperative pain Clonidine premedication for postoperative analgesia in children (2014) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 participants | Ungraded |