Gap finder
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.
915 questions in 93 reviews · Emergency and Critical Care
current versionsNo 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.
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Protocol‐directed sedation management vs usual care Adverse event ‐ incidence of reintubation (in ICU) · mechanically ventilated ICU adults and children requiring sedation management Protocol‐directed sedation versus non‐protocol‐directed sedation in mechanically ventilated intensive care… (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.65 [0.35, 1.24] | 1 study · 321 participants | Low |
Protocol‐directed sedation management vs usual care Incidence of tracheostomy (in ICU) · mechanically ventilated ICU adults and children requiring sedation management Protocol‐directed sedation versus non‐protocol‐directed sedation in mechanically ventilated intensive care… (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.67 [0.35, 1.3] | 3 studies · 3082 participants | Low |
Haloperidol vs placebo The event rate of intensive care delirium within 28 days. · critically ill patients 18 years or older demanding mechanical ventilation within the first 72 hours (Page 2013) or… Interventions for preventing intensive care unit delirium in adults (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.01 [0.87, 1.17] | 1 study · 1439 participants | Moderate |
Physical and cognitive therapy vs standard care Number of delirium‐ and coma‐free days (within the first 30 days) measured by the CAM‐ICU · critically ill patients 18 years or older treated for respiratory failure or septic or both, cardiogenic or… Interventions for preventing intensive care unit delirium in adults (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 65 participants | Very low |
Physical and cognitive therapy vs standard care Ventilator‐free days (within the first 30 days) · critically ill patients 18 years or older treated for respiratory failure or septic or both, cardiogenic or… Interventions for preventing intensive care unit delirium in adults (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 65 participants | Very low |
Physical and cognitive therapy vs standard care Length of ICU stay (days) · critically ill patients 18 years or older treated for respiratory failure or septic or both, cardiogenic or… Interventions for preventing intensive care unit delirium in adults (2018) · Cochrane | MD 1.23 | 1 study · 65 participants | Very low |
Physical and cognitive therapy vs standard care Cognitive functioning a): Global functioning (MMSE score 0 ‐ 30, higher score indicating better cognitive function) · critically ill patients 18 years or older treated for respiratory failure or septic or both, cardiogenic or… Interventions for preventing intensive care unit delirium in adults (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 30 participants | Very low |
Physical and cognitive therapy vs standard care Cognitive functioning b) Executve functioning (DEX score) (scores range from 0 to 80. Lower scores indicate better functioning) (DEX) · critically ill patients 18 years or older treated for respiratory failure or septic or both, cardiogenic or… Interventions for preventing intensive care unit delirium in adults (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 30 participants | Very low |
Physical and cognitive therapy vs standard care Adverse events · critically ill patients 18 years or older treated for respiratory failure or septic or both, cardiogenic or… Interventions for preventing intensive care unit delirium in adults (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 65 participants | Very low |
Haloperidol vs placebo In‐hospital mortality within 28 days. · critically ill patients 18 years or older demanding mechanical ventilation within the first 72 hours (Page 2013) or… Interventions for preventing intensive care unit delirium in adults (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.98 [0.8, 1.22] | 2 studies · 1580 participants | Moderate |
Haloperidol vs placebo Number of delirium ‐ and coma‐free days (within 28 days) measured by CAM‐ICU or ICDSC · critically ill patients 18 years or older demanding mechanical ventilation within the first 72 hours (Page 2013) or… Interventions for preventing intensive care unit delirium in adults (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 1580 participants | Moderate |
Haloperidol vs placebo Ventilator‐free days (within the first 28 days) · critically ill patients 18 years or older demanding mechanical ventilation within the first 72 hours (Page 2013) or… Interventions for preventing intensive care unit delirium in adults (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 1439 participants | High |
Haloperidol vs placebo Length of ICU stay (days) · critically ill patients 18 years or older demanding mechanical ventilation within the first 72 hours (Page 2013) or… Interventions for preventing intensive care unit delirium in adults (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 1580 participants | High |
Haloperidol vs placebo Cognitive impairment · critically ill patients 18 years or older demanding mechanical ventilation within the first 72 hours (Page 2013) or… Interventions for preventing intensive care unit delirium in adults (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Haloperidol vs placebo Adverse events · critically ill patients 18 years or older demanding mechanical ventilation within the first 72 hours (Page 2013) or… Interventions for preventing intensive care unit delirium in adults (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 1580 participants | Moderate |
Physical and cognitive therapy vs standard care The event rate of ICU delirium measured by the CAM‐ICU · critically ill patients 18 years or older treated for respiratory failure or septic or both, cardiogenic or… Interventions for preventing intensive care unit delirium in adults (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Physical and cognitive therapy vs standard care In‐hospital mortality at 30 days or at the longest · critically ill patients 18 years or older treated for respiratory failure or septic or both, cardiogenic or… Interventions for preventing intensive care unit delirium in adults (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.94 [0.4, 2.2] | 1 study · 65 participants | Very low |
Laryngeal mask airway (LMA) vs endotracheal tube (ETT) All‐cause mortality during hospital stay · critically ill adults undergoing percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy Laryngeal mask airway versus endotracheal tube for percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in critically ill… (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Laryngeal mask airway (LMA) vs endotracheal tube (ETT) Procedure‐related mortality during procedure or · critically ill adults undergoing percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy Laryngeal mask airway versus endotracheal tube for percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in critically ill… (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 5 studies · 281 participants | Very low |
Laryngeal mask airway (LMA) vs endotracheal tube (ETT) Tally of participants with one or more serious adverse event(s) during procedure or within 24 hours after procedure · critically ill adults undergoing percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy Laryngeal mask airway versus endotracheal tube for percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in critically ill… (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.86 [0.41, 1.8] | 8 studies · 467 participants | Very low |
Laryngeal mask airway (LMA) vs endotracheal tube (ETT) Duration of procedure (minutes) · critically ill adults undergoing percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy Laryngeal mask airway versus endotracheal tube for percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in critically ill… (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 6 studies · 324 participants | Low |
Laryngeal mask airway (LMA) vs endotracheal tube (ETT) Failure of procedure, requiring conversion to any other procedure · critically ill adults undergoing percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy Laryngeal mask airway versus endotracheal tube for percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in critically ill… (2018) · Cochrane | RR 2.82 [1.22, 6.52] | 8 studies · 439 participants | Low |
Liberal initial fluid vs conservative fluid therapy All‐cause mortality · adults and children with initial sepsis and septic shocka Liberal versus conservative fluid therapy in adults and children with sepsis or septic shock (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.38 [1.07, 1.77] | 2 studies · 3288 participants | Moderate |
Liberal initial fluid vs conservative fluid therapy Adverse events · adults and children with initial sepsis and septic shocka Liberal versus conservative fluid therapy in adults and children with sepsis or septic shock (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.95 [0.6, 1.5] | 1 study · 147 participants | Low |
Early intervention (mobilization or active exercise) vs usual care Physical function ‐ return to independent functional status at hospital discharge Defined as ability to perform 6 ADLs (bathing, dressing, eating, grooming, transferring from bed to chair, using the toilet) and walk independently, · critically ill, mechanically ventilated adults Early intervention (mobilization or active exercise) for critically ill adults in the intensive care unit (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.71 [1.11, 2.64] | 1 study · 104 participants | Low |
Early intervention (mobilization or active exercise) vs usual care Physical function ‐ independent ADLs total at ICU discharge Functional Independence Measure (0 ‐ 6) · critically ill, mechanically ventilated adults Early intervention (mobilization or active exercise) for critically ill adults in the intensive care unit (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 104 participants | Low |
Early intervention (mobilization or active exercise) vs usual care Physical function ‐ Independent ADL total at hospital discharge Functional Independence Measure (0 ‐ 6) · critically ill, mechanically ventilated adults Early intervention (mobilization or active exercise) for critically ill adults in the intensive care unit (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 104 participants | Low |
Early intervention (mobilization or active exercise) vs usual care Physical function Barthel score (0 ‐ 100) · critically ill, mechanically ventilated adults Early intervention (mobilization or active exercise) for critically ill adults in the intensive care unit (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 104 participants | Low |
Early intervention (mobilization or active exercise) vs usual care Physical performance Acute Care Index of Function score at ICU discharge (0 ‐ 100) · critically ill, mechanically ventilated adults Early intervention (mobilization or active exercise) for critically ill adults in the intensive care unit (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 42 participants | Low |
Early intervention (mobilization or active exercise) vs usual care Physical performance Physical Function ICU Test score at ICU discharge · critically ill, mechanically ventilated adults Early intervention (mobilization or active exercise) for critically ill adults in the intensive care unit (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 42 participants | Low |
Early intervention (mobilization or active exercise) vs usual care Physical performance Short Physical Performance Battery score at ICU discharge · critically ill, mechanically ventilated adults Early intervention (mobilization or active exercise) for critically ill adults in the intensive care unit (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 184 participants | Low |
Early intervention (mobilization or active exercise) vs usual care Physical performance Short Physical Performance Battery score at hospital discharge · critically ill, mechanically ventilated adults Early intervention (mobilization or active exercise) for critically ill adults in the intensive care unit (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 204 participants | Low |
Early intervention (mobilization or active exercise) vs usual care Adverse events Proportion of participants with one or more events, or proportion of intervention sessions where an event occurred (falls, accidental dislodgement of attachments, haemodynamic instability, oxygen desaturation or any other adverse ev... · critically ill, mechanically ventilated adults Early intervention (mobilization or active exercise) for critically ill adults in the intensive care unit (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 4 studies · 690 participants | Low |
BIS monitoring vs clinical assessment Intensive care unit length of stay (ICU LOS) (measured in days) · Mechanically ventilated adults in the intensive care unit BIS monitoring versus clinical assessment for sedation in mechanically ventilated adults in the intensive… (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 50 participants | Low |
BIS monitoring vs clinical assessment Duration of mechanical ventilation (measured in days) · Mechanically ventilated adults in the intensive care unit BIS monitoring versus clinical assessment for sedation in mechanically ventilated adults in the intensive… (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 155 participants | Low |
BIS monitoring vs clinical assessment Adverse events: Measured as number of patients with adverse events · Mechanically ventilated adults in the intensive care unit BIS monitoring versus clinical assessment for sedation in mechanically ventilated adults in the intensive… (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 105 participants | Very low |
BIS monitoring vs clinical assessment Other important secondary outcomes like Any‐cause mortality, ventilator‐associated pneumonia, hospital LOS, amount of sedative agents used, long term functional outcomes and quality of life were not reported in any studies · Mechanically ventilated adults in the intensive care unit BIS monitoring versus clinical assessment for sedation in mechanically ventilated adults in the intensive… (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Enteral vs parenteral nutrition Mortality · critically ill adults admitted to the ICU for trauma, emergency, or surgical care; population excluded people with… Enteral versus parenteral nutrition and enteral versus a combination of enteral and parenteral nutrition for… (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.19 [0.8, 1.77] | 6 studies · 361 participants | Low |
Enteral vs enteral and parenteral nutrition Number of ventilator‐free days up to day 28 · critically ill adults admitted to the ICU for trauma, emergency, or post‐surgical care; population excludes… Enteral versus parenteral nutrition and enteral versus a combination of enteral and parenteral nutrition for… (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Enteral vs enteral and parenteral nutrition Adverse events: aspiration (as reported by study authors at end of study · critically ill adults admitted to the ICU for trauma, emergency, or post‐surgical care; population excludes… Enteral versus parenteral nutrition and enteral versus a combination of enteral and parenteral nutrition for… (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Enteral vs enteral and parenteral nutrition Adverse events: sepsis (as reported by study authors at end of study · critically ill adults admitted to the ICU for trauma, emergency, or post‐surgical care; population excludes… Enteral versus parenteral nutrition and enteral versus a combination of enteral and parenteral nutrition for… (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Enteral vs enteral and parenteral nutrition Adverse events: pneumonia (as reported by study authors at end of study · critically ill adults admitted to the ICU for trauma, emergency, or post‐surgical care; population excludes… Enteral versus parenteral nutrition and enteral versus a combination of enteral and parenteral nutrition for… (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.4 [0.91, 2.15] | 2 studies · 205 participants | Very low |
Enteral vs enteral and parenteral nutrition Adverse events: vomiting (as reported by study authors at end of study · critically ill adults admitted to the ICU for trauma, emergency, or post‐surgical care; population excludes… Enteral versus parenteral nutrition and enteral versus a combination of enteral and parenteral nutrition for… (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Enteral vs parenteral nutrition Number of ICU‐free days up to day 28 · critically ill adults admitted to the ICU for trauma, emergency, or surgical care; population excluded people with… Enteral versus parenteral nutrition and enteral versus a combination of enteral and parenteral nutrition for… (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Enteral vs parenteral nutrition Number of ventilator‐free days up to day 28 · critically ill adults admitted to the ICU for trauma, emergency, or surgical care; population excluded people with… Enteral versus parenteral nutrition and enteral versus a combination of enteral and parenteral nutrition for… (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 2388 participants | Very low |
Enteral vs parenteral nutrition Adverse events: aspiration (as reported by study authors at end of study · critically ill adults admitted to the ICU for trauma, emergency, or surgical care; population excluded people with… Enteral versus parenteral nutrition and enteral versus a combination of enteral and parenteral nutrition for… (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.53 [0.46, 5.03] | 2 studies · 2437 participants | Very low |
Enteral vs parenteral nutrition Adverse events: sepsis (as reported by study authors at end of study · critically ill adults admitted to the ICU for trauma, emergency, or surgical care; population excluded people with… Enteral versus parenteral nutrition and enteral versus a combination of enteral and parenteral nutrition for… (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.59 [0.37, 0.95] | 7 studies · 361 participants | Low |
Enteral vs parenteral nutrition Adverse events: pneumonia (as reported by study authors at end of study · critically ill adults admitted to the ICU for trauma, emergency, or surgical care; population excluded people with… Enteral versus parenteral nutrition and enteral versus a combination of enteral and parenteral nutrition for… (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.1 [0.82, 1.48] | 7 studies · 415 participants | Low |
Enteral vs parenteral nutrition Adverse events: vomiting (as reported by study authors at end of study · critically ill adults admitted to the ICU for trauma, emergency, or surgical care; population excluded people with… Enteral versus parenteral nutrition and enteral versus a combination of enteral and parenteral nutrition for… (2018) · Cochrane | RR 3.42 [1.15, 10.16] | 3 studies · 2525 participants | Very low |
Enteral vs enteral and parenteral nutrition Mortality · critically ill adults admitted to the ICU for trauma, emergency, or post‐surgical care; population excludes… Enteral versus parenteral nutrition and enteral versus a combination of enteral and parenteral nutrition for… (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.99 [0.84, 1.16] | 5 studies · 5111 participants | Low |