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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.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

1,463 questions in 125 reviews · Anaesthesia

current versions
No 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.

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Summary of findings ‐ Erector spinae plane block vs no block
Mean difference in postoperative pain intensity at rest 24 hours postoperatively (VAS 0 to 10) · adults undergoing surgery with general anaesthesia
Erector spinae plane block for postoperative pain (2024) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted17 studies · 958 participantsModerate
Summary of findings ‐ Erector spinae plane block vs serratus anterior plane block
Rates of block‐related adverse events · adults undergoing surgery with general anaesthesia
Erector spinae plane block for postoperative pain (2024) · Cochrane
RR 1 [0.06, 15.59]2 studies · 110 participantsLow
Summary of findings ‐ Erector spinae plane block vs pectoralis plane block
Mean difference in postoperative pain intensity at rest 24 hours postoperatively (VAS 0 to 10) · adults undergoing surgery with general anaesthesia
Erector spinae plane block for postoperative pain (2024) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 98 participantsLow
Summary of findings ‐ Erector spinae plane block vs pectoralis plane block
Rates of block‐related adverse events · adults undergoing surgery with general anaesthesia
Erector spinae plane block for postoperative pain (2024) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 47 participantsUngraded
Summary of findings ‐ Erector spinae plane block vs quadratus lumborum block
Mean difference in postoperative pain intensity at rest 24 hours postoperatively (VAS 0 to 10) · adults undergoing surgery with general anaesthesia
Erector spinae plane block for postoperative pain (2024) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 40 participantsUngraded
Summary of findings ‐ Erector spinae plane block vs quadratus lumborum block
Rates of block‐related adverse events · adults undergoing surgery with general anaesthesia
Erector spinae plane block for postoperative pain (2024) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 40 participantsUngraded
Summary of findings ‐ Erector spinae plane block vs intercostal nerve block
Mean difference in postoperative pain intensity at rest 24 hours postoperatively (VAS 0 to 10) · adults undergoing surgery with general anaesthesia
Erector spinae plane block for postoperative pain (2024) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 131 participantsVery low
Summary of findings ‐ Erector spinae plane block vs intercostal nerve block
Rates of block‐related adverse events · adults undergoing surgery with general anaesthesia
Erector spinae plane block for postoperative pain (2024) · Cochrane
RR 0.09 [0.04, 2.28]3 studies · 181 participantsVery low
Summary of findings ‐ Erector spinae plane block vs epidural analgesia
Mean difference in postoperative pain intensity at rest 24 hours postoperatively (VAS 0 to 10) · adults undergoing surgery with general anaesthesia
Erector spinae plane block for postoperative pain (2024) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 81 participantsVery low
Summary of findings ‐ Erector spinae plane block vs epidural analgesia
Rates of block‐related adverse events · adults undergoing surgery with general anaesthesia
Erector spinae plane block for postoperative pain (2024) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 50 participantsUngraded
Summary of findings ‐ Erector spinae plane block vs no block
Rates of block‐related adverse events · adults undergoing surgery with general anaesthesia
Erector spinae plane block for postoperative pain (2024) · Cochrane
RR 1 [0.4, 2.49]18 studies · 1045 participantsLow
Summary of findings ‐ Erector spinae plane block vs placebo block
Mean difference in postoperative pain intensity at rest 24 hours postoperatively (VAS 0 to 10) · adults undergoing surgery with general anaesthesia
Erector spinae plane block for postoperative pain (2024) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted8 studies · 499 participantsModerate
Summary of findings ‐ Erector spinae plane block vs placebo block
Rates of block‐related adverse events · adults undergoing surgery with general anaesthesia
Erector spinae plane block for postoperative pain (2024) · Cochrane
RR 1 [0.29, 3.41]10 studies · 592 participantsLow
Summary of findings ‐ Erector spinae plane block vs paravertebral block
Mean difference in postoperative pain intensity at rest 24 hours postoperatively (VAS 0 to 10) · adults undergoing surgery with general anaesthesia
Erector spinae plane block for postoperative pain (2024) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted7 studies · 478 participantsLow
Summary of findings ‐ Erector spinae plane block vs paravertebral block
Rates of block‐related adverse events · adults undergoing surgery with general anaesthesia
Erector spinae plane block for postoperative pain (2024) · Cochrane
RR 0.1 [0.02, 0.55]7 studies · 522 participantsModerate
Summary of findings ‐ Erector spinae plane block vs transversus abdominis plane block
Mean difference in postoperative pain intensity at rest 24 hours postoperatively (VAS 0 to 10) · adults undergoing surgery with general anaesthesia
Erector spinae plane block for postoperative pain (2024) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 160 participantsLow
Summary of findings ‐ Erector spinae plane block vs transversus abdominis plane block
Rates of block‐related adverse events · adults undergoing surgery with general anaesthesia
Erector spinae plane block for postoperative pain (2024) · Cochrane
RR 1 [0.15, 6.84]4 studies · 202 participantsLow
Summary of findings ‐ Erector spinae plane block vs serratus anterior plane block
Mean difference in postoperative pain intensity at rest 24 hours postoperatively (VAS 0 to 10) · adults undergoing surgery with general anaesthesia
Erector spinae plane block for postoperative pain (2024) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Automated mandatory bolus vs basal infusion
Breakthrough pain · term, pregnant women (nulliparous, or combination of nulli‐ and muliparous) requesting for labour epidural analgesia
Automated mandatory bolus versus basal infusion for maintenance of epidural analgesia in labour (2023) · Cochrane
RR 0.71 [0.55, 0.91]16 studies · 1528 participantsModerate
Automated mandatory bolus vs basal infusion
Caesarean delivery during labour epidural analgesia · term, pregnant women (nulliparous, or combination of nulli‐ and muliparous) requesting for labour epidural analgesia
Automated mandatory bolus versus basal infusion for maintenance of epidural analgesia in labour (2023) · Cochrane
RR 0.85 [0.69, 1.06]16 studies · 1735 participantsModerate
Automated mandatory bolus vs basal infusion
Instrumental delivery during labour epidural analgesia · term, pregnant women (nulliparous, or combination of nulli‐ and muliparous) requesting for labour epidural analgesia
Automated mandatory bolus versus basal infusion for maintenance of epidural analgesia in labour (2023) · Cochrane
RR 0.85 [0.71, 1.01]17 studies · 4550 participantsModerate
Automated mandatory bolus vs basal infusion
Duration of labour analgesia in minutes · term, pregnant women (nulliparous, or combination of nulli‐ and muliparous) requesting for labour epidural analgesia
Automated mandatory bolus versus basal infusion for maintenance of epidural analgesia in labour (2023) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted17 studies · 4544 participantsModerate
Automated mandatory bolus vs basal infusion
Local anaesthetic consumption per hour (mg/hr)c during labour epidural analgesia · term, pregnant women (nulliparous, or combination of nulli‐ and muliparous) requesting for labour epidural analgesia
Automated mandatory bolus versus basal infusion for maintenance of epidural analgesia in labour (2023) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted16 studies · 1642 participantsModerate
Automated mandatory bolus vs basal infusion
Maternal satisfaction following fetal delivery · term, pregnant women (nulliparous, or combination of nulli‐ and muliparous) requesting for labour epidural analgesia
Automated mandatory bolus versus basal infusion for maintenance of epidural analgesia in labour (2023) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted14 studies · 14 participantsUngraded
Automated mandatory bolus vs basal infusion
Apgar scores at 1‐ and 5‐minutes following fetal delivery · term, pregnant women (nulliparous, or combination of nulli‐ and muliparous) requesting for labour epidural analgesia
Automated mandatory bolus versus basal infusion for maintenance of epidural analgesia in labour (2023) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted14 studies · 14 participantsUngraded
Macintosh‐style videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Failed intubation · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
RR 0.41 [0.26, 0.65]41 studies · 4615 participantsModerate
Hyperangulated videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Successful first attempt · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
RR 1.03 [1, 1.05]66 studies · 8086 participantsLow
Hyperangulated videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Oesophageal intubation · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
RR 0.39 [0.18, 0.81]14 studies · 1968 participantsModerate
Hyperangulated videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Dental trauma · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
RR 0.51 [0.16, 1.59]30 studies · 3497 participantsVery low
Hyperangulated videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Cormack‐Lehane grade · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
RR 0.15 [0.1, 0.24]54 studies · 6058 participantsModerate
Hyperangulated videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Time for tracheal intubation · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted59 studies · 6644 participantsVery low
Channelled videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Failed intubation · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
RR 0.43 [0.3, 0.61]53 studies · 5367 participantsModerate
Channelled videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Hypoxia · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
RR 0.25 [0.12, 0.5]15 studies · 1966 participantsModerate
Channelled videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Successful first attempt · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
RR 1.1 [1.05, 1.15]47 studies · 5210 participantsVery low
Channelled videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Oesophageal intubation · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
RR 0.54 [0.17, 1.75]16 studies · 1756 participantsLow
Channelled videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Dental trauma · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
RR 0.52 [0.13, 2.12]29 studies · 2375 participantsVery low
Macintosh‐style videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Hypoxaemia · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
RR 0.72 [0.52, 0.99]16 studies · 2127 participantsModerate
Channelled videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Cormack‐Lehane grade · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
RR 0.14 [0.09, 0.21]40 studies · 3955 participantsModerate
Channelled videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Time for tracheal intubation · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted57 studies · 5676 participantsVery low
Macintosh‐style videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Successful first attempt · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
RR 1.05 [1.02, 1.09]42 studies · 7311 participantsLow
Macintosh‐style videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Oesophageal intubation · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
RR 0.51 [0.22, 1.21]14 studies · 2404 participantsLow
Macintosh‐style videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Dental trauma · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
RR 0.68 [0.16, 2.89]18 studies · 2297 participantsVery low
Macintosh‐style videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Cormack‐Lehane grade · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
RR 0.38 [0.29, 0.48]38 studies · 4368 participantsModerate
Macintosh‐style videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Time for tracheal intubation · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted35 studies · 4061 participantsVery low
Hyperangulated videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Failed intubation · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
RR 0.51 [0.34, 0.76]63 studies · 7146 participantsModerate
Hyperangulated videolaryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy
Hypoxaemia · adults undergoing tracheal intubation
Videolaryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adults undergoing tracheal intubation (2022) · Cochrane
RR 0.49 [0.22, 1.11]15 studies · 1691 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Early acute postoperative pain (within 6 hours postoperatively using a validated pain scale: 0, no pain to 10, maximum pain) · adults undergoing surgery
Pre‐emptive and preventive NSAIDs for postoperative pain in adults undergoing all types of surgery (2021) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted36 studies · 2032 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Nausea and vomiting (1‐6 hours postoperatively) · adults undergoing surgery
Pre‐emptive and preventive NSAIDs for postoperative pain in adults undergoing all types of surgery (2021) · Cochrane
RR 1.26 [0.49, 3.3]1 study · 76 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Nausea and vomiting (6‐48 hours postoperatively) · adults undergoing surgery
Pre‐emptive and preventive NSAIDs for postoperative pain in adults undergoing all types of surgery (2021) · Cochrane
RR 0.89 [0.65, 1.22]8 studies · 456 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Late acute postoperative pain (24‐48 hours postoperatively using a validated pain scale: 0, no pain to 10, maximum pain) · adults undergoing surgery
Pre‐emptive and preventive NSAIDs for postoperative pain in adults undergoing all types of surgery (2021) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted21 studies · 1441 participantsLow