Evidence map›Paper›PMID 12035036›Full record

SynthesisAnnals of surgery2002

Quality of complication reporting in the surgical literature.

Robert C G Martin, Murray F Brennan, David P Jaques

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Annals of surgery, 2002. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 165 papers, 14 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
165citing papers in PubMed, 14 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

165 citing papers in PubMed, 14 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  5. Systematic review of grading systems for adverse surgical outcomes.Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie · 2021
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  9. Robotic versus open radical cystectomy for bladder cancer in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2019
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105 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Robert C G MartinDepartment of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Murray F Brennan
David P Jaques

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo identify 10 critical elements of accurate and comprehensive reports of surgical complications. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Despite a venerable tradition of weekly morbidity and mortality conferences, inconsistent complication reporting is common in the surgical literature.

methodsAn analysis of articles reporting short-term outcomes after pancreatectomy, esophagectomy, and hepatectomy was performed. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) published from 1975 to 2001 and retrospective series of more than 100 patients published from 1990 to 2001 were reviewed.

resultsA total of 119 articles reporting outcomes in 22,530 patients were analyzed. This included 42 RCTs and 77 retrospective series. Of the 10 criteria developed, no articles met all criteria; 2% met 9 criteria, 38% 7 or 8, 34% 5 or 6, 40% 3 or 4, and 12% 1 or 2. Outpatient information (22% of articles), definitions of complications provided (34% of articles), severity grade used (20% of articles), and risk factors included in analysis (29% of articles) were the most commonly unmet quality reporting criteria. Type of study (RCT vs. retrospective), site of institution (U.S. vs. non-U.S.) and journal (U.S. vs. non-U.S.) did not influence the quality of complication reporting.

conclusionsShort-term surgical outcomes are routinely included in the data reported in the surgical literature. This is often used to show improvements over time or to assess the impact of therapeutic changes on patient outcome. The inconsistency of reporting and the lack of accepted principles of accrual, display, and analysis of complication data argue strongly for the creation and generalized use of standards for reporting this information.

Indexed as

Outcome Assessment, Health CareDigestive System Surgical ProceduresEsophagectomyHepatectomyHumansJournalism, MedicalPancreatectomyPeriodicals as TopicPostoperative ComplicationsRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicResearch DesignStatistics as Topic

Identifiers

PMID12035036
PMCPMC1422509

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.