Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25621838›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2015

Challenges of improving the evidence base in smaller surgical specialties, as highlighted by a systematic review of gastroschisis management.

Benjamin S R Allin, Win Hou W Tse, Sean Marven, Paul R V Johnson, Marian Knight

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
15citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
4.7field-weighted citation impact, top 5% of its field
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

15 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 29 citations in OpenAlex.

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  11. Development of a gastroschisis core outcome set.Archives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal edition · 2019
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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

5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Benjamin S R AllinNational Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Paediatric Surgery, Oxford Radcliffe University Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Win Hou W TseNational Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Sean MarvenSheffield Children's Hospital, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
Paul R V JohnsonDepartment of Paediatric Surgery, Oxford Radcliffe University Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Marian KnightNational Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Oxford, United Kingdom.
John Radcliffe Hospital · GBSheffield Children's Hospital · GB

Funding

Department of Health DRF-2015-08-076Department of Health NIHR-RP-011-032
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo identify methods of improving the evidence base in smaller surgical specialties, using a systematic review of gastroschisis management as an example.

backgroundOperative primary fascial closure (OPFC), and silo placement with staged reduction and delayed closure (SR) are the most commonly used methods of gastroschisis closure. Relative merits of each are unclear.

methodsA systematic review and meta-analysis was performed comparing outcomes following OPFC and SR in infants with simple gastroschisis. Primary outcomes of interest were mortality, length of hospitalization and time to full enteral feeding.

results751 unique articles were identified. Eight met the inclusion criteria. None were randomized controlled trials. 488 infants underwent OPFC and 316 underwent SR. Multiple studies were excluded because they included heterogeneous populations and mixed intervention groups. Length of stay was significantly longer in the SR group (mean difference 8.97 days, 95% CI 2.14-15.80 days), as was number of post-operative days to complete enteral feeding (mean difference 7.19 days, 95%CI 2.01-12.36 days). Mortality was not statistically significantly different, although the odds of death were raised in the SR group (OR 1.96, 95%CI 0.71-5.35).

conclusionsDespite showing some benefit of OPFC over SR, our results are tempered by the low quality of the available studies, which were small and variably reported. Coordinating research through a National Paediatric Surgical Trials Unit could alleviate many of these problems. A similar national approach could be used in other smaller surgical specialties.

Indexed as

Disease ManagementEvidence-Based PracticeGastroschisisHumansQuality ImprovementSurgery, PlasticTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID25621838
PMCPMC4306505
OpenAlexW2094167351

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.