Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26883236›Full record

SynthesisBMJ open2016

Thigh length versus knee length antiembolism stockings for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis in postoperative surgical patients; a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Ros Wade, Fiona Paton, Stephen Rice, Gerard Stansby, Peter Millner, Hayley Flavell, Dave Fox, Nerys Woolacott

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic ReviewNetwork Meta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ open, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.8field-weighted citation impact, top 27% 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

2 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Venous Thromboprophylaxis With Neuromuscular Stimulation: Is It Calf Muscle Pumping or Just Twitches and Jerks?Clinical and applied thrombosis/hemostasis : official journal of the International Academy of Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis · 2018
    Article
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

8 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Ros WadeCentre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, UK.
Fiona PatonCentre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, UK.
Stephen RiceCentre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, UK.
Gerard StansbyNorthern Vascular Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Peter MillnerDepartment of Spinal Surgery, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK.
Hayley FlavellDepartment of Pathology, Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bournemouth, UK.
Dave FoxCentre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, UK.
Nerys WoolacottCentre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, UK.
University of York · GBLeeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust · GBNewcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · GBRoyal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo assess the clinical effectiveness of thigh length versus knee length antiembolism stockings for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in surgical patients.

designSystematic review and meta-analysis using direct methods and network meta-analysis.

methodsPrevious systematic reviews and electronic databases were searched to February 2014 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of thigh length or knee length antiembolism stockings in surgical patients. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. The primary outcome was incidence of DVT. Analysis of the DVT data was performed using ORs along with 95% CIs. The I(2) statistic was used to quantify statistical heterogeneity.

results23 RCTs were included; there was substantial variation between the trials and many were poorly reported with an unclear risk of bias. Five RCTs directly comparing thigh length versus knee length stockings were pooled and the summary estimate of effect favouring thigh length stockings was not statistically significant (OR 1.48, 95% CI 0.80 to 2.73). 13 RCTs were included in the network meta-analysis; thigh length stockings with pharmacological prophylaxis were more effective than knee length stockings with pharmacological prophylaxis, but again results were not statistically significant (OR 1.76, 95% credible intervals 0.82 to 3.53).

conclusionsThigh length stockings may be more effective than knee length stockings, but results did not reach statistical significance and the evidence base is weak. Further research to confirm this finding is unlikely to be worthwhile. While thigh length stockings appear to have superior efficacy, practical issues such as patient acceptability may prevent their wide use in clinical practice. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42014007202.

Indexed as

Stockings, CompressionEquipment DesignFibrinolytic AgentsHumansKneePostoperative ComplicationsPulmonary EmbolismThighVenous ThrombosisFibrinolytic AgentsSURGERYVASCULAR MEDICINE

Identifiers

PMID26883236
PMCPMC4762135
OpenAlexW2285428850

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.