Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32740696›Full record

SynthesisLangenbeck's archives of surgery2021

Incision and drainage of cutaneous abscess with or without cavity packing: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Ali Yasen Y Mohamedahmed, Shafquat Zaman, Stephen Stonelake, Adil N Ahmad, Uttaran Datta, Shahab Hajibandeh, Shahin Hajibandeh

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Langenbeck's archives of surgery, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
1.4field-weighted citation impact, top 17% 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

6 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 17 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Lived experience of pilonidal sinus disease: Systematic review and meta-ethnography.Colorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pizza and Paintballs: A Cost-Effective Model for Incision and Drainage Simulation Training.Journal of education & teaching in emergency medicine · 2025
    Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Review
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

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Ali Yasen Y Mohamedahmed *Department of General Surgery, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK. dr.aliyasen1@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1219-7571
Shafquat Zaman *Department of General Surgery, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK.
Stephen StonelakeDepartment of General Surgery, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK.
Adil N AhmadDepartment of General Surgery, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK.
Uttaran DattaDepartment of General Surgery, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK.
Shahab HajibandehDepartment of General Surgery, Glan Clwyd Hospital, Rhyl, Denbighshire, UK.
Shahin HajibandehDepartment of General Surgery, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK.
Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust · GBGlan Clwyd Hospital · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsTo evaluate comparative outcomes of incision and drainage of cutaneous abscess with and without packing of the abscess cavity.

methodsA systematic search of multiple electronic data sources was conducted, and all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing incision and drainage of cutaneous abscess with and without packing were included. Abscess recurrence at maximum follow-up period, need for second intervention, and development of fistula in-ano were the evaluated outcome parameters for the meta-analysis A Trial Sequential Analysis was conducted to determine the robustness of the findings.

resultsEight RCTs reporting a total number of 485 patients who underwent incision and drainage of cutaneous abscess with (n = 243) or without (n = 242) packing of the abscess cavity were included. There was no significant difference in the risk of recurrence (risk ratio (RR) 1.31, P = 0.56), fistula-in-ano (RR 0.63, P = 0.28), and need for second intervention (RR 0.70, P = 0.05) between two groups. The results remained unchanged on sub-group analyses for ano-rectal abscess, paediatric patients, adult patients, and the use of antibiotics. The Trial Sequential Analysis demonstrated that the meta-analysis was not conclusive, and the results for recurrence were subject to type 2 error.

conclusionIncision and drainage of cutaneous abscess with or without packing have comparable outcomes. However, considering the cost and post-operative pain associated with packing, performing the procedure without packing of the abscess cavity may be more favourable. The findings of the better quality ongoing RCTs may provide stronger evidence in favour of packing or non-packing.

Indexed as

Anus DiseasesRectal FistulaAbscessAdultBandagesChildDrainageHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicCutaneous abscessIncision and drainagePacking; non-packing

Identifiers

PMID32740696
OpenAlexW3046512615

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.