SynthesisPloS one2023
Efficacy of neuromuscular electrical stimulation for thoracic and abdominal surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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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.
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.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 3 citations in OpenAlex.
- Metabolism, Morphology and Function of the Anterior Abdominal Wall Musculature in Ventral Hernias and After Repair: A Narrative Review and Research Agenda.Journal of personalized medicine · 2026Review
- Nutritional rehabilitation strategies in abdominal surgery.Current opinion in clinical nutrition and metabolic care · 2026Review
- Patients Having Major Abdominal Cancer Surgery Exhibit Significant Acute Muscle Wasting.Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the efficacy of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on lower limb muscle strength and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) after thoracic and abdominal surgery. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE via PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database via Elsevier, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform via their dedicated search portal, and ClinicalTrials.gov on November 2021 and updated in April 2023 to identify randomized controlled trials that examined the effects of NMES after thoracic and abdominal surgery. The primary outcomes were lower limb muscle strength, HR-QOL, and adverse events. We used the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach to assess the certainty of evidence. A total of 18 randomized control trials involving 915 participants, including 10 on cardiovascular surgery, two on pulmonary surgery, five on digestive system surgery, and one on other surgery, were included. NMES slightly increased lower limb muscle strength and adverse events in cardiovascular surgery. Adverse events (hypotension, pain, and muscle discomfort) occurred in seven patients. HR-QOL was measured in two studies on cardiovascular surgery, but these were not pooled due to concept heterogeneity. Overall, NMES slightly increases lower limb muscle strength after cardiovascular surgery without serious adverse events. However, higher-quality randomized control trials in thoracic and abdominal surgeries are needed.
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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.