Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40481693›Full record

ArticleColorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland2025

Head-down tilt lithotomy position and well-leg compartment syndrome: An international survey of current practice.

Chukwuemeka C Uzoma, Anthony I Shepherd, Zoe L Saynor, Jim S Khan, Guglielmo Niccolò Piozzi, Rauand Duhoky, Christopher Askew, M Mahir Ozmen, Thierry R F Middleton, Shamsul Masum and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Colorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, 2025. 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
–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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Head-down tilt lithotomy position and well-leg compartment syndrome: An international survey of current practice.Colorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland · 2025
    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

12 authors.

Chukwuemeka C UzomaClinical Health and Rehabilitation Team, School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0020-9325
Anthony I ShepherdClinical Health and Rehabilitation Team, School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK.
Zoe L SaynorSchool of Health Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
Jim S KhanDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3031-4495
Guglielmo Niccolò PiozziDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6667-9202
Rauand DuhokyDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UK.
Christopher AskewVasoActive Research Group, School of Health, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.
M Mahir OzmenMahir Ozmen Clinic (MOC), Ankara, Turkey.
Thierry R F MiddletonClinical Health and Rehabilitation Team, School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK.
Shamsul MasumSchool of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK.
Maria PerissiouClinical Health and Rehabilitation Team, School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK.
HDTL‐WLCS Global Survey Collaborating Group

Funding

University of Portsmouth
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimWell-leg compartment syndrome (WLCS) is a serious complication of prolonged surgery in the head-down tilt lithotomy (HDTL) position associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. However, there is a lack of awareness and clinical guidance regarding prevention of WLCS. The aim of this study was to assess current HDTL-related practices and occurrence of WLCS among a global cohort of clinicians.

methodAn international online survey of clinicians was conducted between July and December 2023. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, machine learning techniques and qualitative content analysis.

resultsA total of 595 clinicians from 71 countries and 14 specialities participated. Most (98%) reported routine use of HDTL, 27% of whom did not implement any preventive strategies. 'Leg rest' was the most reported preventive measure (41%), commonly initiated after 2 or 3 h of HDTL (79%), for 10-15 min (56%). Overall, 170 cases of WLCS were reported by 21% of respondents. The majority reported unilateral WLCS (81%) following a laparoscopic procedure (63%) performed in HDTL (64%). Only 28% of respondents discussed WLCS during consent for operations in HDTL. Machine learning identified 'duration of uninterrupted HDTL' as a positive predictor of the occurrence of WLCS (p < 0.001). Content analysis demonstrated that clinician perspectives and practices regarding WLCS are significantly influenced by personal experience, mostly due to a poor evidence base and lack of standardized institutional policies.

conclusionPerioperative practices during procedures in HDTL vary substantially, and are primarily informed by clinician experience and preferences. There is a need for evidence-based consensus on best practices to enhance safety during procedures in HDTL.

Indexed as

Compartment SyndromesHead-Down TiltPatient PositioningPostoperative ComplicationsPractice Patterns, Physicians'AdultFemaleHumansLegMaleSurveys and Questionnairescompartment syndromeglobal surveyLloyd‐Daviesperioperative practicesprevention and managementrobotic surgery

Identifiers

PMID40481693
PMCPMC12144681

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.