The British journal of surgery
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Meta Analysis
A meta-epidemiological study of bias in randomized clinical trials of open and laparoscopic surgery.
Blinding, random sequence generation, and allocation concealment are established strategies to minimize bias in RCTs. Meta-epidemiological studies of drug trials have demonstrated exaggerated treatment effects in RCTs where such methods were not employed. As blinding is more difficult in surgical trials it is important to determine whether this applies to them. The study aimed to investigate this using systematic meta-epidemiological methods. ⋯ Lack of blinding significantly altered the treatment effect estimates of RCTs comparing laparoscopic and open surgery. Blinding should be implemented in surgical RCTs where possible to avoid systematic bias.
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Limited information is available about patterns of surgical management of early breast cancer by ethnicity of women in England, and any potential inequalities in the treatment received for breast cancer. ⋯ Allowing for different patterns of age and stage at presentation, the surgical management of early breast cancer is similar in all women, regardless of ethnicity.
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The aim of this study was to use recent evidence to investigate and update volume-outcome relationships after open surgical repair (OSR) and endovascular repair (EVAR) of abdominal aortic aneurysm in England. ⋯ Higher annual all-procedure volumes were associated with significantly lower in-hospital mortality for OSR, but such a relationship was not significant for EVAR. There was not enough evidence for a volume effect on other outcomes.
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Prepectoral implant-based breast reconstruction with acellular dermal matrix has become an increasingly popular option for selected patients. There are no randomized data to demonstrate short- or long-term outcomes. Cohort studies to date have demonstrated safety, but risk factors for complications are unknown. ⋯ Prepectoral implant-based breast reconstruction has acceptable medium-term results but careful patient selection is advised.