Prone position for acute respiratory distress syndrome and the hazards of meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Researchers have tried unsuccessfully for many years using randomized controlled trials to show the efficacy of prone ventilation in treating ARDS. These failed attempts were of use in designing the successful PROSEVA trial, published in 2013. However, the evidence provided by meta-analyses in support of prone ventilation for ARDS was too low to be conclusive. The present study shows that meta-analysis is indeed not the best approach for the assessment of evidence as to the efficacy of prone ventilation.

Methods

We performed a cumulative meta-analysis to prove that only the PROSEVA trial, due to its strong protective effect, has substantially impacted on the outcome. We also replicated nine published meta-analyses including the PROSEVA trial. We performed leave-on

SUBMITTER: Poole D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9874051 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature