How to use a review article: prophylactic endoscopic sclerotherapy for esophageal varices. Evidence Based Critical Care Medicine Group.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the validity of a meta-analysis about sclerotherapy for the primary prevention of bleeding from esophageal varices, to interpret the results, and discuss whether they apply in practice.


METHODS
Critical appraisal techniques for systematic reviews.


METHODS
Systematic reviews are distinct from narrative reviews in that they answer specific clinical questions, and have explicit and reproducible methods for searching, selecting, and appraising the primary studies, to create the most valid synthesis of the evidence.


RESULTS
Meta-analyses are systematic reviews containing a critical appraisal and statistical summary of individual study results and their confidence limits, whereas qualitative systematic reviews provide a narrative executive summary of study results.


CONCLUSIONS
High-quality systematic reviews are being used increasingly to guide practice, strengthening the link between research results and improved health outcomes. Understanding their strengths and limitations helps us to use them appropriately in practice.
Cook
D J
DJ
Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Levy
M M
MM
Heyland
D K
DK
D003422:Critical Care; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000628:therapy*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects