The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Impact of epidural analgesia on mortality and morbidity after surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Ann Surg 2014; 259: 1056-1067.

Published: 11th September 2014

Authors: Popping D, Elia N, Van Aken HK, Marret E, Schug SA, Kranke P et al. et al.

Conclusion

There were 125 trials that included 9044 procedures. Epidural anaesthesia reduced overall mortality (3.1 versus 4.9 per cent; odds ratio 0.6, 95 per cent confidence interval 0.39 to 0.93), and a number of other cardiovascular and respiratory complications.

Pubmed Link