Ultrasound-guided puncture drainage versus surgical incision drainage for deep neck space abscesses: a protocol for a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.
Wei Nie, Li Du, Guo Chen, Yongbo Zheng, Xibiao Yang, Bo Li, Weiyi Zhang, Jianqiao Zheng
Author Information
Wei Nie: Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Li Du: Department of Anesthesiology, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Guo Chen: Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Yongbo Zheng: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Xibiao Yang: Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Bo Li: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Weiyi Zhang: Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Jianqiao Zheng: Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China zhjq1983@163.com. ORCID
INTRODUCTION: Deep neck space abscesses (DNAs) are serious surgical emergencies, associated with life-threatening complications. Surgical incision and drainage combined with antibiotics is the main treatment for DNAs, but drawbacks still exist. Ultrasound-guided puncture drainage is an alternative treatment for some DNAs with limited clinical evidence. Hence, the optimal drainage technique for the treatment of DNAs remains unclear. Therefore, we will perform a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify the efficacy of ultrasound-guided puncture drainage for DNAs. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: PubMed, Ovid Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, VIP database and trial registry databases will be searched from inception to September 2023 to identify randomised controlled trials of patients diagnosed with DNAs accepting ultrasound-guided puncture drainage. The primary outcome will be the length of hospital stay. The secondary outcomes will be the cure rate, incidence of retreatment, complications and overall cost to the healthcare system. Fixed-effects or random-effects model will be used according to the statistical heterogeneity. Mean differences or standardised mean differences with 95% CIs for continuous data and risk ratio (RR) with 95% CIs for dichotomous data. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool 2, Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) and trial sequential analysis will be conducted to evaluate the evidence quality and control the random errors. Funnel plots and Egger's regression test will be performed to evaluate publication bias. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was not required for this systematic review protocol. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023441031.
