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. 2014 Jan 28;2014(1):CD009633. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009633.pub2

Summary of findings 3. Clonidine compared to fentanyl for postoperative analgesia in children.

Clonidine compared to fentanyl for postoperative analgesia in children
Patient or population: patients with postoperative pain
 Settings: paediatric surgery
 Intervention: clonidine
 Comparison: fentanyl
Outcomes Illustrative comparative risks* (95% CI) Relative effect
 (95% CI) No of Participants
 (studies) Quality of the evidence
 (GRADE) Comments
Assumed risk Corresponding risk
Fentanyl Clonidine
Number requiring additional analgesia at any time postoperatively 706 per 1000 628 per 1000 
 (395 to 1000) RR 0.89 
 (0.56 to 1.42) 36
 (1 study) ⊕⊕⊕⊝
 moderate1  
Number requiring opioids postoperatively 706 per 1000 628 per 1000 
 (395 to 1000) RR 0.89 
 (0.56 to 1.42) 36
 (1 study) ⊕⊕⊕⊝
 moderate1  
*The basis for the assumed risk (e.g. the median control group risk across studies) is provided in footnotes. The corresponding risk (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI).
 CI: Confidence interval; RR: Risk ratio
GRADE Working Group grades of evidence
 High quality: Further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect.
 Moderate quality: Further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate.
 Low quality: Further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate.
 Very low quality: We are very uncertain about the estimate.

1 Single, small study.