1. Radiofrequency dissecting sealer versus clamp‐crush.
| Outcome | Number of studies | Number of patients | Meta‐analysis | Other trials |
| Peri‐operative mortality | 3 | 180 | Not estimable | ‐ |
| Liver failure | 2 | 100 | 0.74 [0.14, 3.95] | ‐ |
| Bleeding requiring percutaneous drainage | 1 | 50 | Not estimable | ‐ |
| Bile leak requiring operation | 2 | 130 | 1.69 [0.22, 13.15] | |
| Bile leak requiring percutaneous drainage | 2 | 130 | 0.70 [0.13, 3.73] | ‐ |
| Biliary fistula | 1 | 50 | 8.63 [0.42, 176.32] | |
| Infected abdominal collections | 2 | 130 | 11.02 [1.38, 88.28] | ‐ |
| Wound infection | 1 | 50 | 7.58 [0.84, 68.46] | ‐ |
| Transection blood loss (ml/sq cm) | 1 | 50 | 1.90 [0.92, 2.88] | ‐ |
| Blood transfused (units) | ‐ | ‐ | ‐ | 1.5 units vs 0 units (Arita 2005) |
| Number requiring transfusion | 3 | 180 | 1.19 [0.50, 2.82] | ‐ |
| Peak bilirubin (mumol/litre) | 1 | 50 | 0.00 [‐19.40, 19.40] | ‐ |
| Peak prothrombin activity (percentage of activity) | 1 | 50 | 1.00 [‐25.66, 27.66] | ‐ |
| Aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) | 1 | 50 | ‐ | No difference (Lesurtel 2005) |
| Transection speed (sq cm/minute) | 1 | 50 | ‐1.40 [‐2.23, ‐0.57] | ‐ |
| Operating time (minutes) | 1 | 50 | ‐ | 292 vs 278 (Lupo 2007) |
| Intensive therapy unit stay (days) | 1 | 50 | ‐ | 1 vs 1 median (Lesurtel 2005) |
| Hospital stay (days) | 2 | 100 | ‐ | 9 vs 9 median (Lesurtel 2005) 16 vs 18 median (Arita 2005) |
| Costs (Euros per patient) | 1 | not applicable | ‐ | 1618 vs 497 Lesurtel 2005 |
cm = centimetre ml = millilitre mumol = micromole sq = square