Table 19:
GRADE Evidence Profile for Robot-Assisted Versus Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy for Operative Time
| # Studies (Design) | Risk of Bias | Inconsistency | Indirectness | Imprecision | Publication Bias | Upgrade Considerations | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2RCTs | No serious limitations | No serious limitations | No serious limitations | Serious limitations (−1)a | Undetected | None | ⊕⊕⊕ Moderate |
| 4 non-RCTs | Serious limitations (−1)b | Serious limitations (−1)c | Serious limitations (−1)d | Serious limitations (−1)a | Undetected | None | ⊕ Very low |
Abbreviations: GRADE, Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation; RCT, randomized controlled trial.
a
Not powered to detect differences.
b
GRADE starts at low for nonrandomized studies. Differences in baseline patient characteristics and surgeon experience between groups may impact operative time.
c
Significant and nonsignificant reductions favouring the robot-assisted group.
d
Generalizability concerns because of differences in hospital discharge pathways.