Comparison 2. Epidural analgesia compared with peripheral nerve blocks.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Mortality at 0 to 30 days	1	145	Risk Difference (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.03 [‐0.08, 0.02]
1.1 With cardiopulmonary bypass	1	145	Risk Difference (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.03 [‐0.08, 0.02]
2 Myocardial infarction (0 to 30 days)	2	76	Risk Difference (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [‐0.07, 0.07]
2.1 Off‐pump surgery	2	76	Risk Difference (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [‐0.07, 0.07]
3 Neurological complications: cerebrovascular accident (0 to 30 days)	1	145	Risk Difference (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [‐0.03, 0.03]
3.1 With cardiopulmonary bypass	1	145	Risk Difference (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [‐0.03, 0.03]
4 Neurological complications: epidural haematoma (0 to 30 days)	4	271	Risk Difference (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [‐0.03, 0.03]
4.1 With cardiopulmonary bypass	2	195	Risk Difference (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [‐0.03, 0.03]
4.2 Off‐pump surgery	2	76	Risk Difference (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [‐0.07, 0.07]
5 Duration of tracheal intubation (hours)	4	271	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.08 [‐0.54, 0.38]
5.1 With cardiopulmonary bypass	2	195	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.04 [‐0.53, 0.44]
5.2 Off‐pump surgery	2	76	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.35 [‐1.70, 0.99]
6 Pain scores at rest at 6 to 8 hours	2	90	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.12 [‐0.42, 0.66]
6.1 With cardiopulmonary bypass	1	50	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [‐0.59, 0.59]
6.2 Off‐pump surgery	1	40	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.8 [‐0.61, 2.21]
7 Pain scores on movement/coughing at 6 to 8 hours	2	90	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.15 [‐0.69, 0.39]
7.1 With cardiopulmonary bypass	1	50	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.08 [‐0.69, 0.53]
7.2 Off‐pump surgery	1	40	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.40 [‐1.57, 0.77]
8 Pain at rest at 24 hours	3	231	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.11 [‐0.41, 0.63]
8.1 With cardiopulmonary bypass	2	195	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.28 [‐0.34, 0.91]
8.2 Off‐pump surgery	1	36	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.54 [‐1.38, 0.30]
9 Pain on movement/coughing at 24 hours	2	86	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.31 [‐0.62, 1.24]
9.1 With cardiopulmonary bypass	1	50	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.72 [0.22, 1.22]
9.2 Off‐pump surgery	1	36	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.24 [‐1.11, 0.63]
10 Pain at rest at 48 hours	2	195	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.51 [‐0.77, 1.80]
10.1 With cardiopulmonary bypass	2	195	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.51 [‐0.77, 1.80]
11 Pain at rest on movement/coughing at 48 hours	1	50	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.36 [0.76, 1.96]
12 Hypotension or need for vasopressor	1	40	Risk Difference (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.05 [‐0.08, 0.18]
12.1 Off‐pump surgery	1	40	Risk Difference (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.05 [‐0.08, 0.18]