Comparison 1. Lumbar punctures or ventricular punctures versus control.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Placement of a hydrocephalus shunt	3	233	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.96 [0.73, 1.26]
2 Death prior to 12‐month follow‐up	4	280	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.88 [0.53, 1.44]
3 Major disability in survivors	2	141	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.98 [0.81, 1.18]
4 Multiple disability in survivors	2	141	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.90 [0.66, 1.24]
5 Death or disability	2	180	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.99 [0.86, 1.14]
6 Death or shunt	3	233	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.91 [0.75, 1.11]
7 Infection of CSF presurgery	2	195	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.73 [0.53, 5.67]