Table 4. Study characteristics.

Name, publication year and country first author surname	Study design	Duration from symptoms onset to treatment	Age (years) inclusion; median age years (mean)	No. (DHC/Control)	Primary outcome	Jadad
DECIMAL 2007 [12], France, Vahedi	RCTs	Within 30 h	18–55 years 43.5	20/18	mRS as the ordinal outcome at 6 months, 12 months, blinding of outcome assessment	5
DESTINY I 2007 [13], Germany, Jüttler	RCTs	12–36 h	18–60 years; 44.5	17/15	mRS as the ordinal outcome at 6 months, 12 months, blinding of outcome assessment	5
HAMLET 2009 [14], Netherlands, Hofmeijer	RCTs	Within 96 h	18–60 years 50.0	32/32	mRS as the ordinal outcome at 12 months, blinding of outcome assessment	5
HeADDFIRST 2014 [15] U.S.A. and Canada, Frank	RCTs	Within 100 h	18∼75 years 52.3	14/10	Death (mRS = 6) at 21 days, 6 months, blinding of outcome assessment	4
Decompressive Hemicraniectomy 2012 [16], Latvia, Slezins	RCTs	Within 48 h	≥18 years 57.2	11/13	mRS as the ordinal outcome at 12 months, not blinding of outcome assessment	3
HeMMI 2015 [17], Philippina, Chua	RCTs	Within 72 h	18–65 years 50.3	13/11	mRS as the ordinal outcome at 6 months, blinding of outcome assessment	4
Decompressive Hemicraniectomy 2012 [21], China, Zhao	RCTs	Within 48 h	18–82 years 63.5	24/23	mRS as the ordinal outcome at 6 months,12 months, blinding of outcome assessment	5
DESTINY II 2014 [22], Germany, Jüttler	RCTs	Within 48 h	≥60 years; 70	47/62	mRS as the ordinal outcome at 6 months, 12 months, blinding of outcome assessment	5
Decompressive Hemicraniectomy 2018 [23], China, Li	RCTs	Within 48 h	>60 years 65.3	32/31	mRS as the ordinal outcome at 12 months, not blinding of outcome assessment	3