Comparison 1. Stents versus no stents.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Pancreatic fistulas	4	605	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.67 [0.39, 1.14]
1.1 External stents	3	371	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.55 [0.38, 0.79]
1.2 Internal stents	1	234	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.23 [0.78, 1.94]
2 In‐hospital mortality	4	605	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.73 [0.28, 1.94]
2.1 External stents	3	371	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.88 [0.27, 2.88]
2.2 Internal stents	1	234	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.52 [0.10, 2.77]
3 Reoperation	3	512	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.67 [0.36, 1.22]
3.1 External stents	2	278	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.76 [0.36, 1.60]
3.2 Internal stents	1	234	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.52 [0.18, 1.47]
4 Total hospital stay	4	605	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐3.68 [‐6.52, ‐0.84]
4.1 External stents	3	371	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐3.68 [‐6.52, ‐0.84]
4.2 Internal stents	1	234	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
5 Delayed gastric emptying	3		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
5.1 External stents	3	371	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.75 [0.24, 2.35]
5.2 Internal stents	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
6 Intra‐abdominal abscess	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
6.1 External stents	0		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
6.2 Internal stents	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
7 Wound infection	4	605	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.73 [0.40, 1.32]
7.1 External stents	3	371	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.65 [0.22, 1.95]
7.2 Internal stents	1	234	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.71 [0.39, 1.29]