Comparison 5. SIC versus OC ‐ sensitivity analysis imputing medians and standard deviations for missing data.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Sensitivity analysis 1: Operative time (minutes)	7	571	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.98 [‐7.86, 1.90]
2 Sensitivity analysis 2: Hospital stay (days)	7	571	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.97 [‐2.56, ‐1.39]
3 Sensitivity analysis 3: Omitting outlier Schmitz in total complications	6	441	Risk Difference (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.04 [‐0.09, 0.01]