Comparison 2. Patch versus primary closure: outcomes during long‐term follow‐up, including events during first 30 days.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
2.1 Any stroke (fatal or non‐fatal; contralateral, ipsilateral or brainstem; haemorrhage or infarct)	7	1332	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.49 [0.27, 0.90]
2.1.1 Venous patch	3	346	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.42 [0.14, 1.30]
2.1.2 Synthetic patch	2	400	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.95 [0.59, 6.45]
2.1.3 Synthetic or venous patch	2	586	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.25 [0.10, 0.62]
2.2 Stroke‐related death	6	1019	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.27 [0.05, 1.60]
2.2.1 Venous patch	3	346	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.46 [0.05, 4.52]
2.2.2 Synthetic patch	1	87	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	Not estimable
2.2.3 Synthetic or venous patch	2	586	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.13 [0.01, 2.04]
2.3 Ipsilateral stroke (fatal or non‐fatal; haemorrhage or infarct)	6	1141	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.32 [0.16, 0.63]
2.3.1 Venous patch	3	429	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.42 [0.12, 1.47]
2.3.2 Synthetic patch	1	100	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.53 [0.05, 5.19]
2.3.3 Synthetic or venous patch	2	612	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.25 [0.10, 0.62]
2.4 All‐cause death	7	1332	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.78 [0.54, 1.12]
2.4.1 Venous patch	3	346	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.80 [0.45, 1.42]
2.4.2 Synthetic patch	2	400	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.90 [0.39, 2.05]
2.4.3 Synthetic or venous patch	2	586	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.69 [0.38, 1.26]
2.5 Any stroke or death	6	1019	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.59 [0.42, 0.84]
2.5.1 Venous patch	3	346	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.69 [0.40, 1.20]
2.5.2 Synthetic patch	1	87	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.62 [0.23, 1.66]
2.5.3 Synthetic or venous patch	2	586	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.51 [0.30, 0.86]
2.6 Restenosis (> 50%) or occlusion of operated artery	8	1719	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.24 [0.17, 0.34]
2.6.1 Venous patch	3	429	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.34 [0.17, 0.66]
2.6.2 Synthetic patch	3	678	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.46 [0.22, 0.98]
2.6.3 Synthetic or venous patch	2	612	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.15 [0.09, 0.25]