Systematic review of the quantity and quality of randomized clinical trials in pancreatic surgery

Abstract

RCTs are considered the reference standard in clinical research. However, surgical RCTs pose specific challenges and therefore numbers have been lower than those for randomized trials of medical interventions. In addition, surgical trials have often been associated with poor methodological quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the evolution of quantity and quality of RCTs in pancreatic surgery and to identify evidence gaps.