Characteristics, completion and publication of PROSPERO records in regional anesthesia for acute perioperative pain: supplementary data

Aim: We analyzed characteristics and completion status of Systematic Reviews (SRs) about regional

anesthesia for acute perioperative pain relief registered in PROSPERO. Materials & methods: PROSPERO

was searched on 5 January 2022. Characteristics of PROSPERO records, completion status and publication

information were extracted. PubMed and Google Scholar were searched by 31 May 2022, for additional

published SRs. The inconsistency of PROSPERO records’ status was analyzed by comparing the most

recent PROSPERO statuswith subsequent publication of completed SR. Time-to-publication was calculated.

Results: Almost half of 174 included PROSPERO records (49%) were registered in 2021. A median of 3

(IQR: 2–4.75) authors, and a search of 4 information sources (IQR: 3–5) was planned. At first registration,

51 (29%) records had already started or completed formal screening. PROSPERO records included mostly

adults (48%) undergoing trunk blocks (56%), with pain intensity (74%) as a main outcome. 147 (84%)

PROSPERO records had a status “ongoing”. Yet, 71 (41%) PROSPERO records were completed SRs, published

after a median of 291 days. Inconsistency in status was found in 34% of PROSPERO records. Conclusion:

Despite an increase in PROSPERO registrations about regional anesthesia, most were not published, and

a third had inaccurate status.