Clinical evidence of growth hormone for patients undergoing abdominal surgery: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Table 3 Random effect model of standardized mean difference (95%CI) in improving postoperative nitrogen balance (A) and in reducing the duration of postoperative fatigue syndrome (C) and weighted mean difference (95%CI) in decreasing the length of hospital stay (B) and in increasing blood glucose levels (D) with GH as compared with placebo

Study	Treatment	Treatment	Control	Control	Weight	WMD (fixed)
	n	Mean (SD)	n	Mean (SD)	%	95%CI
Barry 2	8	13 (2.00)	10	17.00 (3.00)	17.05	-4 [-6.32, -1.68]
Liu	10	9.7 (1.80)	10	10.50 (1.30)	48.41	-0.8 [-2.18, 0.58]
Vara-Thorbeck 1	87	9.6 (3.60)	93	12.50 (7.10)	34.54	-2.9 [-4.53, -1.27]
Total (95%CI)	105		113		100	-2.07 [-3.03, -1.11]

Test for heterogeneity: χ² = 6.93, df = 2 (P = 0.03), I² = 71.1%. Test for overall effect: Z = 4.24 (P < 0.0001).