T-tube vs no T-tube for biliary tract reconstruction in adult orthotopic liver transplantation: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Table 3 Meta-analysis of outcomes (all studies included)

Period	Outcome	Studies	Participants	Effect size OR, 95%CI (fixed/random)	Heterogeneity	Test for overall effect (fixed/random)	Publication bias	Study quality1	Favors
1995-2010	Overall biliary complications	10	1246	1.41 [0.66, 2.98]	I2 = 85.4% (bP = 0.001)	Z = 0.89/(P = 0.37)	Egger: Bias = 1.92; P = 0.60	3 × 4, 2 × 1, 1 × 5	None
	Bile leak	11	1346	1.04 [0.63, 1.70]	I2 = 16.7% (P = 0.29)	Z = 0.14/(P = 0.89)	Egger: Bias = 2.43; bP = 0.003	3 × 4, 2 × 1, 1 × 6	None
	Biliary stricture	11	1346	0.62 [0.42, 0.90]	I2 = 26.6% (P = 0.19)	Z = 2.51/(aP = 0.012)	Egger: Bias = -1.09; P = 0.56	3 × 4, 2 × 1, 1 × 6	With T-tube
	Cholangitis	6	725	2.00 [0.59, 6.84]	I2 = 53.6% (P = 0.06)	Z = 1.11/(P = 0.27)	Egger: Bias = 2.97; aP = 0.02	3 × 4, 1 × 2	None
2010-2020	Overall biliarycomplications	4	763	1.49 [1.00, 2.22]	I2 = 31.9% (P = 0.22)	Z = 1.97/(aP = 0.049)	Egger: Bias = 2.50; P = 0.22	3 × 1, 1 × 3	Without T-tube
	Bile leak	6	853	1.91 [1.01, 3.64]	I2 = 6.0% (P = 0.38)	Z = 1.98/(aP = 0.048)	Egger: Bias = -1.69; P = 0.30	3 × 1, 2 × 2, 1×3	Without T-tube
	Biliary stricture	6	853	0.76 [0.27, 2.12]	I2 = 62.3% (aP = 0.02)	Z = 0.53/(P = 0.60)	Egger: Bias = 0.84; P = 0.70	3 × 1, 2 × 2, 1 × 3	None
	Cholangitis	3	717	7.21 [1.37, 38.00]	I2 = 0.0% (P = 0.52)	Z = 2.33/(aP = 0.02)	Egger: Bias = -12.51; P = 0.12	3 × 1, 1 × 2	Without T-tube

¹Jadad scores × study number.

^aP < 0.05.

^bP < 0.01.

Odds ratio < 1 indicates the use of a T-tube. OR: Odds ratio; CI: Confidence interval.