Dexmedetomidine vs propofol in intensive care unit patients

Figure 1 Trial sequential analysis of 10 randomized controlled trials evaluating dexmedetomidine vs propofol according to the end-points of length of Intensive Care Unit stay (in days, Panel A), length of mechanical ventilation (in days, Panel B) and delirium episodes (Panel C). In the Z-curve (represented in blue), individual trials correspond to individual segments; trials are plotted in chronological order (from left to right). The X-axis indicates the cumulative number of patients; the starting point of the Z-curve is always at X = 0, i.e., inclusion of no trials. Abbreviations and symbols: Red lines are the boundaries for superiority or inferiority, and green lines for futility (i.e., proof of no incremental effectiveness). T: Treatment arm (dexmedetomidine); C: Control arm (propofol).