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©The Author(s) 2022.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 28, 2022; 28(16): 1608-1624
Published online Apr 28, 2022. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i16.1608
Published online Apr 28, 2022. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i16.1608
Table 1 Levels of evidence for therapeutic studies[49]
Level | Type of evidence | |
1 | A | Systematic review (with homogeneity) of RCTs |
B | Individual RCT (with narrow confidence intervals) | |
C | All or none study | |
2 | A | Systematic review (with homogeneity) of cohort studies |
B | Individual Cohort study (including low quality RCT, e.g., < 80% follow-up) | |
C | “Outcomes” research; Ecological studies | |
3 | A | Systematic review (with homogeneity) of case-control studies |
B | Individual Case-control study | |
4 | Case series (and poor-quality cohort and case-control study | |
5 | Expert opinion without explicit critical appraisal or based on physiology bench research or “first principles” |
Table 2 Grade practice recommendations1
Grade | Level of Recommendation | Qualifying evidence | Implications for clinicians |
A | Strong recommendation | Level I evidence or consistent findings from several studies of levels II, III, or IV | These recommendations should be followed unless an alternative approach with clear and compelling rationale is present |
B | Recommendation | Consistent evidence of levels II, III, or IV | These recommendations should be followed but clinicians should understand that there is scope of improvement and these may be slightly modified as per patient preferences |
C | Option | Levels II, III, or IV evidence, but findings are inconsistent | These guidelines are broad guidelines and clinicians should be flexible in their decision-making regarding appropriate practice keeping patient preferences in mind |
D | Option | Level V evidence: Little or no substantial evidence | These recommendations may be referred but clinicians should consider all other available options while making decisions |
- Citation: Garg P, Yagnik VD, Dawka S, Kaur B, Menon GR. Guidelines to diagnose and treat peri-levator high-5 anal fistulas: Supralevator, suprasphincteric, extrasphincteric, high outersphincteric, and high intrarectal fistulas. World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28(16): 1608-1624
- URL: https://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/full/v28/i16/1608.htm
- DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v28.i16.1608