Comparative Analgesic Efficacies of Ropivacaine and Bupivacaine for Postoperative Rectus Sheath Block in Paediatric Abdominal Surgery: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial and Retrospective Cohort Studies

Figure 3

Primary outcomes. Forest plot with effect size, estimated heterogeneity (I² and τ²) and confidence intervals (CIs) for meta-analysis evaluating total morphine consumption in the postoperative anaesthetic agents, RPV and BPV rectus sheath block of all groups, the effect of BPV and RPV on postoperative pain (a) and (b) except Maloney’s study. The column “Mean” represents the mean dosage of opioid use (mg/kg), while “Total” stands for the patient number included in the studies. The square symbol on forest plot denotes the weighted mean difference for individual studies, with 95% CI of the difference represented as a solid line. The size of square and thickness of the 95% CI line resemble sample size. WMD: weighted mean difference; RPV: ropivacaine; BPV: bupivacaine.

(a)

(b)