Five RCTs (388 patients) were included in the review and meta-analysis. All five trials reported inclusion and exclusion criteria, and comparability of groups at baseline. Four trials reported loss to follow-up and three reported randomisation techniques. Two trials performed intention-to-treat analyses and two reported cross-over. Allocation concealment and use of blinding were each only reported by one trial. None of the trials reported sample size calculations.
Compared with the SGVD group, no-SGVD groups had statistically significantly shorter operative time (mean difference -25.50 minutes, 95% CI -35.98 to -15.02; Ι²=87%; five trials) and postoperative length of stay (mean difference -0.68 days, 95% CI -0.92 to -0.45; Ι²=91%; five trials). No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups in relation to morbidity (five trials; Ι²=0%) and conversion rate (three trials; Ι²=26%).
At one-year follow-up (three trials), no statistically significant differences were found between SGVD and no-SGVD groups for incidence of dysphagia (three trials; Ι²=0%), heartburn (three trials; Ι²=0%), regurgitation (three trials; Ι²=0%) or gas bloat (two trials; Ι²=48%). Similar results were found for the same outcomes at 10 years follow-up (two trials; Ι² values were all 0%).