A systematic review including 24 studies with a total of 1 145 subjects with pancreatic or other intra-abdominal cancer was abstracted in DARE. There were 2 RCTs (n=71), 1 non-randomized controlled trial (n=21) and 21 uncontrolled retrospective studies (n=1053). Short-term analgesic efficacy (partial or total pain relief) according to the uncontrolled studies was 89%. Long-term (up to and beyond 3 months) revealed continued benefit in about 90% of patients alive at 3 months and in 70%-90% until death even if beyond 3 months. The effects observed in the small RCTs were of the similar magnitude.
Comment: The quality of evidence is upgraded by consistent findings.