Fig 1.
A flow chart depicting the stages of retrieving articles and checking the eligibility criteria for network meta-analysis.
Table 1.
Characteristics of included randomized control trials.
Fig 2.
Network of stent interventions for palliative treatments that had reported TRD in esophageal cancer; A: the metallic stent is a reference treatment, B: Ultraflex is a reference, C: Brachytherapy is a reference, and D: Antireflux is a reference.
Fig 3.
Forest plots for TRD in networks A, B, C, & D. Metallic stent, Ultraflex, Brachytherapy, and Antireflux are reference treatments in networks A, B, C & D, respectively.
Table 2.
Ranking of palliative treatments in terms of lower risk of TRD and bleeding, stent migration, aspiration, severe pain and fistula in patients with esophageal cancer.
Fig 4.
The network of stent interventions for palliative treatments that reported the bleeding complication in esophageal cancer; A: metallic stent is a reference treatment, B: Conventional is a reference, C: Ultraflex is a reference, and D: Brachytherapy is a reference treatment. CSENACS: Conventional self-expandable nitinol alloy covered stent.
Fig 5.
Forest plots for bleeding complication in networks A, B, C & D. Metallic stent, Conventional stent, Ultraflex, and Brachytherapy are reference treatments in networks A, B, C & D, respectively.