Clinical Evidence for Adding Chaiqin Chengqi Decoction to Acute Pancreatitis Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials.

In 30 seconds

This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed randomized trials of Chaiqin Chengqi Decoction (CQCQD) added to conventional care for acute pancreatitis. Nineteen trials involving 1,824 participants were included. Study-defined overall response favored adjunctive CQCQD: 16 trials reported RR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.16-1.26; I 2 = 0%. The review also found favorable pooled results for several laboratory and severity measures, but these continuous outcomes had substantial heterogeneity. Most trials were at high risk of bias, and evidence certainty was low or very low. The analysis could not establish effects on mortality, persistent organ failure, or major complications.

Key findings

• Study-defined overall response favored CQCQD plus conventional care (16 trials; RR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.16-1.26; I 2 = 0%).
• Pooled results favored CQCQD for C-reactive protein (SMD = -2.55, 95% CI: -3.41 to -1.69), though continuous outcomes showed substantial heterogeneity.
• Mortality, persistent organ failure, major complications, and pain were inconsistently reported and could not be reliably pooled.

Why it matters

The findings suggest possible short-term benefits in response measures and selected laboratory or severity outcomes, but they do not demonstrate improvement in outcomes most consequential to patients. Low or very low certainty and substantial heterogeneity mean the pooled estimates should be interpreted cautiously. Clearer evidence on clinical outcomes is needed to determine whether the apparent benefits translate into meaningful reductions in complications or death.

What to keep in mind

Most included trials were at high risk of bias; certainty was low or very low, and continuous outcomes had substantial heterogeneity. Patient-important outcomes were inconsistently reported and could not be reliably pooled.