Myocardial infarction (MI) poses a formidable health challenge, frequently necessitating management through percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, PCI comes with potential complications that can impact patient outcomes. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), particularly the utilization of Chinese patent medicines with blood-activating and stasis-resolving properties, offers another approach to enhance PCI efficacy and improve patient quality of life. The aim of this study is to assess the comparative efficacy and safety of blood activating and stasis removing Chinese patent medicines for the perioperative period of PCI for MI. This systematic review and network meta-analysis will be reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive search strategy will be implemented across seven electronic databases to identify relevant studies. Eligible studies will be limited to randomized controlled trials that compare any Chinese patent medicine (added to standard care) with standard care or another treatment in patients in the perioperative period of PCI after MI. Two independent reviewers will screen all retrieved citations, extract pertinent data, and assess the risk of bias. We will conduct Bayesian random-effects network meta-analysis and network meta-regression. To elucidate whether the intervention has an important impact on certain outcomes within the perioperative period of PCI for MI, we will conduct a patient values and preferences survey to determine the minimum important difference for outcomes. We will assess the certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. This study will provide new insights into the efficacy and safety of blood activating and stasis removing Chinese patent medicines for the perioperative period of PCI for MI patients, providing help for future clinical practice and research. Ethical approval is not required for this review. The findings will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed academic journal, presentations at scientific conferences, and outreach via various media platforms.
Wang et al. (Thu,) studied this question.