Table 2 Characteristics of included studies
Author | Year | Nation | Age (year) | Sample size (tube/ no tube) | Study type | NOS | Tumor location (Above the anal verge) | Type of surgery | Stapling technique | The rate of AL | Type of tube | Indwelling time of tube (days) | Position of tube (above the anastomosis) | Decision to remove | Diverting stoma | Preoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
tube | no tube | TDT | Non-TDT | TDT | Non-TDT | ||||||||||||||
Zhao et al | 2013 | China | Unmentioned | 81/77 | nRCT |  ≤ 7 | Unmentioned | LAR | Single- or double-stapler technique | 2/81 | 7/77 | A 26Fr rubber drainage tube | 5–6 POD | 3-5 cm | b | Excluded | Excluded | ||
Xiao et al | 2011 | China | 46–70 | 200/198 | RCT |  > 7 |  ≤ 15 cm | LAR | Double-stapling anastomosis | 8/200 | 19/198 | A silicone drainage tube | 5–7 POD | Unmentioned | Unmentioned | Excluded | Excluded | ||
Tamura et al | 2021 | Japan | 39–91 | 79/78 | RCT | > 7 |  ≤ 15 cm | LLAR | Double stapling technique | 6/79 | 8/78 | A 20-24Fr Malecot latex tubes | 5 POD | 3–5 cm | a | 34/79 | 37/78 | 10 d/79 | 19 d/78 |
Challine et al | 2020 | France | 48.2–76.2 | 72/72 | PCS |  ≤ 7 | Unmentioned | LLAR | Double-stapling technique or handsewn | 25/72 | 16/72 | A 22Fr Foley catheter | 4 POD | Unmentioned | Unmentioned | 0/72 | 72/72 | 41 d/72 | 47 d/72 |
Bu¨low et al | 2006 | Denmark | 37–90 | 98/96 | RCT |  > 7 |  ≤ 15 cm | Unmentioned | Unmentioned | 14/98 | 8/96 | A transanal silicone stent | Unmentioned | Unmentioned | Unmentioned | 44/98 | 45/96 | Excluded | |
Zhao et al | 2021 | China | 52–69 | 280/280 | RCT |  > 7 | 5.6-9 cm | LLAR | Double-stapling technique | 18/280 | 19/280 | A 28Fr silicone tube | 3–7 POD | 5 cm | a | 72/280 | 89/280 | 12c/480 | 16c/480 |
Liang et al | 2022 | China | 42.9–70.2 | 80/83 | PCS |  ≤ 7 | 0.5–8.8 cm | Unmentioned | Unmentioned | 8/80 | 10/83 | A novel endo-luminal balloon-assisted drainage (EBAD) | 5–6 POD | 5 cm | b | 0/80 | 83/83 | 43d/80 | 53 d/83 |