A flow chart depicts the search results and article flow for this literature review. The first box at the top of the chart reads "Abstracts reviewed (n=165).
An arrow points to the right, to another box that reads:
Excluded (n=134)
Not multisite study: 64
Only symptomatic patients or outcomes: 39
No relevant outcomes: 11
Studies with <50 participants: 9
Duplicates: 6
Not on harms of CEA: 2
Stenting studies: 2
Study type: 1
A second arrow points directly downward from the first box to a second box that reads "Full articles reviewed (n=34)."
A third box, diagonal to the left and below the first box, reads "Articles from experts and reference lists (n=3). An arrow points to the right, ending at the line leading downward from the first to the second box. This indicates that 3 articles were added to the number to be reviewed, bringing the total to 34.
An arrow leads directly downward from the second box to a fourth box at the bottom of the chart, which reads "Articles included (n=14)." This is the final total of articles included in the evidence update.
Another arrow leads to the right from this last downward arrow, ending at a fifth box, which reads:
Excluded (n=20)
Only symptomatic patients or outcomes: 5
No relevant outcomes: 5
Study type: 4
Not multisite study: 3
Duplicates: 2
Not on harms of CEA: 1