Table 5 Results of the in-hospital mortality

Chu et al. 2015 [25]

Retrospective observational study

GA vs. NA (spinal/epidural)

n = 104.088 GA = 52.044 NA = 52.044

In-hospital mortality

GA vs. NA: 1.363 (2.62%) vs. 1.107 (2.13%), p < 0.001

The incidence of on-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the NA group.

Heidari et al. 2011 [33]

Randomised controlled study

GA vs. NA (epidural/spinal)

n = 270

GA = 197

NA = 190

In-hospital mortality

GA vs. NA: 0 vs. 5, p = 0.107

The incidence of in-hospital mortality was similar in both groups.

Le-Wendling et al. 2012 [14]

Retrospective observational study

GA vs. RA (single injection spinal, continuous spinal, continuous epidural) with or without continuous nerve block

n = 308 GA = 235 (76.30%); RA = 73 (23.70%)

In-hospital mortality

RA vs. GA: 2 (2.74) vs. 9 (3.83)

There was no difference between the in-hospital mortality.

Neuman et al. 2012 [27]

Retrospective observational study

GA vs. NA

n = 18.158 GA = 12.904 NA = 5.254

In-hospital mortality

GA vs NA 325 (2.5%) vs. 110 (2.1%), p = 0.090

There was no difference for the in-hospital mortality between the two groups.

Patorno et al. 2014 [16]

Retrospective observational study

GA vs NA (spinal/epidural) vs. GA + NA

n = 73.284 GA = 61.554 (84.0%) NA = 6.939 (9.47%); GA + RA = 4.791 (6.53%)

In-hospital mortality

In-hospital mortality: GA vs. NA: 144 vs. 1362 (risk ratio 0.93, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.11)

Mortality risk did not differ significantly between GA and NA.