Table 1 Topics of selected meta-analyses classified according to time of rise in the academic interest (IC)a to related area
Topic | Total number of area articles | Degree of rise in IC | |||
1996–2015 | 1996–2000 | 2001–2005 | 2006–2010 | 2011–2015 | |
 Thoracic paravertebral block in breast surgery | 49 | _ | _ | _ | ++++ |
 Perineural dexamethasone as adjunct for peripheral nerve block | 83 | _ | _ | _ | ++++ |
 Transversus abdominis plane block | 211 | _ | _ | +++ | +++ |
 Ultrasound guidance for peripheral nerve blocks | 789 | _ | +++ | ++++ | + |
 Femoral nerve block in knee surgery | 251 | _ | +++ | _ | + |
 Local anesthesia for prostate biopsy | 125 | _ | ++++ | _ | _ |
 Epidural anesthesia combined with general anesthesia for cardiac surgery, impact on mortality and morbidity | 161 | ++ | +++ | _ | _ |
 Transient neurologic symptoms in spinal anesthesia | 96 | ++++ | _ | _ | _ |
 Preemptive effect of epidural analgesics | 165 | ++++ | _ | _ | + |
Topic | Total number of area articles | Degree of rise in IC | |||
1996–2015 | 1996–2000 | 2001–2005 | 2006–2010 | 2011–2015 | |
 Spinal anesthesia and intraoperative blood loss | 130 | ++ | _ | _ | _ |
 Neostigmine in neuraxial anesthesia | 96 | ++ | _ | _ | _ |
 Local anesthesia for hysteroscopy | 62 | ++ | _ | _ | _ |