Evidence-Based Pediatric Surgery: Systematic Reviews, Meta-Analysis and Research Methodology

Pediatric surgery is a surgical specialty that deals with congenital, developmental, oncological and acquired disorders in children. These disorders often present as rare, heterogeneous conditions, making the development of robust evidence challenging. The small size of patient populations, variation in surgical expertise, and limited availability of randomized controlled trials create barriers to establishing standardized approaches. Recent years have witnessed a surge in the use of systematic reviews and meta-analyses to address these gaps. Tools such as the fragility index, trial sequential analysis, and bias-assessment frameworks now offer refined ways to evaluate study quality, robustness and reliability. Despite these advances, significant variability persists in methodological quality and reporting standards within pediatric surgical evidence, underscoring the need for greater methodological rigor and innovation.This Research Topic aims to integrate and amplify research efforts that enhance the evidence-based foundation of pediatric surgery. By gathering methodologically robust systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and methodological studies, it strives to critically evaluate surgical management, perioperative management, and clinical outcomes. The goal is to establish clearer benchmarks with high-quality research synthesis, and identify best practices. Furthermore, this collection encourages authors to explore emerging tools, such as artificial intelligence in study screening, bias assessment, and evidence visualization, to expand the methodological toolkit available for future pediatric surgical inquiry.To gather further insights in the field of evidence-based pediatric surgery, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Systematic reviews and meta-analyses, reviews and mini reviews comparing surgical techniques in neonatal surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, hepatobiliary disorders, pediatric urology, thoracic surgery, pediatric oncology, colorectal disorders, trauma, minimally invasive surgery, fetal surgery and transplantation• Comparative effectiveness of perioperative, anaesthetic, and postoperative interventions in pediatric surgical patients• Methodological innovations in evidence synthesis, including the application of fragility index, trial sequential analysis, and risk-of-bias assessment tools• Health economics and cost-effectiveness evaluations in pediatric surgical interventions• Frameworks for enhancing quality and reproducibility in systematic reviews and meta-analyses• Use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies to improve study selection, data synthesis, and evidence interpretationThrough this comprehensive focus on methodological excellence and data integrity, this Research Topic will provide a platform to strengthen the knowledge base regarding evidence-based pediatric surgery and inform future clinical decision-making in pediatric surgery worldwide. Topic editors: Nitinkumar Borkar, Francesco Morini, Giuseppe Lauriti Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/86261/evidence-based-pediatric-surgery-systematic-reviews-meta-analysis-and-research-methodology