how to search for the given topic in prospero Impact of anastomotic le

how to search for the given topic in prospero Impact of anastomotic leakage on long-term oncological outcomes after colorectal cancer resection: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Here's a quick overview before I search for specifics:

PROSPERO is the international register of systematic reviews hosted by NIHR. To search it, you go to prospero.nihr.ac.uk, use the search box with key terms from your title, and filter by topic/status. Let me pull up the exact steps and check if your specific review is already registered.

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PROSPERO search anastomotic leakage colorectal cancer long-term oncological outcomes systematic review

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how to search PROSPERO register systematic review site:crd.york.ac.uk OR prospero.nihr.ac.uk

Here is a complete step-by-step guide to searching PROSPERO for your topic, plus what the search found.

How to Search PROSPERO for Your Topic

Step 1 - Go to the PROSPERO Search Page

Navigate to prospero.nihr.ac.uk/search directly. You do not need to log in to search - only to register.

Step 2 - Enter Your Search Terms

Do not paste the entire title into the search box. PROSPERO's search works best with focused keyword combinations. Use these strategies:

Option A - Simple keyword search (start here):

anastomotic leakage colorectal cancer oncological outcomes

Option B - Boolean search (more precise):

anastomotic leakage AND colorectal AND (recurrence OR survival OR oncological)

Option C - Using field tags (title-specific search):

TI:(anastomotic leakage) AND TI:(colorectal cancer)

The TI: prefix restricts the search to the Title field only.

Option D - Proximity search (PROSPERO-specific syntax):

anastomotic NEAR leakage AND colorectal NEAR cancer

NEAR finds terms within 6 words of each other by default. You can specify distance: anastomotic NEAR/3 leakage.

Option E - Wildcard search:

anastomot* AND colorectal AND oncolog*

The * wildcard captures variations (anastomotic/anastomosis, oncological/oncology).

Step 3 - Apply Filters (Optional but Recommended)

After your initial results appear, use the left-hand filter panel to narrow by:

Status: Registered, Ongoing, Completed
Date registered: Narrow to recent years (e.g., 2022-2026) for an "updated" review
Country: If you know the team's country

Step 4 - Scan Results

For your specific topic, look for records mentioning:

Anastomotic leak / anastomotic leakage
Colorectal cancer / rectal cancer / colon cancer
Long-term outcomes / oncological outcomes / recurrence / survival
Meta-analysis / systematic review

Note: A closely related record already exists - CRD420251086833 - registered July 2025, covering anastomotic leakage and colorectal outcomes. You should check whether this overlaps significantly with your planned review.

Step 5 - Check for Duplicates (Key Purpose of Searching)

If you are planning to register your own review, PROSPERO requires you to confirm no identical review is already registered. If you find a closely similar record, you must:

Read the registered protocol carefully
Determine if your review has a meaningfully different scope (e.g., updated date range, different outcomes, broader population)
State clearly in your registration how your review differs

Step 6 - Register Your Review (If No Duplicate Found)

Create a PROSPERO account (free)
Click "Register a new review"
Fill in the structured form: title, objectives, PICO elements, search strategy, databases, outcome measures, etc.
Submit - PROSPERO will assign a CRD number you can cite in your manuscript