Advice

Search strategy and evidence selection

Search strategy and evidence selection

Search strategy

  1. Databases were searched from inception to August 2014. The following keywords were used for the searches: Model Predictive Control Algorithm; Space Glucose Control; Space GlucoseControl; enhanced Model Predictive Control; eMPC; intensive care; critical care; ICU. The number of citations found is in brackets after each database:

    Medline (via OVID) (36); Embase (via OVID) (36); MEDLINE(R) In‑Process & Other Non‑Indexed Citations (via OVID) (12); Cochrane Library (total 222 including: 167 Cochrane reviews, 19 Trials, and 19 Economic evaluation); CAB Abstracts (8); Web of Science Science Citation Index (13).

    These citations were sifted through to find any relevant material, using the inclusion criteria below.

  2. ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO ICTRP, and Current Controlled Trials were also searched for ongoing trials.

  3. Information provided by the manufacturer in supporting this briefing was checked to identify any further information.

  4. The manufacturer's website was thoroughly investigated.

Evidence selection

The inclusion criteria were as follows:

  • Patients: critically ill patients in intensive care requiring tight glycaemic control

  • Intervention: the Space GlucoseControl system, a computer‑assisted device for glycaemic control, combining infusion pumps with an indication of dose level and timing derived from a propriety computer‑based algorithm – the enhanced Model Predictive Control (eMPC) algorithm.

  • Comparator: any other glycaemic control protocol. These include routine management, or any other computer‑based algorithms.

  • Outcomes: any relevant efficacy and safety clinical outcomes, including but not limited to:

    • blood glucose values

    • time to target range

    • proportion of time within target range

    • time within target range

    • number of hypoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic episodes

    • proportion of time spent below or above the cut‑off levels for hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia

    • proposed next measurement time

    • insulin infusion rate

    • carbohydrate administration rate

    • hospital mortality and length of ICU stay

    • any adverse event

  • Study design: for effectiveness – any comparative study; for other aspects of the device – any, including case reports.

  • Only studies available in English language will be included.