Review for 10.1186/s12876-022-02441-4 (2022)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Clinical Effectiveness and Safety of Self-expandable Implantabel Bulking
Agents for Faecal Incontinence: A Systematic Review
Version: 
1 
Date: 
12 May 2022
Reviewer's report:
PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMENTS: 
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses a
testable research question(s) (brief or other article types: is there a clear
objective)?
Yes - there is a clear objective
DESIGN - Is the current approach (including controls and analysis protocols)
appropriate for the objective?
N/A - no methodology
EXECUTION - Are the experiments and analyses performed with technical rigor
to allow confidence in the results?
Yes - experiments and analyses were performed appropriately
STATISTICS - Is the use of statistics in the manuscript appropriate?
N/A - there are no statistics in this study
INTERPRETATION - Is the current interpretation/discussion of the results
reasonable and not overstated?
Yes - the author's interpretation is reasonable
OVERALL MANUSCRIPT POTENTIAL - Is the current version of this work
technically sound? If not, can revisions be made to make the work technically
sound?
Yes - current version is technically sound
PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS: 
GENERAL COMMENTS: 
- This is an interesting systematic review about a topic, FI, which deserves much
more attention both in clinical practice and research studies. 
- The study gives a very good idea about the state-of-art of second line
management of FI.
- The authors conducted a rigorous review and highlighted very well all the
biases and the limitations of the available literature. It has been explained very
well that up to now there is no possibility to compare the results of injectable and
implantable bulking agents, and that further studies are clearly required.
REQUESTED REVISIONS: 
The systematic review looks well conducted, the conclusions are in line with the
results of the studies analyzed. The paper is well written. I think that no further
revisions are required.
ADDITIONAL REQUESTS/SUGGESTIONS: 
No revisions required
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
of appropriate controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence
presented?
Yes
Are the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?
Yes
Is the use of statistics and treatment of uncertainties appropriate?
Yes
Is the presentation of the work clear?
Yes
Are the images in this manuscript (including electrophoretic gels and blots) free
from apparent manipulation?
Yes