ERCP vs. Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Overview

Featured Article

Cushieri A, Lezoche E, Morino, M et al: E.A.E.S. Multicentre prospective randomized trial comparing two-stage vs single stage management of patients with gallstone disease and ductal calculi. Surg Endosc 1999;13:952-957

Expert Reviews

Methodological Reviewer
Jeffrey Barkun MD, MSc, FRCSC, FACS, Department of Surgery, McGill University

Clinical Reviewer
Roger Keith MD, FRCSC, Department of Surgery, University of Saskatchewan

Supplementary Articles

Guyatt G, Jaeschke R, Heddle N, Cook D, Shannon H, Walter S: Basic Statistics for Clinicians: Interpreting Study Results: Confidence Intervals. Can Med Assoc J 1995;152 (2): 169-173

Questions

Please read the provided articles and be prepared to discuss the following:

  1. What is the clinical question being addressed?
  2. Was the assignment of patients to treatment randomized?
  3. Were all patients who entered the trial properly accounted for and attributed at its conclusions?
  4. Were patients, their clinicians and study personnel “blind” to treatment?
  5. Were the groups similar at the start of the trial?
  6. Aside from the experimental intervention, were the groups treated equally?
  7. How large and precise was the treatment effect?
  8. Can the results be applied to my patient care?
  9. Were all clinically important outcomes considered?
  10. Are the likely treatment benefits worth the potential harm and costs?
  11. State the conclusion. Have the authors addressed the question posed?
  12. Does the evidence support the conclusion?