Key features of the randomized controlled trial: laparoscopic versus open appendectomy
| Question | Answer | Specifics |
|---|---|---|
| Did the investigators take into consideration the learning curve? | Don’t know | The authors did not mention it. |
| Were the patients randomly assigned to the 2 groups? | Conditionally, yes | The authors did not mention the method of randomization. |
| Were patients stratified? | No | This was not necessary because they were all young healthy males in the military. |
| Was randomization concealed? | Conditionally, yes | The authors did not clearly explain that those who confirmed the patients’ eligibility for inclusion in the study were not aware of the group to which the patients were randomly assigned. |
| Were patients analyzed in the surgical groups to which they were randomly assigned? (intention-totreat analysis) | Yes | |
| Were patients in the 2 surgical groups similar with respect to known prognostic factors? | Yes | They were all young military personnel. |
| Were patients aware of group assignment? | No | The patients were blinded by concealing incisions. The pain from different ports could defeat this. |
| Were surgeons aware of group assignment? | Yes | |
| Were outcome assessors aware of the surgical group allocation? | No, conditionally | We don’t know to what extent the second surgical team and nurses who assessed the patients were prevented in knowing the type of surgery performed. |
| Was follow-up complete? | Probably yes | The authors should have mentioned in Tables 1 and 2 the number of patients who entered the study and how many were followed to the end of the study. |