Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Volume 63, Issue 4 , Pages 353-354 , April 2010

Interim analysis in randomized trials: DAMOCLES' sword?

  • Marc G.H. Besselink

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Yolanda van der Graaf

      Affiliations

    • Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Hein G. Gooszen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Surgery, HP G04.228, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. Tel.: 0031-88-7555555; Fax: 0031-30-2541944.

,Accepted 14 July 2009.

References 

  1. Pocock SJ. When to stop a clinical trial. BMJ. 1992;305:235–240
  2. DAMOCLES Study Group NHTAP. A proposed charter for clinical trial data monitoring committees: helping them to do their job well. Lancet. 2005;365:711–722
  3. Banks PA, Freeman ML. Practice guidelines in acute pancreatitis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2006;101:2379–2400
  4. Olah A, Belagyi T, Poto L, Romics J, Bengmark S. Synbiotic control of inflammation and infection in severe acute pancreatitis: a prospective, randomized, double blind study. Hepatogastroenterology. 2007;54:590–594
  5. Olah A, Belagyi T, Issekutz A, Gamal ME, Bengmark S. Randomized clinical trial of specific lactobacillus and fibre supplement to early enteral nutrition in patients with acute pancreatitis. Br J Surg. 2002;89:1103–1107
  6. Hirota M, Inoue K, Kimura Y, Mizumoto T, Kuwata K, Ohmuraya M, et al. Non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia and its associated intestinal gangrene in acute pancreatitis. Pancreatology. 2003;3:316–322
  7. Kolkman JJ, Mensink PB. Non-occlusive mesenteric ischaemia: a common disorder in gastroenterology and intensive care. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2003;17:457–473
  8. Mohamed SR, Siriwardena AK. Understanding the colonic complications of pancreatitis. Pancreatology. 2008;8:153–158
  9. van Minnen LP, Besselink MG, Bosscha K, Van Leeuwen MS, Schipper MEI, Gooszen HG. Colonic involvement in acute pancreatitis. A retrospective study of 16 patients. Dig Surg. 2004;21:33–40

PII: S0895-4356(09)00209-1

doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2009.07.004

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Volume 63, Issue 4 , Pages 353-354 , April 2010

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