Registration rates, adequacy of registration, and a comparison of registered and published primary outcomes in randomized controlled trials published in surgery journals.

Objective: To determine the proportion of registered trials published in the surgical literature, to compare, in registered trials, the primary outcomes registered with those published and to determine whether outcome-reporting bias favored significant primary outcomes.

Background: Trial protocol registration before patient enrolment for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is a perquisite for many journals in attempt to decrease publication and selective reporting bias. Analysis of the medical literature demonstrates poor registration rates with discrepancies between reported and registered primary outcomes.

Radiographic work-up and treatment of lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage is a common reason for hospital admission. Spontaneous cessation occurs in the majority of these patients; however, continued major bleeding is a difficult clinical problem. Emergency surgery, without prior knowledge of the bleeding site is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates.