Fant 2013.

Methods	RCT Approved by the ethics committee and written informed consent obtained Setting: Sweden Funding: governmental
Participants	26 patients (ASA physical status 1 to 2) in the age group 50 to 75 years, undergoing elective radical retropubic prostatectomy
Interventions	Treatment group: TEA (T10‐T12) with ropivacaine 0.2% and sufentanil 1 mcg/mL for 48 hours (n = 12) Control group: IV PCA with morphine (n = 14) General anaesthesia for all participants
Outcomes	VAS scores at rest at 8, 24 and 48 hours VAS scores on movement at 8, 24 and 48 hours
Notes	NCT01367418 All participants in Group E received an epidural catheter successfully; no complications were associated with catheter insertion
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	"Group randomization and concealed allocation was done using cards inserted into opaque, sealed envelopes by an independent person not involved in the study"
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	"Group randomization and concealed allocation was done using cards inserted into opaque, sealed envelopes by an independent person not involved in the study"
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	High risk	"The study was only blinded to laboratory personnel involved in biochemical assays"
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	High risk	"The study was only blinded to laboratory personnel involved in biochemical assays"
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	1 opioid based regimen patient switched to non steroid anti‐inflammatory drugs
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	All results reported
Other bias	Unclear risk	Groups well balanced Not in intention‐to‐treat