Lattermann 2007.

Methods	RCT Approved by the ethics committee and written informed consent obtained Setting: Canada Funding: unspecified
Participants	20 patients undergoing elective open resection of localized, non‐metastatic colorectal carcinoma Exclusion criteria were evidence of metastatic disease, congestive heart failure, hepatic disease or diabetes; serum albumin < 35 g/L or anaemia (haemoglobin 100 g/L); and drugs known to have metabolic effects, such as corticosteroids or beta‐blockers
Interventions	Treatment group: thoracic epidural analgesia (T9‐T11) with bupivacaine 0.5% for a sensory level from T4 to L3 before the surgical incision, bupivacaine 0.25% during surgery and bupivacaine 0.1% plus fentanyl 2 mcg/mL after surgery for at least 48 hours (n = 10) Control group: IV PCA with morphine (n = 10) General anaesthesia for all participants
Outcomes	VAS scores at rest and on movement at 24 and 48 hours
Notes
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	"randomized", no details
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not mentioned
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	High risk	"Both anaesthesiologist (TS, RL) and surgeon (SM) were aware of the individual patient’s group assignment"
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	High risk	"Both anaesthesiologist (TS, RL) and surgeon (SM) were aware of the individual patient’s group assignment"
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	No loss to follow‐up
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	No missing information
Other bias	Low risk	Both groups were homogeneous with respect to type of surgery (epidural group: 8 sigmoid colectomy, 2 hemicolectomy; intravenous analgesia group: 7 sigmoid colectomy, 2 hemicolectomy)