Rossignon 1990

Methods	n = 23, 1 centre Allocation concealment: not described Baseline similarity: age, duration of ventilation Blinding: caregivers Cointerventions: not described (no patients received corticosteroids at time of randomization, but not specifically stated whether corticosteroids given after randomization) Withdrawals: none Losses to follow‐up: none
Participants	Inclusions: Risk factor: surgery or trauma; diffuse CXR infiltrates, PaO2 at least 60 mmHg on FiO2 at least 0.5, no left ventricular failure Exclusion: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Interventions	Continuous IV PGE1, dose titrated to 30 ng/kg/minute (43.2 mcg/kg/day) for 7 days, or placebo
Outcomes	Mortality: RR 0.55 (95% CI 0.23 to 1.31) Duration of ventilation: MD 4 days (95% CI ‐13 to 21) Adverse events leading to discontinuation of therapy: treatment: 2/11 patients (hypotension), control: 0/12 patients
Notes
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	B ‐ Unclear