| Methods |
Randomised controlled trial (1993 to 1994) |
| Participants |
Individuals with clinical stage IA NSCLC. No preoperative mediastinoscopy |
| Interventions |
Intervention group: video‐assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy;
Control group: conventional lobectomy.
Both groups had hilar and mediastinal lymph node dissections performed in a similar manner |
| Outcomes |
Cancer recurrence rates, overall survival at 3 and 5 years. |
| Notes |
C‐factor staging C2 prior to surgery and C4 after resection
Staging classification criteria not described |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Adequate sequence generation? |
High risk |
'Patients were randomised into the 2 groups according to their ID numbers' |
| Allocation concealment? |
High risk |
Information not reported. If randomisation was generated by alternation it is very probable that allocation was not concealed |
| Blinding?
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
None described |
| Incomplete outcome data addressed?
All outcomes |
Low risk |
Information not reported. After contacting study authors, it was confirmed that there were no losses to follow up |
