Review for 10.1186/s12876-016-0465-9 (2016)

Reviewer ’s report  
Title:  The treatment of anastomotic strictures after Roux -en-Y hepaticojejunostomy: 
"Choledochoscopic  high-frequency needle -knife electrotomy" or ballon dilation + stent 
placement.  Which one is better?  
 
Version:  0 Date:  02 Feb 2016  
 
Reviewer:  Rakesh Kumar  Gupta  
 
Reviewer's report:  
dear authors,  
This study here compares and tells us about an importannt procedure and the ways of rescue. I 
would like to congratulate them on undertaking this s tudy and ompleting it and sharing it with us 
all. This study will surely benefit the medical fraternity and I hope this will help in the 
management of the patients as well in the future. But I would like to point out that I think there a 
few misgivings abo ut this manuscript which after correction will be more suitable for 
submission.  
 
My queries are as follows:  
1. the topic of the manuscript seems to be inadequate as more than one technique has been 
described in it  
2. in the methodology, the randomisation h as not been mentioned  
3. the definition of anastomotic stricture and stenosis has not been mentioned  
4. the pre -procedure anastomotic stenosis in percentage is not given and the post -procedure 
improvement in the stenosis should have been mentioned  
5. is th ere a proper location or area from where the electrotomy should be performed?  
6. the anastomotic stricture in the patients has been mentioned only as post -operative, what is 
the duration of this post -operative period?  
7. what were the indications of hepati cojejunostomy in the first place. I think the indication for 
the surgery will bear importance in the outcome as well.  
8. statistics has not been explained in detail. the various tests that were used.  
9. the various size of the equipment used has been menti oned but for"self -made external -
internal biliary stent and built -in plastic stent with multiple side holes formed by T tube" 
nothing has been mentioned. is there a reason for that?  
10. for the follow -up period the mean duration has been mentioned but what was the range? the 
shortest duration of the follow -up would seem important.  
11. was any comparison made with patients in whom stents were not kept?  
 
 I would like the authors do clarify the above mentioned queries which I could pinpoint that I 
think are of  significance in this study.  
  
Regards,  
Dr Rakesh Gupta  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
No 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which contr ols are required in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
I recommend additional statistical review  
Quality of written English  
Please indicate th e quality of language in the manuscript:  
Needs some language corrections before being published  
Declaration of competing interests  
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