Review for 10.1186/s12876-017-0599-4 (2017)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: How to select patients and timing for rectal indomethacin to prevent post -ERCP  
pancreatitis: A systematic review and meta -analysis  
 
Version: 0 Date: 15 Jan 201 7 
 
Reviewer: Claudio Luchini  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This study is a well -conducted study. The topic is a timing -topic and it represents a very 
intersting field of gastroentrology. The methods used in this meta -analysis appears robu st and 
reliable, as well as the findings. The PRISMA protocol for meta -analysis is correct. The methods 
used for calculating the publication bias are correct. The only concern regards the small sample 
size (only 7 studies) of this meta -analysis, but it see ms that the small number of studies does not 
affect the general results. I only suggest to recognize the small number of studies included as a 
potential limitation of this meta -analysis, stating that further studies are needed to investigate 
more in depth this interesting field of gastroenterology.  
 
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls 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 s tatistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
 
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain  or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the fut ure? 
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of  the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is acce pted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal