Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01479-6 (2020)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: A unique type of fully covered metal s tent for the management of post liver transplant  
biliary anastomotic strictures  
 
Version: 2 Date: 10 May 2020  
  
Reviewer: Armand Abergel  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Thank you to the a uthors to have responded to the different comments  
Some are pending.  
The main point is how to define success and failure. The definition was given at page 4. 
When I use this definition and analyse the figure 2, I can see that 10 patients had stricture 
recurrence. Of these 10, 9 were asymptomatic and 5 of them had cholestatic LFTs. Does it 
means that you consider a failure the 4 patients who had a stenosis with normal LFT ? I 
would consider that these 4 patients had a resolution of their stenosis. This sten osis is 
radiologically significant but clinically not significant. We can imagine that the diameter of 
the anastomosis is lower than the diameter above and below without inducing a clinically 
significant cholestasis = no bile duct dilation and no cholestas is. I will be happy to hear your 
point of view.  
 
-Page 6, lanes 105 and 106: I would suggest the median and IQR  
 
-Page 7 lane 18: jaundiced instead jaundice  
 
-Page 7, lane 32: Of the 62 patients, 46 had an asymptomatic stricture. 18 of thse 46 patients 
had abnormal LFT. Do you mean that 28 patients had normal LFT and that you consider that 
we need to stent the bile duct of these patients ? Do you confirm ?  
 
-Page 10, lane 40 : was lower or lowered. Add parenthese please.  
 
-Table 3: For me, what is the most interesting is the number of patients with normal or 
abnormal values and not the mean values  
 
-Figure 2: can you modify the sentence 1 was jaundice and improved after sphincterotomy by 
1 had jaundice or was jaundiced........(maybe my English is not good enough!!!)  
 
 
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 statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of writ ten English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
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