Simulation-Based Analysis of Trial Design in Regional Anesthesia

Figure 1

Subset of 1000 simulated randomized sequences. (a) Complete sequence (b) incomplete sequence terminated after first meta-analysis due to futility (c) incomplete sequence terminated after first trial due to futility. The size of each subsequent trial is based on a power analysis from the previous trial or meta-analysis. Futility was inferred when the size of the next trial in sequence would have been over the predetermined limit of 1000 cases. The results of each trial are simulated based on a random draw from a normal distribution around the prespecified effect size.