A Statistical Analysis of the Evidence of the Beneficial Effect of the Use of an Estrogen in Prostatectomy

摘要

In this paper we examine some data which purports to show that patients undergoing prostate surgery can be protected from excessive bloodloss through the prior administration of an estrogen. We point out some assump¬tions that must be made in order to assure that a test of measured bloodloss is equivalent with a test of the actual bloodless these quantities differing by a random error.nWe conclude that the use of an estrogen is effective in reducing blood-loss at the 5 per cent significance level but we have insufficient evidence to conclude that it reduces the length of time necessary for the operation. The treatment does seem to reduce the weight of the tissue removed at the 20 per cent significance level.nWe also point out that a comparison of average bloodless per minute of operating time, probably does not give any additional information than a comparison of bloodloss.