title: Update on the Surgical Trial in Lobar Intracerebral Haemorrhage (STICH II): statistical analysis plan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies had suggested that the outcome for patients with spontaneous lobar intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) and no intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) might be improved with early evacuation of the haematoma. The Surgical Trial in Lobar Intracerebral Haemorrhage (STICH II) set out to establish whether a policy of earlier surgical evacuation of the haematoma in selected patients with spontaneous lobar ICH would improve outcome compared to a policy of initial conservative treatment. It is an international, multi-centre, prospective randomised parallel group trial of early surgery in patients with spontaneous lobar ICH. Outcome is measured at six months via a postal questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recruitment to the study began on 27 November 2006 and closed on 15 August 2012 by which time 601 patients had been recruited. The protocol was published in Trials (http://www.trialsjournal.com/content/12/1/124/). This update presents the analysis plan for the study without reference to the unblinded data. The trial data will not be unblinded until after follow-up is completed in early 2013. The main trial results will be presented in spring 2013 with the aim to publish in a peer-reviewed journal at the same time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data from the trial will provide evidence on the benefits and risks of early surgery in patients with lobar ICH.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN: ISRCTN22153967.
authors.affiliation: STICH Office, Neurosurgical Trials Unit, Newcastle University, 3-4 Claremont Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AE, UK. Barbara.gregson@ncl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Gregson
authors.forename: Gordon D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Patrick M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Elise N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Rowan
authors.forename: Anil R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Gholkar
authors.forename: A David
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Mendelow
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000368:Aged; D001208:Asia; D001315:Australia; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005060:Europe; D006406:Hematoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012107:Research Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018401:Sample Size; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D061665:Time-to-Treatment; D016896:Treatment Outcome