Statistical analysis
The sample size was calculated using the OpenEpi software version 2.3.1 with the number of UEs as the primary outcome. In our preliminary study of 10 cases (n = 5 in each group), the mean number of UEs was 62 × 10Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 26.0 software (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to examine the normality of the data. Continuous and normally distributed data were reported as mean ± standard deviation (SD), and an independent t-test was performed to compare data between the two groups. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare repeated measured data between different time points within each group, non-normally distributed data were log-normally transformed if necessary before adopting the above statistical methods. Data with non-normal distribution were expressed as median (interquartile range, IQR) and analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test. Moreover, categorical data were expressed as numbers (%), and Fisher’s exact test was employed to compare these data between the two groups. Statistical significance was defined as 