Prevention of recurrent esophageal bleeding and survival in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis: a randomized study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare endoscopic sclerotherapy, propranolol and distal splenorenal shunt in the prevention of rebleeding esophageal varices and mortality in alcoholic cirrhotics.


METHODS
Forty-three alcoholic cirrhotics that had bled from esophageal varices were randomized to sclerotherapy (13), shunt (15) or propranolol(15). Outcomes measured were rebleeding from varices and death.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the three treatment groups in relation to rebleeding rate or death. Continued alcohol consumption did not influence outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
All three therapies were equally effective in preventing rebleeding from varices.
Urbistondo
M
M
Department of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine.
Torres
E A
EA
Castro
F
F
Oharriz
J
J
Medina
R
R
Molina
A
A
Marquez
E
E
Rubio
C E
CE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D015911:Sclerotherapy; D013164:Splenorenal Shunt, Surgical; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D011433:Propranolol