Comparison of propranolol with injection sclerotherapy in prevention of rebleeding from oesophageal varices in cirrhotic patients.

Selected patients with variceal bleeding were randomly assigned to either weekly injection sclerotherapy (n = 56) or to oral propranolol (n = 52). During follow-up, 28 (54%) of the propranolol group and 25 (45%) of the sclerotherapy group had an episode of rebleeding. The long term risks of bleeding in the propranolol and sclerotherapy groups were 0.05 and 0.037 bleeds/patient-month, respectively, and the corresponding death rates during follow-up were 42 and 38%. There were no statistically significant differences between propranolol and the established therapy, but it was concluded that if propranolol is used in the prevention of rebleeding, it must be part of an overall approach that provides for the management of active variceal haemorrhage by other means if this condition continues.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes