Prevention

Continue endoscopic ligation ^a or sclerotherapy ^a until varices are obliterated

Why?

• Sclerotherapy reduces rebleeding and death, and is more effective than beta-blockers alone. ^a

Sclerotherapy to obliterate varices reduces rebleeding and death

Patient	Treatment	Comparison	Outcome	CER	OR (95% CI)	NNT (95% CI)
recent variceal bleed a	sclerotherapy	non-active treatment	rebleeding	65%	0.63 (0.49 to 0.79)	9 (6 to 18)
	sclerotherapy	non-active treatment	death	44%	0.77 (0.61 to 0.98)	16 (9 to 200)
	sclerotherapy	beta-blockers	rebleeding	58%	0.66 (0.50 to 0.88)	12 (6 to 410)