Meta-analysis: Combination Endoscopic and Drug Therapy to Prevent Variceal Rebleeding in Cirrhosis

摘要

Gonzalez and coworkers performed a meta-analysis of 23 trials that compared the combination of endoscopic and β-blocker therapy with either therapy alone for preventing recurrent esophageal bleeding. Combination therapy was more effective. Most trials, however, studied variceal sclerotherapy, which has largely been superseded by variceal banding as the standard of care. To prevent variceal bleeding, combined endoscopic and oral β-blocker therapy seems to be more effective than either approach alone.