A randomized controlled trial comparing ligation and sclerotherapy as emergency endoscopic treatment added to somatostatin in acute variceal bleeding

Background/Aims The currently recommended treatment for acute variceal bleeding is the association of vasoactive drugs and endoscopic therapy. However, which emergency endoscopic treatment combines better with drugs has not been clarified. This study compares the efficacy and safety of variceal ligation and sclerotherapy as emergency endoscopic treatment added to somatostatin. Methods Patients admitted with acute gastrointestinal bleeding and with suspected cirrhosis received somatostatin infusion (for 5 days). Endoscopy was performed within 6 h and those with esophageal variceal bleeding were randomized to receive either sclerotherapy (N = 89) or ligation (N = 90). Results Therapeutic failure occurred in 21 patients treated with sclerotherapy (24%) and in nine treated with ligation (10%) (RR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.1–4.9). Failure to control bleeding occurred in 15% vs 4%, respectively (P = 0.02). Treatment group, shock and HVPG >16 mmHg were independent predictors of failure. Side-effects occurred in 28% of patients receiving sclerotherapy vs 14% with ligation (RR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.1–3.5), being serious in 13% vs 4% (P = 0.04). Six-week survival probability without therapeutic failure was better with ligation (P = 0.01). Conclusions The use of variceal ligation instead of sclerotherapy as emergency endoscopic therapy added to somatostatin for the treatment of acute variceal bleeding significantly improves the efficacy and safety.