Endoscopic variceal ligation plus nadolol and sucralfate compared with ligation alone for the prevention of variceal rebleeding: A prospective, randomized trial

Both beta-blockers and endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) have proven to be valuable alternatives to sclerotherapy in the prevention of variceal reble eding. Sucralfate is a mucosal protector. The effects of combinations of be ta-blocker, band ligation, and sucralfate (triple therapy) remain unknown. A total of 122 patients with a history of esophageal variceal bleeding were randomized to receive EVL only (group A, 62 patients) or triple therapy (g roup B, 60 patients). The procedure for the triple therapy included ligatio n with the addition of sucralfate granules until variceal obliteration. In addition, nadolol was administered during the course of the study or until death. After a median follow-up of 21 months, recurrent upper gastrointesti nal bleeding developed in 29 patients (47%) in group A and 14 patients (23% ) in group B (P = .005). Recurrent bleeding from esophagogastric varices oc curred in 18 patients in group A and 7 patients in group B (P = .001). Twen ty-one patients in group A (50%) and 12 patients (26%) in group B experienc ed variceal recurrence after variceal obliteration (P < .05), Treatment fai lure occurred in 11 patients (18%) in group A and in 4 patients (7%) in gro up B (P = .05). Twenty patients from group A and 10 patients from group B d ied (P = .08); 9 and 4 of these deaths, respectively, were attributed to va riceal hemorrhage (P = .26). The combination of ligation, nadolol, and sucr alfate (triple therapy) proved more effective than banding ligation alone i n terms of prevention of variceal recurrence and upper gastrointestinal reb leeding as well as variceal rebleeding.