No abstract

EIS and EVL are similarly effective in the prevention of first variceal bleeding. The choice between EIS and EVL depends on the skill of the endoscopic unit. For highly experienced surgeons facing no complications, sclerotherapy seems to be preferable; for all others, it is technically easier to perform ligation.

We recommend prophylactic sclerotherapy with 1% polidocanol in patients with advanced varices in liver cirrhosis of varied etiology. We emphasize the need to perform these procedures in a department with adequate experience, where at least 100-200 sclerotherapies per year are performed.