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Esophageal balloon tamponade has been the mainstay of bridging patients with cirrhosis to definitive therapy when medical and endoscopic therapy fail in management of acute variceal bleeding. Although balloon tamponade controls bleeding in up to 90% of cases, it is technically challenging to place, needs close intensive-care monitoring, and results in severe adverse complications in 20%–60% of cases. An alternative device — a self-expandable, covered esophageal metal stent — has been shown to be efficacious and safe in preliminary retrospective and uncontrolled series.
In the current randomized, controlled, parallel-group trial, investigators in Spain evaluated the efficacy and safety of esophageal stenting versus balloon tamponade in patien…