The efficacy and safety of beta-blockers versus cyanoacrylate injection for gastric variceal bleeding: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The benefit of beta-blockers for secondary prophylaxis of gastric variceal bleeding has limited evidence. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to systematically analyze and compare the effect of beta-blockers versus cyanoacrylate injection for patients with gastric variceal bleeding. METHODS: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines will be followed to conduct the present meta-analysis. From the inception to June 2021, the Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane Library electronic databases will be searched using the key phrases "beta-blockers," "cyanoacrylate," and "gastric variceal bleeding" for all relevant English-language trials. Study included in our meta-analysis has to meet the following criteria: observational or randomized controlled trial focusing on assessing the effectiveness of beta-blockers and cyanoacrylate injection for gastric variceal bleeding; the following outcome measures are reported: bleeding from gastric variceal, overall mortality, bleed related mortality, and complications. RESULTS: This study expects to provide credible and scientific evidence for the efficacy and safety of beta-blockers versus cyanoacrylate injection for patients with gastric variceal bleeding. REGISTRATION NUMBER: 10.17605/OSF.IO/CPV9T.