Endoscopic Variceal Ligation in Children

Inclusion Criteria for endoscopic variceal ligation cohort * All paediatric patients (\< 18 years) * Known chronic liver disease * Suspicion of portal hypertension based on splenomegaly in the ultrasound, presence of collaterals in the abdominal wall or low platelet count (\<150.000 platelets/L), * Grade 2 or 3 esophageal varices or red spots, regardless of the grade of the esophageal varices diagnosed by endoscopy * From January 2014 to April 2017 Exclusion Criteria for endoscopic variceal ligation cohort: * Patients initially treated with Non-selective beta blockers and subsequently treated with endoscopic variceal ligation as primary prophylaxis were excluded of the study. * Patients for whom endoscopic variceal ligation was not feasible because of patients' weight/seize were also excluded of the study. Inclusion Criteria for propranolol cohort * All paediatric patients (\< 18 years) * Known chronic liver disease * Suspicion of portal hypertension based on splenomegaly in the ultrasound, presence of collaterals in the abdominal wall or low platelet count (\<150.000 platelets/L), * Grade 2 or 3 esophageal varices or red spots, regardless of the grade of the esophageal varices diagnosed by endoscopy * That received propranolol as primary prophylaxis * From January 2009 to December 2013. Exclusion Criteria propranolol cohort: * Patients initially treated with non-selective beta blockers and subsequently treated with endoscopic variceal ligation as primary prophylaxis w…