Isaksson 1996.

Methods	Randomised trial. A. Generation of allocation sequence: unclear. Randomisation mentioned but method not specified. B. Allocation concealment: adequate. Sealed opaque envelopes. C. Blinding: unclear. No information. D. Follow‐up: inadequate. Inclusion of all randomised participants at evaluation: incomplete information. Time from bleeding episode to randomisation and treatment: not specified, but patients were included after their variceal bleeding was arrested with emergency endoscopic sclerosis and if they fulfilled the entry criteria. Total number of patients evaluated: 228. Randomised to shunt: 24, randomised to ET: 21. Adequate reasons provided for those not randomised: yes. No patient was crossed over. No losses to follow‐up. Intention to treat analysis. Follow‐up period in months (mean): shunt 69.5, ET 60.2. Assessment of suitability for shunt carried out prior to randomisation: not specified. Method of Child's grading: Child's (version not specified). Method of encephalopathy testing: clinical and psychometric testing. Rebleeding episodes endoscopically verified: not specified. Specified whether rebleeding episode clinically significant: yes. (Isaksson et al. were unable to assess encephalopathy in 7/24 patients in the shunt group and in 5/21 group in the ET group).
Participants	Inclusion criteria: age between 20 to 75 years, endoscopically verified varices as the source of bleeding, portal hypertension, biopsy confirmed cirrhosis. Exclusions: not specified. Patients comparable in‐terms of age and Child's status but alcoholics slightly greater in the ES group.
Interventions	ET: Sclerotherapy, submucosal, and paravariceal technique, sclerosant = ethoxy‐sclerol. Shunt: Interpositional 14 mm mesocaval Goretex shunt.
Outcomes	Survival. Rebleeding. Encephalopathy. Complications. Cost and hospital stay.
Notes
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Allocation concealment?	Low risk	A ‐ Adequate