Database	Timespan	Search strategy
The Cochrane Hepato‐Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register	September 2006 (26 references).	(shunt* OR dsrs OR tips) AND (sclerotherap* OR band*) AND ('portal hypertension*' OR cirrho* OR varic*) AND prevent* AND rebleed*
Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library	Issue 3, 2006 (15 references).	#1 MeSH descriptor Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical explode all trees #2 ((surgical or total or distal splenorenal or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic) and shunt) or dsrs or tips #3 (#1 OR #2) #4 MeSH descriptor Sclerotherapy explode all trees #5 endoscopic and (sclerotherap* or band*) #6 (#4 OR #5) #7 MeSH descriptor Hypertension, Portal explode all trees #8 MeSH descriptor Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary explode all trees #9 MeSH descriptor Esophageal and Gastric Varices explode all trees #10 portal hypertension* or cirrho* or varic* #11 (#7 OR #8 OR #9 OR #10) #12 prevent* and rebleed* #13 (#3 AND #6 AND #11 AND #12)
MEDLINE (WinSPIRS 5.0)	1950 to September 2006 (19 references).	#1 explode "Portasystemic‐Shunt‐Surgical"/ all subheadings #2 ((surgical or total or distal splenorenal or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic) and shunt) or dsrs or tips #3 #1 or #2 #4 explode "Sclerotherapy"/ all subheadings #5 endoscopic and (sclerotherap* or band*) #6 #4 or #5 #7 explode "Hypertension‐Portal"/ all subheadings #8 explode "Liver‐Cirrhosis‐Biliary"/ all subheadings #9 explode "Esophageal‐and‐Gastric‐Varices"/ all subheadings #10 portal hypertension* or cirrho* or varic* #11 #7 or #8 or #9 or #10 #12 prevent* and rebleed* #13 #3 and #6 and #11 and #12 #14 random* or blind* or placebo* or meta‐analysis #15 #13 and #14
EMBASE (WinSPIRS 5.0)	1980 to September 2006 (36 references).	#1 explode "portosystemic‐anastomosis"/ all subheadings #2 ((surgical or total or distal splenorenal or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic) and shunt) or dsrs or tips #3 #1 or #2 #4 explode "sclerotherapy"/ all subheadings #5 endoscopic and (sclerotherap* or band*) #6 #4 or #5 #7 explode "portal‐hypertension"/ all subheadings #8 explode "liver‐cirrhosis"/ all subheadings #9 explode "esophagus‐varices"/ all subheadings #10 portal hypertension* or cirrho* or varic* #11 #7 or #8 or #9 or #10 #12 prevent* and rebleed* #13 #3 and #6 and #11 and #12 #14 random* or blind* or placebo* or meta‐analysis #15 #13 and #14
Science Citation Index Expanded (http://portal.isiknowledge.com/portal.cgi?DestApp=WOS&Func=Frame)	1945 to September 2006.	#1 TS=(((surgical or total or distal splenorenal or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic) and shunt) or dsrs or tips) #2 TS=(endoscopic and (sclerotherap* or band*)) #3 TS=(portal hypertension* or cirrho* or varic*) #4 TS=(prevent* and rebleed*) #5 #4 AND #3 AND #2 AND #1 #6 TS=(random* or blind* or placebo* or meta‐analysis) #7 #6 AND #5