3. Methodological quality of included trials.

Trial ID	Randomisation	Concealment	Control of bias	Blinding	Intention‐to‐treat analysis	Losses to follow‐up	treatment for failure	Prevention of re‐bleeding
Bildozola 2000	Adequate	Unclear	Unclear	None	No	None	Same in both groups	Same in both groups
Di Febo 1990	Unclear	Unclear	Unclear	None	No	None	Same in both groups	Same in both groups
Escorsell 1998	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	None	Yes	None	Same in both groups	Same in both groups
Escorsell 2000	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	None	No	None	Same in both groups	Same in both groups
Freitas 2000	Unclear	Unclear	Unclear	None	No	Not reported	Same in both groups	Same in both groups
Jenkins 1997	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	None	Yes	None	Same in both groups	Same in both groups
Lopez 1999	Unclear	Unclear	Unclear	None	No	Not reported	Same in both groups	Same in both groups
Planas 1994	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	None	Yes	None	Same in both groups	Same in both groups
Poo 1996	Unclear	Unclear	Unclear	None	No	Not reported	Same in both groups	Same in both groups
Ramires 2000	Unclear	Adequate	Unclear	None	No	None	Same in both groups	Not reported
Shaikh 2002	Unclear	Unclear	Unclear	None	Yes	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Shields 1992	Unclear	Adequate	Unclear	None	Yes	None	Same in both groups	Same in both groups
Silva 2004	Unclear	Unclear	Unclear	None	Yes	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Sivri 2000	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	None	Yes	None	Same in both groups	Same in both groups
Sung 1993	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	None	No	None	Same in both groups	Same in both groups
Westaby 1989	Adequate	Unclear	Unclear	None	Yes	None	Same in both groups	Same in both groups
Yousuf 2000	Unclear	Unclear	Unclear	None	Yes	None	Not reported	Not reported