Primary Prophylaxis to Prevent the Development of Hepatic Encephalopathy in Cirrhotic Patients with Acute Variceal Bleeding

Figure 1

Group A was treated with lactulose orally, 30 mL every 8 hours; meanwhile it was adjusted according to the dose response to achieve two to three daily soft stools. Group B was treated with LOLA administered at a standard dose of 10 grams intravenously diluted with saline solution of 500 ml with a continuous infusion for 24 hours. Group C was treated with rifaximin administered at a standard dose of 400 mg orally every 8 hours. Group D was the control group that received all the corresponding placebos to achieve blinding of the study; patients in this group received an intravenous glucose solution of 5% for 24 hours, dextrose solution of 30 ml orally every 8 hours, and 2 dextrose tablets orally every 8 hours in similar size, color, and shape to the tablets of rifaximin. Groups A, B, and C received also the other corresponding placebos in other double-blind study. The duration of therapy was 7 days in all groups. Withdrawn his informed consent.