Title: Endoscopic treatment for gastroesophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis: a survey
comparing between developed and developing countries
Version: 1 Date: 16 Jul 2024
Reviewer's report:
Gastric varices treatment practices have not been adequately reported, due to their relative
infrequency compared to oesophagal varices. Therefore studies that address these practices are
indeed needed.
Nevertheless, there many questions to be answered with regards to the methodology, results and
conclusions of the study.
Comments
1. There are guidelines in place for primary prevention of gastric varices, both Baveno VII and
ESGE guidelines state (although not that clearly) that beta-blockers should be use for prevention
of decompensation.
2. Please define the language of the questionnaire (probably English)
3. By which metric were the countries characterized as developed or developing?
4. Through which avenue were these endoscopists found and contacted?
5. How many questionnaires were sent and what was the response rate?
6.  Was there any mention of the capabilities of each center in terms of treatment options? Were
there hospitals that did not have access to cyanocrylate or to TIPS/bRTO therapy? If this was
not included in the questions, it should be added as a potential limitation and/or interpretation
of study findings. Also, the availability of these techniques may be a more important predictor
of practices than country.
Title: Endoscopic treatment for gastroesophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis: a survey
comparing between developed and developing countries
Version: 1 Date: 16 Jul 2024
Reviewer's report:
Gastric varices treatment practices have not been adequately reported, due to their relative
infrequency compared to oesophagal varices. Therefore studies that address these practices are
indeed needed.
Nevertheless, there many questions to be answered with regards to the methodology, results and
conclusions of the study.
Comments
1. There are guidelines in place for primary prevention of gastric varices, both Baveno VII and
ESGE guidelines state (although not that clearly) that beta-blockers should be use for prevention
of decompensation.
2. Please define the language of the questionnaire (probably English)
3. By which metric were the countries characterized as developed or developing?
4. Through which avenue were these endoscopists found and contacted?
5. How many questionnaires were sent and what was the response rate?
6.  Was there any mention of the capabilities of each center in terms of treatment options? Were
there hospitals that did not have access to cyanocrylate or to TIPS/bRTO therapy? If this was
not included in the questions, it should be added as a potential limitation and/or interpretation
of study findings. Also, the availability of these techniques may be a more important predictor
of practices than country.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Endoscopic treatment for gastroesophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis: a survey
comparing between developed and developing countries
Version: 1 Date: 16 Jul 2024
Reviewer's report:
Gastric varices treatment practices have not been adequately reported, due to their relative
infrequency compared to oesophagal varices. Therefore studies that address these practices are
indeed needed.
Nevertheless, there many questions to be answered with regards to the methodology, results and
conclusions of the study.
Comments
1. There are guidelines in place for primary prevention of gastric varices, both Baveno VII and
ESGE guidelines state (although not that clearly) that beta-blockers should be use for prevention
of decompensation.
2. Please define the language of the questionnaire (probably English)
3. By which metric were the countries characterized as developed or developing?
4. Through which avenue were these endoscopists found and contacted?
5. How many questionnaires were sent and what was the response rate?
6.  Was there any mention of the capabilities of each center in terms of treatment options? Were
there hospitals that did not have access to cyanocrylate or to TIPS/bRTO therapy? If this was
not included in the questions, it should be added as a potential limitation and/or interpretation
of study findings. Also, the availability of these techniques may be a more important predictor
of practices than country.
assistant