Endoscopic Variceal Ligation for Treatment of Bleeding Esophageal Varices

Shim, Chan Sup; Cho, Joo Young; Choi, Jae Dong; Lee, Moon Sung; Kim, Jin Hong; Cho, Sung Won

Abstract

Endoscopic injection sclerotherapy(EIS) is currently the most widely practiced method for treating and eradicating acutely bleeding esophageal varices in repeated sessions, but may be associated with some uadesirable local and systemic complications. Endoscopic variceal ligation(EVL), which consists of mechanical ligation and thrombosis of varices using elastic "0"- rings, has been recently developed as a non-operative alternative to EIS. We performed EVL in 16 patients who had recently bled from esophageal varices. Total 249 variceal ligations were performed during 71 separate EVL sessions. Three patients were actively bleeding at initial EVL; all of them were successfully controlled by emergency EVL. During the study period two patients died after initial EVL; one who refused te return for repeated EVL died from rebleeding, the other died from hepatic failure without any rebleeding. Rebleeding, following initiation of EVL, occured in 3 patients(l8.8%); two patients had bled from varices except previousiy ligated site and were successfully controlled by emergency EVL, remained one who refused any repeat endoscopy could not be confirmed the bleeding site. Varices were eradicated or reduced to grade I in 10(71.4%) of the 14 survivors by 14-28 ligations(mean, 19.5 ligations) in 3 -7 EVL sessions(mean, 5.4 sessions), During or after EVL, there were no complications, except transient mild dysphagia in 3 patients of 16 patients. These results indicated that EVL is a safe and effective method for treatmet of bleeding esophageal varices.