The Influence of EIS or EVL to Gastric Varices in Bleeding Esophageal Varices

Yook, Eun Ju; Lee, Heon Young; Kim, Seong Gul; Kim, Jin Hee; Jung, Hyun Yong; Seo, Kwang Sik; Kim, Nam Jae; Kim, Seok Hyun; Lee, Byung Seok; Im, Euyi Hyeok

Abstract

Background: Esophageal variceal hemorrhage is the most life threatening complication of portal hypertension secondary to chronic progressive liver disease such as liver cirrhosis. Recently, endoscopic injection sclerotherapy(EIS) and endoscopic variceal ligation(EVL) have been known to be the most effective, simple and safe methods. Gastric varices are sometimes associated with esophageal varices in patients with portal hypertension. However the role of endoscopic sclerotherapy in the treatment of gastric varices has not been adequately evaluated, and the fate of coexisting gastric varices after eradication of esophageal varices is not clearly known. Methods: EIS or EVL was preformed in 174 patients with variceal hemorrhage in CHUNG-NAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL from September 1990 to December 1993. Among the total 174 patients, 50 patients were followed for at least 1 year. Forty four patients were treated with EIS, and 6 witb EVL. We assesed the influence of EIS or EVL on coexisting gastric varices and the development of gastric varices after EIS or EVL in 50 patients.