Endoscopic Variceal Ligation for Treatment of Esophageal Variceal Bleeding

Shin, Woo Won; Han, Sang Young; Kim, Du Hyeong; Roh, Myung Hwan; Kam, Dong Ho; Choi, Seok Reoyl

Abstract

Endoscopic variceal ligation(EVL) is newly developed method to manage esophageal variceal bleeding. This study asse initial control rate of active variceal bleeding, incidence of rebleeding and complications in EVL. From June in l992 to December in 1994, this study was performed on 70 patients who had visited to our medical center for melena or hematemesis by acute esophageal variceal bleeding. In all of 70 cases, eradication of esophageal varix was performed and variceal bleeding was controlled well. And first session was performed successfully with EVL. But rebleeding was occured in 12 cases(11 cases caused by esoyhageal varix and 1 case caused by esophageal ulcer) during follow-up period, so EVL therapy was performed repeatedly and 8 cases were eradicated and 4 cases were uncontrolled and died, and then 94% hemostatic effect was achieved during follow-up period. Complications of EVL therapy were mild(substernal discomfort in 12 cases, substernal pain in 4 cases, fever in 3 cases, mild dysphagia in 2 cases) and well controlled. Superficial esaphageal ulcer was shown in 18 cases by follow-up endoscopy after 1 week. These results show that EVL is a good therapeutic method to control active variceal bleeding and eradication of varix with repeat treatment. In conclusion, EVL is an effective and safe method of treatment and prevention for esophageal variceal bleeding.