Prospective study of bacteremia rate after elastic band ligation and sclerotherapy of esophageal varices in patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis.
BACKGROUND
Esophageal band ligation is considered to be as efficient as endoscopic sclerotherapy, with a lower complication rate, including bacteremia. There are few studies comparing the two methods. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of bacteremia after both treatments in patients with portal hypertension secondary to schistosomiasis.


METHODS
Endoscopic sclerotherapy and band ligation were performed using standard techniques. Blood samples were obtained 5 and 30 minutes after endoscopic band ligation or sclerotherapy and cultured for aerobic and anaerobic organisms.


RESULTS
In the sclerotherapy group 2 of 43 (4.6%) blood cultures were positive (Peptostreptococcus sp and Streptococcus mitis). A similar result was obtained in the band ligation group: 2 of 35 (5.7%) had positive cultures, both with Staphylococcus aureus.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no difference in the frequency of bacteremia after treatment of esophageal varices with endoscopic sclerotherapy or endoscopic band ligation in patients with portal hypertension secondary to schistosomiasis.
da Silveira Rohr
M R
MR
Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Brazil.
Siqueira
E S
ES
Brant
C Q
CQ
Morais
M
M
Libera
E D
ED
Castro
R R
RR
Ferrari
A P
AP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D015994:Incidence; D008026:Ligation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000150:complications* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000469:parasitology; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000469:parasitology