Endoscopic variceal ligation is a sufficient procedure for the treatment of oesophageal varices in patients with hepatitis C liver cirrhosis: comparison with injection sclerotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) is a recently developed alternative to endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) for the treatment of oesophageal varices. Endoscopic variceal ligation and EIS were compared in an attempt to clarify the efficacy and safety of EVL for patients with cirrhosis due to hepatitis C.


METHODS
Endoscopic variceal ligation was performed in 60 patients and EIS in 30. Varices were eradicated in all patients by EVL and 87% (26 out of 30) by EIS.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between EVL and EIS in relation to the incidence of bleeding and the 5 year survival rate after treatment. There were no severe complications except mild substernal pain after EVL, while pulmonary embolism occurred in one patient receiving EIS.


CONCLUSIONS
Endoscopic variceal ligation is a safe and effective technique for eradicating oesophageal varices in patients with hepatitis C cirrhosis.
Hata
Y
Y
The Second Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Hamada
E
E
Takahashi
M
M
Ota
S
S
Ogura
K
K
Shiina
S
S
Okamoto
M
M
Okudaira
T
T
Teratani
T
T
Maeda
S
S
Koike
Y
Y
Sato
S
S
Obi
S
S
Tanaka
T
T
Kawabe
T
T
Shiratori
Y
Y
Kawase
T
T
Nomura
M
M
Omata
M
M
D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016558:Hemostasis, Endoscopic; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols