title: A randomized control trial of bi-monthly versus bi-weekly endoscopic variceal ligation of esophageal varices.
abstract: Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) is a safe and simple procedure now being used on a widening scale. Yet most patients who undergo endoscopic treatment for esophageal varices eventually require additional treatment for recurrent varices. In this study, we investigated and compared the efficacy and long-term results of EVL performed in three treatments with a total of sixteen O-rings at two different intervals; bi-weekly (once every 2 wk: the conventional interval) and bi-monthly (once every 2 months). A total of 63 patients with esophageal varices were randomly assigned to groups receiving bi-weekly or bi-monthly EVL treatment. Optimal medical therapy was assessed by one medical doctor who was unaware of the patients' treatment assignments. Three parameters of treatment outcome were evaluated: the rate of recurrence, rate of additional treatment, and overall survival. The overall rates of variceal recurrence and additional treatment were both higher in the bi-weekly group than in the bi-monthly group (p < 0.001). In conclusion, EVL performed for the treatment of esophageal varices at bi-monthly intervals brought about better results than the same treatment performed at bi-weekly intervals. The treatments intercalated by the longer interval obtained a higher total eradication rate, lower recurrence rate, and lower rate of additional treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery 1, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mamada
authors.forename: Nobuhiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taniai
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Youichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mizuguchi
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Tsubasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tajiri
mesh_terms: D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000601:surgery*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D015996:Survival Rate