title: [Primary prophylaxis of esophageal variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients].
abstract: During 2004 and 2005 we selected ten motivated and well informed patients affected by hepatic cirrhosis and medium-large esophageal varices; we performed endoscopic band ligation to prevent the first bleeding episode in these patients because not eligible for non selective beta-blockers full dose therapy. After over 3 years' follow-up we have no found fatal or not varices related complications. Five patients died from hepatic failure. Recent literature highlights endoscopic band ligation usefulness because of favourable cost-effectiveness ratio and good quality of life in well selected patients treated by a skilled endoscopic team.
authors.affiliation: Unità Operativa Complessa di Medicina Interna ed Endoscopia Digestiva, Presidio Ospedaliero Lorenzo Bonomo, ASL BAT, Regione Puglia, Andria. artemidold@libero.it
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leuci
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pomarico
authors.forename: Nunzio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Casucci
authors.forename: Benedetto
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fucci
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: D'Alitto
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caldarone
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003245:Consensus Statements as Topic; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists