Feasibility of needle puncture measurement of variceal pressure in patients undergoing endoscopic variceal ligation.
OBJECTIVE
Concerning needle withdrawal bleeding, measurement of esophageal variceal pressures (VP) by direct needle puncture is indicated only when sclerotherapy is simultaneously performed. A prospective study was conducted to assess the feasibility of needle measurements of VP during endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL).


METHODS
Liver cirrhotic patients who were consecutively referred for primary or secondary prevention of esophageal variceal bleeding between February 2003 and April 2005 were included in this study. Group A (n=47) received EVL immediately after needle puncture measurement of VP. Patients who received EVL only were included as controls (Group B, n=47). Arterial blood pressure (ABP), heart rate (HR), arterial oxygenation (SaO2) and morbidity were evaluated.


RESULTS
The ABP was increased four hours after EVL in both groups, but there was no difference between the groups. There was a transient increase in HR and a decrease in SaO2 during endoscopy in both groups, but no difference of correspondent time points between the two groups. There was no difference in the bleeding rate between the two groups (9/47 vs. 10/47)


CONCLUSIONS
Needle puncture measurement of VP is a feasible and safe method for use with EVL.
Liao
Wei-Chih
WC
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine Veterans General Hospital-Taipei and School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University Taipei, Taiwan.
Hou
Ming-Chih
MC
Lin
Han-Chieh
HC
Tan
Pen-Chung
PC
Liao
Tung-Min
TM
Li
Hai-Shin
HS
Lee
Shou-Dong
SD
D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation / Q000379:methods*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011677:Punctures; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010100:Oxygen