[Comparison of endoscopic band ligation and propranolol for the primary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding in cirrhosis].
OBJECTIVE
To compare endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) with propranolol for prophylaxis of first variceal bleeding.


METHODS
We chose 168 patients with cirrhosis and esophageal varices in our hospital and allocated them to EVL and propranolol groups. Treatment effectiveness and safety in the 2 groups were observed.


RESULTS
he parameters of two groups were similar before therapy. Follow-up period was 8-36 months. Variceal bleeding occurred in 24 (28.6%) of the EVL group and in 20 (23.9%) of the propranolol group (P>0.05). Overall mortality and death related to bleeding were similar (21.4% vs 17.9%; 7.1% vs 6.0%, P>0.05). Adverse events related to EVL were 43 (3 of them life-threatening) compared to 16 in the propranolol group (51.19% vs 19.05%, P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Propranolol may be the better choice in prophylaxis of variceal bleeding with similar effects and lower adverse events than with EVL.
Department of General Surgery, Central South University, Changsha, China. fccc.1234@yahoo.com.cn
Chao
C
Feng
Feizhou
F
Huang
Wanpin
W
Nie
Xunyang
X
Liu
Shuping
S
Ren
D000368:Aged; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods*; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation / Q000379:methods; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D011433:Propranolol