title: Esophageal variceal ligation for hemostasis of acute variceal bleeding: efficacy and safety.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endoscopic variceal ligation is widely accepted as the optimum endoscopic treatment for esophageal variceal hemorrhage. In Morocco, there are no data regarding the efficacy of this technique. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of endoscopic variceal ligation in the management of oesophageal variceal bleeding in cirrhosis in a located population in Morocco.
  
  
  METHODS
  Via a retrospective study over 118 months (December 2001- October 2011), cirrhotic patients with endoscopically proven esophageal variceal hemorrhage were treated by endoscopic variceal ligation. We studied the rate of haemostasis, rebleeding, complications and mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  360 cirrhotic patients were included and 378 haemostatic variceal ligations were performed. Primary haemostasis was obtained in 96.5 % (N=365) of cases. Thirty three patients (8.7%) bled during follow-up. The rate of minor complications was 15.3 % (N=58). Retrosternal pain, fever, dysphagia and Overtube's migration developed in 8.4 % (N=32); 2.6 % (N=10); 3,7 % (N=14) and 0.5 % (N=2) of the patients respectively. Severity of these complications was mild and transient. The rate of oesophageal ulcers was 5 % (N=19), while the mortality rate by haemorrhage was 5 % (N=18).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data showed that band ligation is an effective and safe treatment modality of esophageal variceal bleeding with low rates of rebleeding and complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepato Gastroenterology Hassan II University Hospital Fez, Morocco.
authors.forename: Mounia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lahbabi
authors.forename: Mounia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elyousfi
authors.forename: Nouredine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aqodad
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elabkari
authors.forename: Ihssane
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mellouki
authors.forename: Sidi Adil
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ibrahimi
authors.forename: Dafr Allah
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Benajah
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Esophageal variceal ligation; complications; endoscopy; rebleeding; variceal bleeding