title: Results of treatment of esophageal variceal hemorrhage with endoscopic injection of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate in patients with Child-Pugh class C cirrhosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The results of endoscopic treatment with elastic band ligation for esophageal variceal bleeding in patients with Child-Pugh class C cirrhosis remain poor. In comparison with treatment with elastic band ligation, we have found lower rates of rebleeding and mortality with n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injections. Thus, the aim of the current study was to describe our unit's 10 years of experience with injection of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate to control esophageal variceal ruptures in patients with Child-Pugh class C cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-center, retrospective study was conducted. Sixty-three patients with Child-Pugh class C cirrhosis had been admitted to the center with an acute episode of esophageal variceal bleeding. All were treated with injection of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate. The patients were assigned to 1 of 2 groups according to their Child-Pugh class C cirrhosis scores: group I (score range, 10 through 13 points) and group II (score, 14 or 15 points). The 3 variables studied were rates of initial failure to control bleeding, failure to prevent rebleeding (secondary prophylaxis), and mortality. Patients in the 2 groups (group I, n = 50; group II, n = 13) had similar characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bleeding was successfully controlled in almost 75 % of the patients during the first 5 days after treatment, with no significant differences observed between groups I and II. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups with respect to mortality rate for the first 5 days after treatment. Thirty-four patients (54 %) were free of bleeding at 6 weeks after treatment, with a significant difference noted between the groups: group I, 64 %, versus group II, 15.4 % (P < 0.001). The overall mortality rate was 44.4 %, with a significant difference noted between the groups: group I, 34 %, versus group II, 84.6 % (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic injection of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate is a valid treatment option to control esophageal variceal bleeding in patients with a Child-Pugh class C cirrhosis score in the range of 10 through 13 points.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joao Paulo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sérgio Eiji
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Matuguma
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Spencer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil ; Laboratory of Investigation of University of São Paulo - LIM37, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil ; Laboratory of Investigation of University of São Paulo - LIM37, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Augusto Carneiro
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: D'Albuquerque
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil ; Laboratory of Investigation of University of São Paulo - LIM37, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fauze
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maluf-Filho