Abstract:
Introduction: Bleeding from esophageal varices (varicose veins) is one of the leading causes of death
in patients with portal hypertension (PH). The main method of prevention of bleeding is endoscopic
procedures.
Background: To assess the effectiveness of endoscopic ligation (EL) in the prevention of bleeding
varicose veins (VVs) of the esophagus and stomach in patients with PH.
Material and Methods: We analyzed the results of treatment of 183 patients with PH who had had
previously an episode of bleeding from VVs of esophagus or stomach. All patients observed
endoscopic examination to determine the degree of VVs and assess the risk of bleeding. The first
group included 96 patients who underwent endoscopic sclerotherapy (ES) polidocanol micropinch in
the form of particles; the second group included 87 patients who were produced endoscopic ligation
(EL) VVs of the esophagus.
Results: The observation period ranged from 18.8±18.6 to 22.2±26.2 months. After EL, in contrast to
the ES, a complete obliteration of VVs was less than the number of rebleeding, decreased mortality.
At control endoscopy, the recurrence of VVs of the esophagus and stomach was detected in 11.4%
patients of the first group and in 3.1% of the second group. After EL, almost all patients were
observed complications such as transient dysphagia, chest pain, but often after ES occurred over such
terrible complications as pleurisy, sepsis syndrome, dysphagia, and bleeding from ulcers sclerosed
plot.
Conclusion: The EL method has obvious advantages over the ES.
