Table l. Characteristics of 32 patients with esophageal varices
treated by endoscopic ligation with elastic rings (n=27)
and endo-loops (n=5)
| Age-yr (x SD) 62,1 8,42 |
| Sex (M/F) 24/8 |
| Cause of portal hypertension, n (%) - Alcocholic cirrhosis 19 (59,4) - Viral B cirrhosis 4 (12,5) - Viral C cirrhosis 4 (12,5) - Mixt cirrhosis (alcocholic + viral B) 2 (6,2) - Cryptogenic cirrhosis 1 (3,1) - Portal thrombosis 2 (6,2) |
| Child-Pough’s grade, n (%) A 8 (25) B 18 (56,2) C 6 (18,7) |
| Grade of esophageal varices, n (%) II 6 (18,7) III 22 (68,7) IV 4 (12,5) |
| Cherry-red spots 27 (84,3%) |
| Variceal bleeding, n (%) - Active 8 (25) - Recent 20 (62,5) |
Table 2. Results of treatment in the study group of patients
| Cessation of active bleeding 8 (100%) |
| Variceal eradication 31 (96,8%) |
| Treatment sessions to eradication (x SD) 2,7 0,7 |
| Time (weeks) for eradication (x SD) 4,3 1,9 |
| Recurrent variceal bleeding 0 |
| Recurrent varices 4 (12,5%) |
| Mortality - Due to variceal bleeding 0 - Due to liver failure 2 (6,2%) - Due to development of hepatocellular carcinoma 1 (3,1%) |
| Follow-up (months) (x SD) 15,3 11,6 |
Table 3. Complications during the esophageal variceal ligation
| Retrosternal pain 7 (21,9%) |
| Dysphagia 12 (37,5%) |
| Throat pain 10 (31,2%) |
| Fever 1 (3,1%) |
| Esophageal ulcer 29 (90,6%) |
Table 4. Influence of the esophageal variceal ligation on portal
hypertensive gastropathy and gastric varices
| Portal gastropathy - before EVL 25 (78,1%) - after EVL 25 (78,1%) |
| Agravation of the portal gastropathy 2 (6,2%) |
| Gastric varices - before EVL 0 - after EVL 2 (6,2%) |
EVL, esophageal variceal ligation