Emergency Endoscopic Sclerotherapy Research Articles

Treatment Strategies in Emergency Endoscopy for Acute Esophageal Variceal Bleeding (CHESS1905): A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background and AimsEmergency endoscopy is recommended for patients with acute esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) and their prognosis has improved markedly over past decades due to the increased specialization of endoscopic practice. The study aimed to compare outcomes following emergency endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) and endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) in cirrhotic patients with acute EVB.MethodsCirrhotic patients with acute EVB who underwent emergency endoscopy were retrospectively enrolled from 2013 to 2020 across 34 university hospitals from 30 cities. The primary outcome was the incidence of 5-day rebleeding after emergency endoscopy. Subgroup analysis was stratified by Child-Pugh class and bleeding history. A 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed.ResultsA total of 1,017 and 382 patients were included in EIS group and EVL group, respectively. The 5-day rebleeding incidence was similar between EIS group and EVL group (4% vs. 5%, P = 0.45). The result remained the same after PSM (P = 1.00). Among Child-Pugh class A, B and C patients, there were no differences in the 5-day rebleeding incidence between the two groups after PSM (P = 0.25, 0.82, and 0.21, respectively). As for the patients with or without bleeding history, the differences between EIS group and EVL group were not significant after PSM (P = 1.00 and 0.26, respectively).ConclusionThe nationwide cohort study indicates that EIS and EVL are both efficient emergency endoscopic treatment strategies for acute EVB. EIS should not be dismissed as an economical and effective emergency endoscopic treatment strategy of acute EVB. ClincialTrials.gov number NCT04307264.

Outcome of the Pediatric Patients with Portal Cavernoma: The Retrospective Study for 10 Years Focusing on Recurrent Variceal Bleeding.

Background. Portal cavernoma (PC) is the most critical condition with risk or variceal hemorrhage in pediatric patients. We retrospectively investigated the patients with PC focusing on the predictors for recurrent variceal bleeding. Methods. Between July 2003 and June 2013, we retrospectively enrolled all consecutive patients admitted to our department with a diagnosis of PC without abdominal malignancy or liver cirrhosis. The primary endpoint of this observational study was recurrent variceal bleeding. Independent predictors of recurrent variceal bleeding were identified using the logistic regression model. Results. A total of 157 patients were enrolled in the study. During the follow-up period, 24 patients exhibited onset of recurrent variceal bleeding. Acute variceal bleeding was subjected to conservative symptomatic treatment and emergency endoscopic sclerotherapy. Surgical procedure selection was based on the severity of vascular dilation and collateral circulation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the presence of ascites, collateral circulation, and portal venous pressure were independent prognostic factors of recurrent variceal bleeding for patients with portal cavernoma. Conclusions. The presence of ascites, collateral circulation, and portal venous pressure evaluation are important and could predict the postsurgical recurrent variceal bleeding in patients with portal cavernoma.

Comparative efficacy emergency endoscopic sclerotherapy in the treatment of bleeding from the varices of esophagus and stomach. The urgency of the problem

Purpose: Evaluating the effectiveness of endoscopic sclerotherapy of the varicose veins in patients with portal origin bleeding from esophagus and stomach in different periods. Results of treatment: In 108 patients with complicated liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension (PH) and bleeding from varicose veins (VV) in esophagus and stomach that were hospitalized into the 2nd clinic of the Tashkent Medical Academy in 2008–2011. For a comparative analysis all the patients were divided into 2 groups. Control group consisted of 57 (52.7 %) patients with esophageal and gastric bleeding from VV, who delayed endoscopic sclerotherapy 2–3 days after admission, controlled bleeding with Blackmore probe obturator and performed intensive conservative therapy. The study group included 51 (47.3 %) patients with esophageal and gastric bleeding from VV, who performed emergency endoscopic sclerotherapy after admission at an altitude of bleeding or even stopped the bleeding in the event of a subsequent installation of Blackmore probe. Recurrence of bleeding contained in 8 (15.7 %) patients. It should be noted that rebleeding observed only in patients with grade III varices with the transition into the stomach, while the control group of patients with recurrent bleeding heterogeneous in degree of varicose veins. 6 patients underwent re-sclerotherapy with the installation of the probe-obturator. In 2 patients performed operation by Sugiura due to profuse bleeding. The mortality rate was 11.8 % (6 patients). In 1 patient the cause of death was the hemorrhagic shock in 4 — progressive liver failure. After surgery, the patient 1 Sugiura died as a result of hepatorenal syndrome and multiple organ failure. During the 1‑year because of recurrent bleeding re-hospitalized patients 2, both made emergency sclerotherapy, thereby achieved hemostasis. The effectiveness of endoscopic sclerotherapy in the main group reached 84.3 %.

Rebleeding prophylaxis improved outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: Is it feasible in all patients?

We read with great interest the recent article by Ripoll et al.1 In this multicenter case-control study, the authors emphasize the survival benefit of second prophylaxis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and variceal bleeding (VB) regardless of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage. However, these results should be interpreted with caution. In this study the median survival was only 0.9 months and 0.7 months in patients without second prophylaxis stratified by BCLC A/B and C/D, respectively. Because of the retrospective nature, it is highly probable that patients who were too ill to start or died before the second prophylaxis were inevitably stratified to the group without second prophylaxis; therefore, selection bias of poor survivor in the nonprophylaxis group should be a concern. These phenomena were shown in Supporting Table 1, in which patients without prophylaxis in BCLC C/D had a higher Model for Endstage Liver Disease (MELD) score and poor liver reserve.1 Moreover, we don't think the patients in BCLC D should be analyzed together with BCLC C because the patients in BCLC D usually had the poorest hepatic reserve and survival, and also were very unlikely to tolerate second prophylaxis. Actually, our previous randomized controlled trial (RCT) showed that 44.4% (24/54) of patients with unresectable HCC and VB cannot receive a second scheduled ligation after endoscopic hemostasis of acute bleeding; more than 90%(22/24) of these patients were Child-Pugh C.2 We are very interested to see if the patients in BCLC D can receive second prophylaxis and their outcomes in the current study because the proof of no harm to introduce invasive treatment to terminal and fragile patients is very important. In an earlier study in Japan, neither prophylactic nor emergency endoscopic injection sclerotherapy prolonged the survival of patients with HCC and Child-Pugh C.3 In another recent retrospective study, Dr. Han found that hepatic reserve instead of endoscopic therapy is associated with in-hospital mortality in patients with HCC and Child-Pugh C.4 On the other hand, the use of a beta-blocker in patients with poor hepatic reserve should be done very cautiously because a study showed that beta-blocker is associated with poor survival in patients with refractory ascites.5 In conclusion, the benefit of second prophylaxis of VB in patients with HCC and poor hepatic reserve is still unclear and further prospective study is needed. Ping-Hsien Chen, M.D.1,2 Ming-Chih Hou, M.D.1,2 1Endoscopy Center for Diagnosis and Treatment Taipei Veterans General Hospital Taipei, Taiwan 2School of Medicine National Yang-Ming University School Taipei, Taiwan

Fifty-three Years’ Experience With Randomized Clinical Trials of Emergency Portacaval Shunt for Bleeding Esophageal Varices in Cirrhosis

Emergency treatment of bleeding esophageal varices (BEV) consists mainly of endoscopic and pharmacologic measures, with transjugular intrahepatic portal-systemic shunt (TIPS) performed when bleeding is not controlled. Surgical shunt has been relegated to salvage. At the University of California, San Diego, Medical Center, our group has conducted 10 studies of emergency portacaval shunt (EPCS) during 46 years. To describe 2 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) conducted from 1988 to 2011 in unselected consecutive patients who received emergency treatment for BEV. In RCT No. 1, a total of 211 unselected consecutive patients with cirrhosis and acute BEV were randomized to emergency endoscopic sclerotherapy (EEST) (n=106) or EPCS (n=105). In RCT No. 2, a total of 154 unselected consecutive patients with cirrhosis and acute BEV were randomized to TIPS (n=78) or EPCS (n=76). Diagnostic workup was completed within 6 hours of initial contact, and primary treatment was initiated within 8 to 12 hours. Regular follow-up for up to 10 years was accomplished in 100% of the patients. In RCT No. 1, EEST or EPCS; in RCT No. 2, TIPS or EPCS. The 2 groups were compared with regard to survival, control of bleeding, portal-systemic encephalopathy, and direct cost of care. RESULTS Distribution in Child risk classes was almost identical. One-third of patients were in Child class C. Permanent control of bleeding was achieved by EEST in only 20% of the patients and by TIPS in only 22%. In contrast, EPCS permanently controlled bleeding in 97% and 100% of the patients in RCT No. 2 and RCT No. 1, respectively (P<.001). Survival was significantly greater following EPCS than after EEST and TIPS (P<.001). Median survival was more than 10 years following EPCS compared with 1.99 years after TIPS. Occlusion of TIPS was demonstrated in 84% of the patients, 63% of whom underwent TIPS revision, which failed in 80% of the cases. Recurrent portal-systemic encephalopathy developed in 35% of the patients who underwent EEST and 61% of those who received TIPS. In contrast, portal-systemic encephalopathy occurred in 15% of the patients who received EPCS in RCT No. 1 and 21% of those in RCT No. 2. Direct costs of care were 5 to 7 times greater in the EEST ($168100) and TIPS ($264800) groups than in the EPCS ($39000) group (P<.001). Emergency portacaval shunt permanently stopped variceal bleeding, almost never became occluded, accomplished 5 times the long-term survival than EEST or TIPS, and was much less costly than EEST or TIPS. The widespread practice of using EPCS mainly as salvage for failure of endoscopic therapy or TIPS is not supported by the definitive results of these long-term RCTs in unselected patients with cirrhosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00690027 and NCT00734227.

Liver Transplantation during Fifty-Three Years’ Experience with Randomized Controlled Trials of Emergency Portacaval Shunt for Bleeding Esophageal Varices in Cirrhosis

Background: Currently, emergency treatment of Bleeding Esophageal Varices (BEV) consists mainly of endoscopic and pharmacologic measures, with use of TIPS when bleeding is not controlled. Surgical shunt has been relegated to salvage of survivors of failed endoscopic, pharmacologic, and TIPS treatment. We have conducted 10 prospective studies of Emergency Porta Caval Shunt (EPCS) during 46 years. BEV in cirrhosis has been considered an indication for Liver Transplantation (LT) by some respected LT programs. This important issue was examined in our two recent Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) in 365 unselected, consecutive patients with acute BEV conducted from 1988 to 2011. Study design: In RCT No. 1, 211 unselected, consecutive cirrhotic patients with acute BEV (“all comers”) were randomized to Emergency Endoscopic Sclerotherapy (EEST) (n=106) or EPCS (n=105). In RCT No. 2, 154 unselected consecutive cirrhotic patients with acute BEV (“all comers”) were randomized to TIPS (n=78) or EPCS (n=76). In each RCT, the two treatment groups were compared with regard to effect on survival, control of bleeding, encephalopathy, and direct cost of care. Diagnostic workup was completed within 6 hr and primary treatment was initiated within 8 to 12 hours. Regular follow-up was accomplished in 100% of patients. In RCT No. 1, 96% of patients underwent more than 10 years of follow-up, or until death. In RCT No. 2, follow-up lasted for 5 to 10 years in 85%, and 3 to 4.5 years in the remainder. Patients were evaluated for LT on admission and at regular intervals thereafter. In addition to the two RCTs, the analysis of LT was supplemented in 1300 unrandomized cirrhotic patients who previously underwent Porta Caval Shunt (PCS) with 100% follow-up. Results: Clinical characteristics of each group were similar at the time of enrollment. The distribution of patients in Child risk classes was almost identical in the two groups in each RCT. Almost one-third of patients in each group were in Child class C. Permanent control of bleeding was achieved by sclerotherapy in only 20% and by TIPS in only 22%. In contrast, EPCS permanently controlled bleeding in 97% to 100% (p<0.001). Sclerotherapy and TIPS patients required twice as many units of blood transfusion as EPCS patients. Survival rate at all time intervals and in all Child classes was significantly greater following EPCS than after sclerotherapy and TIPS (p<0.001). Median survival was over 10 years following EPCS, compared to 1.99 years following TIPS. EPCS remained permanently patent in 97% of patients. In contrast, stenosis or occlusion of TIPS was demonstrated in 84% of patients, 63% of whom underwent TIPS revision, which failed in 80%. Recurrent episodes of encephalopathy developed in 35% of sclerotherapy patients and 61% of TIPS patients. In contrast, encephalopathy occurred in 15% of EPCS patients in RCT No. 1 and 21% of EPCS patients in RCT No. 2. Direct costs of care, measured as charges per year, were 5 to 7 times greater in the sclerotherapy group ($168,100) and TIPS groups ($264,800) than in the EPCS group ($39,000) (p<0.001). Of the 365 randomized patients in the two RCTs, only 23 (6.3%) were ultimately referred for LT, mainly because of progressive liver failure. Of these, only 11 (3%) were approved for LT, and only 8 (2.2%) underwent LT. One- and 5-year LT survival rates were 0.68% and 0, compared to 81% and 73% after EPCS. In the 1300 unrandomized PCS patients, 50 (3.8%) were referred and 19 (1.5%) underwent LT. Five-year survival rate was 53% compared to 72% for all 1300 patients. Conclusions: EPCS was uniformly effective in treatment of BEV, while sclerotherapy and TIPS were disappointing. EPCS permanently stopped variceal bleeding, almost never became occluded, accomplished long-term survival that was more than 5 times survival rate following sclerotherapy or TIPS, and was much less costly than sclerotherapy or TIPS. If bleeding is permanently controlled, as occurred invariably following EPCS, cirrhotic patients with BEV seldom require LT. PCS is effective first-line and long-term treatment. Should LT be required in patients with PCS, although technically more demanding, numerous studies have shown that PCS does not increase mortality or complications. Neither EST nor TIPS are effective emergency or long-term therapeutic measures.

胃静脈瘤出血に対する内視鏡的硬化療法（Histoacryl法）の手技と治療成績

胃静脈瘤出血に対する内視鏡的硬化療法（Histoacryl法）の手技と治療成績

Wrapper tube assisted emergency endoscopy for gastro-esophageal variceal hemorrhage

Objective To evaluate the wrapper tube in emergency endoscopy for gastro-esophageal variceal hemorrhage. Methods A total of 62 patients diagnosed as having gastro-esophageal variceal bleeding were enrolled as the treatment group to accept wrapper tube assisted emergency endoscopic sclerotherapy. The therapeutic effect was compared with another group of 62 patients who also had gastro-esophageal variceal hemorrhage while treated by conventional emergency endoscopic sclerotherapy （control group）. Results The rate of hemostasis with wrapper tube was 100%, which was significantly higher than that of the control group （80. 65%, P 〈0. 05）. The rate of gastro-esophageal varices remission after sclerotherapy in treatment group was 59.32%, which was also significantly higher than that of the control group （7. 25%, P 〈 0. 05 ）. The rates of chest pain, esophageal ulcer, length of hospitalization, and total medical cost in treatment group were significantly lower than those of control group （ P 〈 0. 05 ）. Conclusion Wrapper tube in emergency endoscopy for gastro-esophageal varices bleeding can improve therapeutic effect and relieve patients＇ economic burden. Key words: Esophageal and gastric varices Hemostasis, endoscopic Endoscopic wrapper

A histologically proven case of progressive liver sarcoidosis with variceal rupture

Sarcoidosis is a chronic multi-systemic granulomatous disease, and liver involvement frequently occurs. in most cases, no evidence of liver dysfunction is observed, and portal hypertension due to sarcoid liver diseases is a rareoccurrence. Moreover, no case of liver sarcoidosis has ever been reported with confirmation of the disease progression. Herein we describe a patient having hepatic sarcoidosis with severe portal hypertension and liver dysfunction. The diagnosis was histologically confirmed from granulomatous status to established liver cirrhosis over 10 years. A 46-year-old woman developed massive hematemesis due to the rupture of gastric cardial varices. She underwent emergency endoscopic injection sclerotherapy, and clear evidence of chronic hepatic failure. Twelve years ago, she was diagnosed as having sarcoidosis with respiratory clinicalsymptoms. Liver biopsy revealed asymptomatic incidental granulomas without fibrosis development. After a couple of years, features of liver dysfunction were manifest and progressed. Ten years after the first biopsy, a second liver biopsy was performed, and well established dense fibrosis was revealed. Although significant liver dysfunction with portal hypertension is rarely seen in sarcoidosis, this case indicates that we have to consider the possibility that sarcoidosis may cause end-stage liver cirrhosis.

Direct Costs of Care in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Endoscopic Sclerotherapy versus Emergency Portacaval Shunt for Bleeding Esophageal Varices in Cirrhosis—Part 4

BackgroundEmergency treatment of bleeding esophageal varices (BEV) in cirrhotic patients is of prime importance because of the high mortality rate surrounding the episode of acute bleeding. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of randomized controlled trials of emergency surgical therapy and no reports of the costs of any of the widely used forms of emergency treatment. The important issue of direct costs of care was examined in a randomized controlled trial that compared endoscopic sclerotherapy (EST) to emergency portacaval shunt (EPCS). MethodsTwo hundred eleven unselected consecutive patients with ultimately biopsy-proven cirrhosis and endoscopically proven acute BEV were randomized to EST (n = 106) or EPCS (n = 105). Diagnostic workup was completed, and EST or EPCS was initiated within 8 h. Criteria for failure of EST or EPCS were clearly defined, and crossover rescue treatment was applied, when primary therapy failed. Ninety-six percent of patients underwent more than 10 years follow-up, or until death. Complete charges for all aspects of care were obtained continuously for more than 10 years. ResultsDirect charges for all aspects of care were significantly lower in patients treated by EPCS than in patients treated by emergency EST followed by long-term repetitive sclerotherapy. Charges per patient, per year of treatment, and per year in each child’s risk class were significantly lower in patients randomized to EPCS. Charges in patients who failed endoscopic sclerotherapy and underwent a rescue portacaval shunt were significantly higher than the charges in both the unshunted sclerotherapy patients and the patients randomized to EPCS. This result was particularly noteworthy given the widespread practice of using surgical portacaval shunt as rescue treatment only when all other forms of therapy have failed. ConclusionsIn this randomized controlled trial of emergency treatment of acute BEV, EPCS was significantly superior to EST with regard to direct costs of care as reflected in charges for care as well as in survival rate, control of bleeding, and incidence of portal-systemic encephalopathy. These results provide support for the use of EPCS as a first line of emergency treatment of BEV in cirrhosis (clinicaltrials.gov #NCT00690027).

Early rebleeding and death at 6 weeks in alcoholic cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding treated with emergency endoscopic injection sclerotherapy.

This study evaluated the incidence of rebleeding and death at 6 weeks after a first episode of acute variceal haemorrhage (AVH) treated by emergency endoscopic sclerotherapy in a large cohort of alcoholic cirrhotic patients. From January 1984 to December 2006, 310 alcoholic cirrhotic patients (242 men, 68 women; mean age 51.7 years) with AVH underwent 786 endoscopic variceal injection treatments (342 emergency, 444 elective) during 919 endoscopy sessions in the first 6 weeks after the first variceal bleed. Endoscopic control of initial bleeding, variceal rebleeding and survival at 6 weeks were recorded. Endoscopic intervention controlled AVH in 304 of 310 patients (98.1%). Seventy-five patients (24.2%) rebled, 38 (12.3%) within 5 days and 37 (11.9%) within 6 weeks. No patient scored as Child-Pugh A died. Seventy-seven (24.8%) Child-Pugh B and C patients died, 29 (9.3%) within 5 days and 48 (15.4%) between 6 and 42 days. Mortality increased exponentially as the Child-Pugh score increased, reaching 80% when the score exceeded 13. Despite initial control of variceal haemorrhage, 1 in 4 patients (24.2%) rebled within 6 weeks. Survival at 6 weeks was 75.2% and was influenced by the severity of liver failure, with most deaths occurring in Child-Pugh grade C patients.

Randomized Trial of Emergency Endoscopic Sclerotherapy Versus Emergency Portacaval Shunt for Acutely Bleeding Esophageal Varices in Cirrhosis

The mortality rate of bleeding esophageal varices in cirrhosis is highest during the period of acute bleeding. This is a report of a randomized trial that compared endoscopic sclerotherapy (EST) with emergency portacaval shunt (EPCS) in cirrhotic patients with acute variceal hemorrhage. A total of 211 unselected consecutive patients with cirrhosis and acutely bleeding esophageal varices who required at least 2 U of blood transfusion were randomized to EST (n=106) or EPCS (n=105). Diagnostic workup was completed within 6 hours and EST or EPCS was initiated within 8 hours of initial contact. Longterm EST was performed according to a deliberate schedule. Ninety-six percent of patients underwent more than 10 years of followup, or until death. The percent of patients in Child's risk classes were A, 27.5; B, 45.0; and C, 27.5. EST achieved permanent control of bleeding in only 20% of patients; EPCS permanently controlled bleeding in every patient (p< or =0.001). Requirement for blood transfusions was greater in the EST group than in the EPCS patients. Compared with EST, survival after EPCS was significantly higher at all time intervals and in all Child's classes (p< or =0.001). Recurrent episodes of portal-systemic encephalopathy developed in 35% of EST patients and 15% of EPCS patients (p< or =0.01). EPCS permanently stopped variceal bleeding, rarely became occluded, was accomplished with a low incidence of portal-systemic encephalopathy, and compared with EST, produced greater longterm survival. The widespread practice of using surgical procedures mainly as salvage for failure of endoscopic therapy is not supported by the results of this trial (clinicaltrials.gov #NCT00690027).

Effect of emergency endoscopic ligation (EL) and sclerotherapy (ES) on portal pressure in cirrhotics with bleeding esophageal varices (BEV). A randomized single-blind study

Effect of emergency endoscopic ligation (EL) and sclerotherapy (ES) on portal pressure in cirrhotics with bleeding esophageal varices (BEV). A randomized single-blind study

Emergency endoscopy in patients with portal hypertension having upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

During the last 4 years, 147 patients suffering from portal hypertension with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding were subjected to emergency endoscopy soon after they were resuscitated. Seventeen (11.5%) patients were referred to us with a clinical diagnosis other than portal hypertension. The causes of bleeding as seen during endoscopy were: oesophageal varices (n = 130; 88%), gastric varices (n = 11), gastric ulcer (n = 2) portal hypertensive gastropathy (n = 2) and erosive gastritis and duodenal ulcer in one patient each. All patient bleeding from oesophageal varices except one underwent emergency endoscopic sclerotherapy. One hundred and twenty-one (94%) stopped bleeding immediately. Rebleeding was seen in 11% and was effectively controlled by a second session of sclerotherapy in all but one patient. Twenty (14%) patients died. It is concluded that emergency endoscopy has a definite role in the management of patients with portal hypertension complicated by gastrointestinal bleeding.

The effect of endoscopic sclerotherapy of esophageal varices on the development of gastric varices.

The effect of sclerotherapy of esophageal varices on the development of gastric varices is a controversial question. The aim of the present study was to evaluate prospectively the presence and development of gastric varices as a consequence of esophageal variceal sclerotherapy. We prospectively studied 227 patients, all of whom had liver cirrhosis at the time of the first bleeding episode due to esophageal varices. All patients were treated with emergency endoscopic sclerotherapy, and further courses of sclerotherapy to eradicate the varices were given at seven-day intervals for three sessions, and then every fifteen days until eradication was complete. At the time of inclusion in the study, patients were divided in two groups: group A, with initial gastric varices, and group B, without any gastric varices initially. Group A included 138 patients (60.8%), in 99 of whom (71.7%) disappearance of the gastric varices was observed. In 63 cases (63.6%) the varices were eliminated during the sclerotherapy treatment, before the eradication of esophageal varices; in 36 cases (36.4%), the gastric varices disappeared after the eradication of the esophageal varices. Group B included 89 patients (32.9%); in 78 of them (87.6%), no appearance of gastric varices was observed, while in 11 (12.4%), gastric varices appeared. From these data, it can be concluded that sclerotherapy of esophageal varices cannot be a determinant factor either for the appearance of gastric varices or for their subsequent risk of bleeding.

Mesocaval shunt or repeated sclerotherapy: Effects on rebleeding and encephalopathy — A randomized trial

Sclerotherapy is usually effective in controlling acutely bleeding esophageal varices. It may not be as effective as shunt surgery for prevention of rebleeding; therefore we undertook a prospective study comparing interposition mesocaval shunt (MCS) and repeated sclerotherapy. Forty-five patients (mean age, 52.6 +/- 9.8 years) with variceal bleeding were randomized after emergency endoscopic sclerotherapy either to repeat variceal obliteration followed by regular check endoscopy (n = 21) or to elective interposition mesocaval shunting by use of 14 mm polytetrafluoroethylene graft (n = 24). There was an equal distribution of Child's classes in the two groups. In the sclerotherapy group 12 patients had recurrent hemorrhages causing five deaths compared with the shunt group, in which four patients had postoperative bleeding but without associated death. No difference was noted in the incidence of encephalopathy despite the development of total shunting 1 year after MCS. The median hospital stay was similar; 34.5 days (MCS) and 33 days (sclerotherapy). The number of intensive care unit days was also similar in the two groups. No difference was noted in survival in patients with Child's A and Child's B disease in the treatment groups. In patients with Child's C cirrhosis there was a statistically significant longer survival in patients undergoing MCS compared with patients undergoing sclerotherapy. The results of the study show that the rate of rebleeding is significantly higher after sclerotherapy than after mesocaval shunting. In patients with Child's C cirrhosis MCS may be an alternative to sclerotherapy for the prevention of rebleeding from esophageal varices in patients not suitable for transplantation.

SCLEROTHERAPY PLUS OCTREOTIDE FOR BLEEDING VARICES.

At least one study has shown that the somatostatin analog octreotide and emergency endoscopic sclerotherapy have similar efficacy in treating bleeding esophageal varices (see Journal Watch accession number 930928002 …

Bacteremia and bacterascites after endoscopic sclerotherapy for bleeding esophageal varices and prevention by intravenous vefotaxime: A randomized trial

Thirty-one patients were randomized during 39 episodes of bleeding to receive either 1 g of intravenous cefotaxime (19 patients) or no antibiotic (20 patients) immediately before emergency endoscopic sclerotherapy. Blood was obtained for culture before and at 5 minutes, 4 hours, and 24 hours after the procedure. Specimens for culture were taken from the endoscope tip and channel, water bottle, and injection needle after sclerotherapy. When ascites was present (5 patients in the antibiotic group, 7 in the control group), fluid was obtained by paracentesis before endoscopy and at 4 and 24 hours. Bacteremia occurred in 1 of 19 patients in the antibiotic group (5.3%), compared with 6 of 19 in the control group (31.6%; p = .04). The cultured organisms were oral flora and usually also contaminated the endoscope and needle. No bacteria were cultured from ascitic fluid in any patient nor was the ascitic fluid white cell count elevated. Clinical infection attributable to sclerotherapy did not develop in any patient. In conclusion, the frequency of bacteremia after endoscopic sclerotherapy for bleeding esophageal varices can be reduced by prophylactic administration of intravenous cefotaxime. However, this may not be clinically relevant, given the absence of bacterascites and infection in this study. These findings do not support the routine use of antibiotics before sclerotherapy. (Gastronintest Endosc 1994;40:680-4.)

Comparative efficacy of emergency endoscopic sclerotherapy for active variceal bleeding due to cirrhosis of the liver, non‐cirrhotic portal fibrosis and extrahepatic portal venous obstruction

Patients with continued variceal bleeding due to portal hypertension (n = 202) were treated by endoscopic injection sclerotherapy after resuscitation. Portal hypertension was due to hepatic cirrhosis in 123, non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF) in 49 and extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHO) in 30 patients. Polidocanol 1% was injected intravariceally. An adequate sclerotherapy was carried out in 97% of patients. Immediate haemostasis was achieved in 177 (88%) patients. Rebleeding occurred in 31 (17.5%) of 177 patients. By reinjection of varices, definitive control of bleeding occurred in 160 (79%) patients. There was no significant difference in terms of immediate control of bleeding in patients with different aetiologies of portal hypertension and hepatic functional status (Child's grade). Rebleeding episodes were lower in patients with EHO than cirrhosis of the liver and NCPF. Similarly, the Child's status significantly influenced the recurrence of bleeding which was lower in Child's A than B and B than C. The in-hospital mortality was 18.6%. This was also significantly related to Child's status and aetiology of portal hypertension. Minor complications occurred in 10.4% of patients. It is concluded that endoscopic sclerotherapy as the first line of treatment is an effective and technically feasible procedure for the control of active variceal bleeding, regardless of the cause of portal hypertension. Furthermore, the results were influenced by the aetiology of portal hypertension and hepatic functional status.

Endoscopic Sclerotherapy of Esophageal Varices in Infants and Children

SummaryThirty children, aged 7 months to 13 years, with bleeding esophageal varices were managed by endo‐scopic sclerotherapy (EST). Of these children, 73.3% had extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO), 16.6% had cirrhosis of the liver, and 10% had noncirrhotic portal fibrosis. EST was done with fiberoptic pediatric upper gastrointestinal endoscopes and a flexible sclerotherapy needle under sedation with intravenous diazepam and pentazocine. The sclerosants used were ethoxysclerol 1% and absolute alcohol. Ten injections were given to control active variceal bleeding, and 145 injections were given on planned basis at 2–3‐week interval. An average of five injections was required to obliterate the esophageal varices. In 90% of cases, an avariceal state was achieved; 10% had decreased size and number of varices. Emergency EST was effective to control bleeding in all sessions. Complications, including retrosternal discomfort, esophageal ulceration, stricture formation, and aspiration pneumonia, occurred in 60, 20, 20, and 6.6% of cases, respectively; complications were managed conservatively. Strictures were dilated with Eder‐Puestow's olive dilators. Recurrence of esophageal varices, gastric varices, and rebleeding was seen in 13.3, 13.3, and 10% of cases, respectively. Shunt surgery was performed in 13.3% cases, who had developed gastric varices and were having EHPVO.