Improved long-term survival following complete eradication of esophageal varices by sclerotherapy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

Conflicting results have been reported concerning the effect of endoscopic injection sclerotherapy upon the long-term survival of cirrhotic patients with esophageal varix. The recurrence and rebleeding of esophageal varices seems to be an important factor influencing long-term survival. We investigated the long-term survival of patients after complete eradication of esophageal varices.

METHODOLOGY:

Forty patients treated by endoscopic injection sclerotherapy for acute esophageal variceal bleeding were studied. The recurrence rate of varices and the long-term survival of patients in whom complete eradication of esophageal varices was obtained were compared with those of patients in whom the eradication of varices was incomplete.

RESULTS:

The frequency of the recurrence/deterioration rate of varices and rebleeding in the complete eradication group was significantly lower than that in the incomplete eradication group (10.7% vs. 100%, 0% vs. 58.3%, respectively, p < 0.01). Accumulated 5-year survival rate of the complete eradication group was significantly higher than that of the incomplete eradication group (68.2% vs. 43.2%, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

Complete eradication of esophageal varices by endoscopic injection sclerotherapy is effective both in preventing variceal re-bleeding and in improving the survival of cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices.

• Authors: H Matsumoto, F Suzuki, K Souda, H Kitahara, Y Kobayashi, T Kawasaki, K Nakao, M Matsumoto, K Iwata, Y Ohta, K Kanai
• Journal: Hepato-gastroenterology (Hepatogastroenterology) 1999 Jan-Feb Vol. 46 Issue 25 Pg. 172-6 ISSN: 0172-6390 [Print] Greece
• PMID: 10228784 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Esophageal and Gastric Varices (mortality, therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Recurrence
• Sclerotherapy
• Survival Analysis
• Treatment Outcome