Abstract
Background: Current guidelines recommend beta-blockers for primary prevention of variceal haemorrhage in cirrhotic patients, and band ligation for patients with contraindications or intolerance to beta-blockers. However, it has been suggested that these patients may respond poorly to band ligation. Aim: We evaluated the usefulness of a strategy in which band ligation was used to treat patients with contraindications or intolerance and patients not responding to beta-blockers identified by hepatic vein pressure gradient measurement. Haemodynamic responders and patients refusing hepatic vein pressure gradient measurement were given long-term beta-blockers. Methods: One hundred and thirty-five consecutive patients with high-risk oesophageal varices and no prior bleeding were enrolled. Twenty-five patients with contraindications (group A), 26 with intolerance to beta-blockers (group B) and 25 showing a poor haemodynamic response (Group C) underwent band ligation. Twenty-two haemodynamic responders (Group D) and 37 refusing hepatic vein pressure gradient measurement (Group E) were treated with beta-blockers. Results: Median follow-up was 32 months. 12/135 patients (8.9%) bled: 3/25 (12%) in group A, 1/26 (3.8%) in group B, 0/25 (0%) in group C, 0/22 (0%) in group D and 8/37 (22.2%) in group E. Mortality was 8/135 (5.9%). Conclusions: Patients with contraindications, intolerance or not responding to beta-blockers treated with band ligation achieve protection from variceal bleeding comparable to that of good responders to beta-blockers.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 936-943 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Digestive and Liver Disease |
Volume | 40 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2008 |
Keywords
- Beta-blockers
- Endoscopic band ligation
- Hepatic vein pressure gradient
- Oesophageal varices
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Gastroenterology
- Hepatology