Complications of endoscopic variceal therapy.

Bleeding from oesophageal varices is the most serious complication of portal hypertension and is the leading cause of cirrhosis-related deaths.1-3 One-quarter of cirrhotic patients who present with a first major variceal bleed die as a consequence of the bleed.3 After control of the index bleed, there is a 70% chance of rebleeding with a similar mortality. 4-6 Survival after variceal bleeding depends largely on the rapidity and efficacy of control of the initial bleed, the presence and severity of underlying liver disease, and hepaticfunctional reserve. South African Journal of Surgery Vol. 43 (4) 2005: pp. 176-194