Open AccessEndoscopic management of esophageal varices
Author(s) -
Joaquín Poza Cordón,
Consuelo Froilán Torres,
Aurora Burgos García,
Francisco Gea Rodríguez,
José Manuel Suárez de Parga
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
world journal of gastrointestinal endoscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1948-5190
DOI - 10.4253/wjge.v4.i7.312
Subject(s) - medicine , varices , ligation , sclerotherapy , esophageal varices , varix , gastric varices , cirrhosis , surgery , radiology , portal hypertension , gastroenterology
The rupture of gastric varices results in variceal hemorrhage, which is one the most lethal complications of cirrhosis. Endoscopic therapies for varices aim to reduce variceal wall tension by obliteration of the varix. The two principal methods available for esophageal varices are endoscopic sclerotherapy (EST) and band ligation (EBL). The advantages of EST are that it is cheap and easy to use, and the injection catheter fits through the working channel of a diagnostic gastroscope. Endoscopic variceal ligation obliterates varices by causing mechanical strangulation with rubber bands. The following review aims to describe the utility of EBL and EST in different situations, such as acute bleeding, primary and secondary prophylaxis.