1995 Volume 37 Issue 4 Pages 711-719
Between October 1992 and July 1993, endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) was perfor-med in 12 patients with esophageal varices. we noticed certain problems with this therapy. The 12 subjects consisted of 11 males and 1 female. A mean age of the patients was 57.3. The therapy was performed as emergency in 3 cases, elective in 1 case, and prophylactic in 8 cases. Hepatic function prior to the procedurewas classified into the Child's A in 3 cases, B in 1 case and C in 8 cases. F factor remained F1 on E-C junction in 8 of 10 cases treated by EVL alone. Five cases had a past history of endoscopic injection sclerotherapy or esophageal transectian and bleeding occurring during EVL in 4 cases. As for prognosis, recurrent varices were foundin 3 of 8 follow-up cases, indicating a high frequency of the recurrence. In addition, we encountered a case developing gastric varices after EVL. As reported previously, EVL is an easy and safe procedure; but we must take these problems into consideration.
