Abstract
Eradicative ligation therapy, which involves an average of applying 40 0-rings, rather than sclerotherapy, has been used at our institution for the treatment of esophageal varices. To investigate the effectiveness of eradicative ligation therapy, we studied changes in endoscopic findings, in terms of the F factor and RC factor, changes in percutaneous transhepatic portographic (PTP) appearances of the left gastric vein (LGV), posterior gastric vein (PGV), cardiac plexus, Sudare like vein, esophageal varices or paraesophagral veins, as well as changes in the endoscopic ultrasonographic (EUS) appearances of the esophageal varices and paraesophageal veins in 15 previously untreated patients with esophageal varices who had undergone eradicative ligation therapy. Changes in endoscopic appearances before and after the therapy as evaluated by the F factor and RC factor, were statistically significant (p<0.01). Changes in the PTP apperances of the LGV were significant (P<0.01), while those of the PGV were not significant. Chanes in the PTP appearances of the cardiac plexus (P<0.01), Sudare like veins, esophageal varices and of the paraesophageal veins were also significant. Changes in the EUS appearances of the esophageal varices were statistically significant, while those of the paraesophageal veins were not significant. It was noted that eradicative ligation therapy decreased the inflow of the blood into the esophageal varices through the cardiac plexus, Sudare like vein and LGV, although the procedure did not influence the inflow through the PGV or the outflow of blood through the paraesophageal veins.
