Abstract
We introduced the endoscopic injection sclerothrapy (EIS) and the endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) to Japan as a less-invasive treatment for esophageal varices. Nowadays these techniques have been widely accepted as the first choice of the treatment. However, its safety and efficacy were not completely achieved yet. On the other hand, the use of endoscopic laser therapy has been limited to cases of acute variceal bleeding because of laser induced bleeding due to vaporization of surface tissue.
We developed ICG enhanced diode laser therapy as a prophylactic therapy for esophageal varices. In the experimental study, we investigated the effect on the esophageal wall from following points of view, it was possible 1. to irradiate waithout vaporization of surface tissue, 2. to coagulate mucosa and sumucosa where varices are located. 3. to protect laser beam from penetrating into muscle layer. Then we applied this technique in 11 cases with esophageal varices, and clinically its safety and efficacy were suggested. In this paper, we refered the process of developement of this new technique through the results of the experimental and clinical study.
