Abstract
Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) is easy and simple to treat esophageal varices. However, the varices treated by EVL often recur shortly after EVL. We review the history of 18 patients who survived for 10 years or longer among 237 patients who underwent EVL in our hospital until 2001.
Subjeet of this study is 16 patients (5 men and 11 women, mean age of 61.9 at the initial treatment) whose entire clinical course was fully preserved in our hospital.
Emergent EVL was performed in 2 patients, and remaining 14 received elective EVL. Of these, 10 patients underwent EVL alone, and remaing ones received other treatment concomitantly. Eight patients died after the 10 years observation period, and only one of them died of gastrointestinal bleeding.
Esophageal injection sclerotherapy (EIS) and other therapeutic modalities may be more preferable for a long term prevention of esophageal varices. Repeated EVL, however, can be also treatment of choice, because it does not require cumbersome examinations and techniques.
EVL, if repeated, can allow long term survival by preventing varices bleeding from esophageal.
