2021 Volume 27 Issue 1 Pages 50-57
Long-term outcome of patients receiving endoscopic injection sclerotherapy combined with ligation (EISL) for esophageal varices was evaluated. One hundred three patients receiving EISL monotherapy were enrolled, and endoscopic recurrence rates defined as positive red-color sign (RCS) and/or large varices formation, hemorrhage recurrence rate, complications and hospital stay duration were compared between patients aged 65 years old or more and the remaining patients. Factors contributing both endoscopic and hemorrhage recurrence were also examined. The endoscopic recurrence rates define as positive RCS and large varices formation were 62% and 26%, respectively, and the hemorrhagic recurrence rate was 19.2%. Baseline positive RCS was a factor contributing endoscopic recurrence defined as positive RCS following EISL therapy. Female was a factor associated with the endoscopic recurrence defined as large varices formation. Factors contributing hemorrhagic recurrence were female and RCS recurrence. No serious adverse events were observed, and the average hospital stay duration (±SD) was 16.3 days (±6). No difference was observed between the elderly and non-elderly patients in each evaluation. Although endoscopic and hemorrhage recurrence occurred frequently after EISL monotherapy, EISL monotherapy merits consideration especially for patients with esophageal varices negative for RCS at baseline.
