Abstract
In order to investigate the hemostatic effects of oral side balloon used for endoscopic injection sclerotherapy and its relation to existence of penetrating veins, we studied 29 patients with esophageal varices due to portal hypertension using color Doppler-endoscopic ultrasonography (CD-EUS). Blood flow in intramural esophageal varices disappeared in 27.6% (a disappearance group), reduced in 34.5% (a reduction group), and did not change in 37.9% (a no-change group) after inflation of the balloon. Penetrating veins were not detected in the disappearance group, but detected in 72.2% of the reduction and no change groups. The flow in penetrating veins directed from intramural to extramural varices in 54% after the balloon inflation. There was a significant difference in the extramural esophageal blood flow scores (defined using CD-EUS) between the disappearance group and the other two groups. There were no correlations in the intramural esophageal blood flow scores, endoscopic variceal findings, Child-Pugh grades of liver function and the existence of other collateral veins among three groups. It suggested that hemostatic effect of the balloon on intramural esophageal blood flow depends on the existence of penetrating veins and the amount of extramural esophageal variceal flow.
