Baveno VI criteria and spleen stiffness measurement rule out high-risk varices in virally suppressed HBV-related cirrhosis

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Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPSS) for variceal haemorrhage: initial results in 28 patients

Background: Endoscopic sclerotherapy is an effective form of treatment of bleeding varices in patients with cirrhosis. However, the mortality in patients who rebleed is high. Recently, trans-jugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPSS) has been developed as an alternative to surgical shunt formation in patients who have failed sclerotherapy.
Aim: To review the early experience with TIPSS at a teaching hospital.
Methods: Twenty-eight patients underwent TIPSS on 30 occasions between September 1991 and June 1993 for bleeding oesophageal or gastric varices. The majority had alcoholic liver disease.
Results: TIPSS was performed successfully in all patients. Immediate control of bleeding was achieved, but one patient rebled within 24 hours. Complications related to the procedure occurred in 30%, but no patient died from these. Thirty-day mortality was 11% (three of 28), two patients dying from progressive liver failure and one from sepsis. A further three patients died from six weeks to two months following TIPSS, due to liver failure in one, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in the second and in the third after a fall. This represents an overall mortality of 21%. Three patients have rebled at mean follow-up of 11.3 months. One of these had repeat TIPSS while the other two had balloon dilatation of the stent with control of bleeding. Four patients developed mild chronic encephalopathy which was readily controlled with medical therapy.
Conclusions: TIPSS is an effective means for control of bleeding from oesophageal and/or gastric varices not responding to other methods. Further follow-up is required with regard to rates of rebleeding, encephalopathy and survival.     

内镜下套扎与硬化夹心联合法治疗食管静脉曲张出血的研究

目的　了解套扎与硬化夹心联合法 (套扎 硬化 套扎 )能否获得优于单纯内镜下食管静脉曲张结扎 (EVL)的疗效。方法　对 98例肝硬化食管静脉曲张伴活动性出血或近期出血的患者随机采用单纯EVL或夹心法治疗 (EVL组 5 0例 ,夹心法组 4 8例 )。EVL组每条曲张静脉结扎皮圈不超过 3个 ,夹心法组每条曲张静脉结扎 2个皮圈 ,并在两个结扎点之间的曲张静脉内注射 1～ 3ml硬化剂。夹心法组 7例在首次内镜治疗时接受食管静脉造影检查。 7～ 10d重复 1次内镜治疗 ,直至静脉曲张消除。结果　 7例行静脉造影检查 ,其中 6例硬化剂在曲张静脉内滞留时间超过 4 5min。两种方法控制活动性食管静脉曲张出血 (EVB)的止血成功率相同 (10 0 .0 % ) ;两组间静脉曲张消除率相似 (夹心法组 93.8% ,EVL组 90 .2 % ,P >0 .0 5 ) ,但夹心法组一次治疗后静脉曲张消除率明显高于EVL组 (6 6 .7%比10 .0 % ,P <0 .0 0 1) ,达到消除的平均治疗次数明显减少 (1.2± 0 .4比 3.8± 1.5 ,P <0 .0 1) ,所需时间显著缩短 [(13.1± 4 .3)d比 (42 .5± 16 .7)d ,P <0 .0 1];与EVL组相比 ,夹心法组再出血率较低 (8.3%比2 8.0 % ,P <0 .0 5 ) ,随访期内静脉曲张复发率明显下降 (8.3%比 4 4 .0 % ,P <0 .0 0 5 ) ;两组间并发症发生率相似 (夹心法组 1     

The recent reduction in mortality from bleeding oesophageal varices is primarily observed from Days 1 to 5

Background: Several new treatments of bleeding oesophageal varices (BOV) have been introduced during the last 25 years; among these are vasoactive drugs, improved endoscopic techniques and prophylactic antibiotics. Aims: The aim was to compare clinical outcomes based on Baveno IV criteria in two patient‐cohorts (1983–1987, n=56 and 2000–2007, n=111) with respect to control of bleeding, rebleeding and mortality after a first episode of BOV. Further, we wanted to assess whether an eventual reduction in bleeding‐related mortality occurred within the first 5 days or between Days 6 and 42 after the bleeding episode. Methods: Data from medical records were collected, according to the Baveno IV criteria, on key events: type of treatment, failure to control bleeding, failure to prevent rebleeding, 5‐day and 6‐week mortality. Results: Six‐week mortality decreased from 30.4 to 17.1% [odds ratio (OR) 0.44; 0.21–0.95] with a reduction in 5‐day mortality from 17.9 to 6.3% (OR 0.31; 0.11–0.86). A non‐significant reduction was seen in the 5‐day failure rate to control bleeding from 35.7 to 26.1%. Mortality and failure to prevent rebleeding Days 6–42 decreased from 15.2 to 11.5% (NS) and 22.2 to 10.7% (NS) respectively. Mean length of hospital stay decreased from 14.6 ± 12.5 to 9.1 ± 9.0 days (P<0.01) and mean number of cumulated blood transfusions within the first 5 days decreased from 5.0 ± 4.8 to 3.6 ± 3.9 (P=0.05). Conclusions: In this retrospective study on individual patient records, we observed a decrease in mortality from BOV over the last 20 years, which seems mainly owing to a reduction in 5‐day mortality; mortality at Days 6–42 remained unaffected.     

内镜套扎术在治疗食管静脉曲张破裂出血中的临床应用价值

目的探讨内镜下食管静脉曲张套扎术（EVL）治疗和预防肝硬化患者食管静脉曲张破裂出血的临床应用价值。方法回顾性分析2008-01～2012-01该院142例肝硬化食管静脉曲张破裂出血患者,其中行EVL治疗74例（治疗组）,内科保守治疗68例（对照组）,并对其临床疗效进行随访观察。结果所有患者随访6个月以上,治疗组的早期再出血率、迟发出血率、曲张静脉好转率、复发率、手术率及病死率均低于对照组（P〈0.05或〈0.01）。结论 EVL能有效地降低肝硬化门脉高压患者食管静脉曲张的程度,降低再出血率、复发率、手术率和病死率,是一种有效的内镜治疗手段。     

Oesophageal motility and gastro-oesophageal reflux: Effect of variceal eradication by endoscopic sclerotherapy*

Endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) is known to produce oesophageal structural and motility changes; however, alterations in frequency and severity of gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER) following EIS have not been investigated in detail. We studied 22 patients with cirrhosis and oesophageal varices before EIS and 26 after variceal eradication with intravariceal EIS using manometry and 24 h pH monitoring. The post-EIS group had reduced oesophageal sphincter pressure (19.2 ± 11.4 vs 26.1 ± 16.4 mmHg, P < 0.05) and slower velocity of oesophageal peristalsis (2.47 ± 0.71 vs 3.06 ± 0.77 cm/s, P < 0.01) than the pre-EIS patients. There was no difference in the amplitude or duration of the contraction. Abnormal contraction wave-forms were observed more frequently in post-EIS than in the pre-EIS patients (3/22 vs 12/26, P < 0.05). Various quantitative parameters for GER were not increased in post-EIS compared with pre-EIS patients. Abnormal GER was present in nine of 21 pre-EIS and eight of 17 post-EIS patients (no significant difference). These results suggest that although persistent oesophageal motility changes are frequent after intravariceal EIS, these do not lead to a significant increase in GER.     

Treatment of refractory stomal variceal haemorrhage with embolisation and sclerosis

Stomal variceal bleeding is a rare but life‐threatening complication of cirrhosis. As it is an uncommon condition, there is little evidence on the optimum treatment. We report a case of parastomal variceal bleeding in a cirrhotic and haemodynamically unstable patient. The bleeding had failed to respond to local therapy and was not amenable to transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting. The varix was successfully treated under radiological guidance embolisation in conjunction with Fibrovein (STD Pharmaceuticals, UK) sclerosis. We propose that Fibrovein sclerosis through angiography should be considered as an initial treatment option in patients with parastomal variceal bleeding who are not candidates for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting.     

Historical overview and review of current day treatment in the management of acute variceal haemorrhage

Variceal haemorrhage is one of the most devastating consequences of portal hypertension,with a 1-year mortality of 40%.With the passage of time,acute management strategies have developed with improved survival.The major historical treatment landmarks in the management of variceal haemorrhage can be divided into surgical,medical,endoscopic and radiological breakthroughs.We sought to provide a historical overview of the management of variceal haemorrhage and how treatment modalities over time have impacted on clinical outcomes.A PubMed search of the following terms:portal hypertension,variceal haemorrhage,gastric varices,oesophageal varices,transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt was performed.To complement this,Google?was searched with the aforementioned terms.Other relevant references were identified after review of the reference lists of articles.The review of therapeutic advances was conducted divided into pre-1970s,1970/80s,1990s,2000-2010 and post-2010.Also,a summary and review on the pathophysiology of portal hypertension and clinical outcomes in variceal haemorrhage was performed.Aided by the development of endoscopic therapies,medication and improved radiological interventions;the management of variceal haemorrhage has changed over recent de-cades with improved survival from an often-terminating event in recent past.     

Comparison of modified percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization and endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection for gastric variceal rebleeding

AIM:To compare the efficacy of modified percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization(PTVE)with 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate(2-OCA)and endoscopic variceal obturation(EVO)with an injection of 2-OCA for prophylaxis of gastric variceal rebleeding. METHODS:In this retrospective study,the medical records of liver cirrhosis patients with gastric variceal bleeding who underwent either endoscopic 2-OCA(EVO) or modified PTVE using 2-OCA at Shandong Provincial Hospital from January 2006 to December 2008 were reviewed.Patient demographics,rebleeding rate,survival rate,and complications were compared between the two groups(PTVE and EVO).All results were expressed as mean±SD,or as a percentage.Quantitative variables were compared by two sample Student t tests, and qualitative variables were compared by the Fisher exact test or theχ 2 test(with Yates correction)where appropriate.A P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.Statistical computation was performed using SPSS 13.0 software. RESULTS:A total of 77 patients were included;45 patients who underwent EVO and 32 patients who received PTVE.During the follow-up(19.78±7.70 mo in the EVO group,vs 21.53±8.56 mo in the PTVE group) rebleeding occurred in 17 patients in the EVO group and in 4 patients in the PTVE group(37.78%vs 12.5%, P=0.028).The cumulative rebleeding-free rate was 75%,59%,and 49%in 1,2,and 3 years respectively for EVO,and 93%,84%,and 84%for PTVE(P=0.011). Cox analysis was used to identify independent factors that predicted rebleeding after treatment.Variables including age,gender,cause,Child-Pugh classification, size of gastric varices(GV),location of GV,and treatment methods were analyzed.It was revealed that Child-Pugh classification[risk ratio(RR)2.10,95%CI:1.03-4.28,P=0.040],choice of treatment(RR 0.25, 95%CI:0.08-0.80,P=0.019),and size of GV(RR 2.14, 95%CI:1.07-4.28,P=0.032)were the independent factors for predicting rebleeding.Follow-up computed tomography revealed that cyanoacrylate was retained in the varices and in the feeding veins of PTVE patie     

内镜下组织粘合剂注射联合套扎治疗食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血的疗效观察

目的评价急诊内镜下组织粘合剂（α-氰丙烯酸烷基脂）注射联合套扎治疗食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血的临床疗效。方法2008年1月至2009年1月间21例食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血患者接受急诊内镜下胃底曲张静脉组织粘合剂注射联合食管曲张静脉套扎（EVL）治疗,对其治疗疗效进行回顾性分析。结果21例患者的急诊止血有效率达95％（20／21）,未出现严重并发症。结论急诊内镜下组织粘合剂注射联合套扎治疗食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血,止血疗效确切,并发症发生率低,值得推广。     

Control of colonic variceal haemorrhage with a somatostatin analogue

A 64 year old caucasian male with known alcoholic liver disease presented with rectal bleeding. The patient bled repeatedly despite resuscitation. A sigmoid colectomy was performed following an angiogram. Large colonic, rectal and mesenteric variceal vessels were noted at surgery. Further bleeding postoperatively was rapidly controlled with octreotide infusion. Octreotide may be as useful in the control of colonic variceal bleeding as it is in the control of oesophageal variceal bleeding.     

Oesophageal varices in cirrhotic patients: from variceal screening to primary prophylaxis of the first oesophageal variceal bleeding

Bleeding from oesophageal varices is still a lethal complication in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension. Approximately 5–10% of patients with cirrhosis will develop oesophageal varices per year, and about 25–30% of cirrhotic patients with oesophageal varices and without previous variceal haemorrhage will bleed from ruptured varices. To date, data on preventing the formation/growth of oesophageal varices (preprimary prophylaxis) are conflicting, with insufficient evidence to use β‐blockers. There is evidence for the need for primary prophylaxis, and both β‐blockers and endoscopic variceal ligation have shown the same efficacy in preventing first bleeding, but which one to prefer is still controversial. The present article reviews the established and potential therapeutic strategies for preventing the development and rupture of oesophageal varices.     

内镜下食管静脉曲张结扎术后早期再出血的危险因素分析

目的明确内镜下食管静脉曲张结扎术（EVL）后早期再出血率并分析其危险因素。方法总结1992年至2002年问593例肝硬化和（或）肝癌患者单纯EVL治疗的资料，统计接受EVL治疗者的性别、年龄、合并疾患、肝硬化原因、是否患肝癌、分流、断流及脾切除术史、入院前后临床表现、实验室检查结果、影像学结果、胃镜结果、药物治疗情况等因素对术后早期再出血发生率和患者预后的影响，寻找独立危险因素。结果曲张静脉根数、空腹血糖、凝血酶原时间、血甲胎蛋白正常与否为EVL术后早期再出血的独立危险因素，P值分别为0．015，0．026，0．014，0．026。随曲张静脉根数的增加（≥4根），空腹血糖（〉7．0mmol／L）和血甲胎蛋白升高，凝血酶原活动度降低（〈50％），EVL术后早期再出血的可能性增加，OR值分别为3．120，4．800，0．283，4．328，95％CI分别为1．324～7．335，1，662～8．775，0．103～0．708，1．349～13．883。结论曲张静脉根数、空腹血糖、凝血酶原时间、血甲胎蛋白正常与否影响EVL术后早期出血，EVL术前应予积极的治疗及预防。     

非侵入性检测指标与食管静脉曲张套扎术后2周内再次出血的关系研究

目的研究非侵入性检测指标与食管静脉曲张套扎术后2周内再次出血的关系。方法回顾性分析自2004年1月至2008年6月行食管静脉曲张套扎治疗患者的临床资料．并进行统计学分析。结果出血组与对照组患者的性别、年龄、Child-pugh分级无统计学差异．肝硬化、肝硬化合并肝癌、肝硬化合并肝癌及门静脉栓子病例所占百分比两组无差别。人院时两组患者腹水、肝性脑病、休克的发生率、血红蛋白、血清白蛋白的平均值相比无统计学差异。出血组血清总胆红素（59．51±40．87μmol／L）、门静脉直径（12．00±1．64mm）均高于对照组（分别为40．90±33．78μmol／L、11．37±1．06mm）,但尚无统计学意义。出血组中肝硬化伴门静脉栓子、既往有食管静脉曲张出血史及有糖尿病史的病例数明显高于对照组（P=0．020,P=0．037,P=0．020）。出血组患者血小板计数的平均值（76．43±18．47）明显低于对照组（89．03±21．75）（P=0．019）,而出血组凝血酶原时间的平均值（19．15±3．23s）则明显高于对照组（17．14±2．94S）（P=0．015）。对具有统计学意义的检测指标进行多变量Logistic回归分析,结果表明凝血酶原时间和既往有糖尿病史是食管静脉曲张套扎治疗后2周内再次出血的独立危险因素,OR值分别为0．808（95％CI：0．659—0．977）和0．172（95％CI：0．032—0．927）。结论凝血酶原时间延长和糖尿病史是食管静脉曲张套扎治疗术后2周内再次出血的独立危险因素。     

肝硬化食管胃底静脉曲张出血患者预防性抗菌治疗的前瞻性研究

目的前瞻性研究肝硬化曲张静脉破裂出血时,预防性应用抗生素对于止血、降低早期再出血率及减少院内感染的意义。方法 168例肝硬化曲张静脉破裂出血患者被随机分为抗生素预防治疗组87例和非预防组81例。结果抗菌组与非抗菌组比,平均出血停止时间(16.7±13.6h/22.1±17.4h)、再出血发生率(8.1%/22.2%)、平均输血量(583.3±326.7ml/735.3±560.2ml)、院内感染发生率(13.8%/65.4%)、平均住院天数(11.5±4.3d/13.0±5.4d)、平均医疗费用(13807.0±3293.4元/15910.9±4632.2元)均明显缩短或减少;抗菌组病死率(4.6%)与非抗菌组(8.6%)比,无统计学差别。结论预防性应用抗生素治疗肝硬化食管胃静脉曲张出血患者可明显获益。     

Original research: One-stop shop for variceal surveillance: integration of unsedated ultrathin endoscopy into the routine clinic visit

BackgroundThe endoscopic appearance of oesophageal varices determines the need for prophylaxis. However, as the point prevalence of varices is low (25%), the majority of surveillance endoscopies are unnecessary and costly. Narrow diameter, ultrathin (UT) endoscopes are more tolerable than conventional upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopes and can be used without sedation. We hypothesised that unsedated UT endoscopy for variceal surveillance could be implemented during the routine outpatient clinic visit allowing accurate diagnosis of varices and the timely provision of prophylaxis.MethodsPatients with cirrhosis awaiting surveillance endoscopy were identified. UT endoscopy was scheduled during routine clinic review at the same time as ultrasound surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma. UGI endoscopy was performed unsedated using the E.G Scan II disposable endoscope. Varices were graded using the modified Paquet classification. Video recordings of procedures were reviewed by blinded assessors and agreement was assessed using the kappa statistic.Results40 patients (80% male) underwent unsedated UT endoscopy. All procedures were successful and tolerated well in 98% of cases. Median procedure time was 2 min (IQR 1–3). Varices were found in 37.5% (17.5% grade 1 and 20% grade 2). Patients with grade 2 varices were prescribed non-selective beta blockers at the clinic appointment. Kappa statistic for the finding of any varices was 0.636 (p=0.001) and 0.8–1.0 for diagnosis of grade 2 varices (p<0.0001).ConclusionsOutpatient unsedated ultrathin endoscopy in patients with cirrhosis is accurate, safe and feasible. This integrative care model is convenient, particularly for regional communities, and is likely to result in significant cost savings associated with variceal surveillance.     

Mortality and rebleeding following Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Stent Shunt for variceal haemorrhage

The present study investigates clinical factors associated with decreased survival following Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Stent Shunt (TIPSS). Sixty-seven patients underwent TIPSS for bleeding related to portal hypertension, 42 (63%) on an urgent basis. TIPSS was successfully placed in 65 (97%) patients with no fatal procedural complications. Thirty day mortality was 21%, there being several predictive factors: transfer from another institution, urgency of procedure, sepsis, encephalopathy, higher mean serum bilirubin and low serum albumin. However, using regression analysis, 30 day mortality was predicted independently only by severe liver disease (Child-Pugh C, P= 0.003) and older age (P= 0.003). When stratified by Child-Pugh class, cumulative survival rates at 1 year for class A, B and C were 100, 90 and 34%, respectively. Only three of 25 patient deaths were due to variceal rebleeding. Thirty (46%) patients had a total of 41 rebleeding episodes, with mean time to first rebleed of 4.8 months (range, 3 days-38 months). Cumulative rebleeding rate at 1 year was 25%. Log-rank analysis did not reveal a significant difference in overall survival between rebleeders and non-rebleeders (P= 0.125). When investigated, shunt abnormalities (stenosis, occlusion) were identified in all cases of rebleeding. Our findings confirm TIPSS can be safe and effective in the control of refractory variceal haemorrhage. However, prognosis remains poor for patients with advanced liver disease, particularly if older and in the emergency setting. Vigilant surveillance and high rate of intervention is necessary to maintain shunt patency. Consideration could be given to elective shunt surgery instead of TIPSS for patients with recurrent bleeding and good prognosis liver disease.     

New methods for the management of gastric varices

INTRODUCTION Bleeding from esophageal varices (EVs) or gastric varices (GVs) is a catastrophic complication of chronic liver disease. Bleeding from GVs is generally thought to be more severe than bleeding from EVs[1], but it occursless frequently[2-4]. Though many recent developments have improved the outcome of treatments for GVs, no consensus has been reached on the optimum treatment. In this paper we review the pathomorphology, hemodynamics, risk factors for bleeding, and treatment…