Effect of esophageal variceal sclerotherapy on hemorrhoids, anorectal varices and portal colopathy

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic sclerotherapy (EST) results in an increase in the prevalence of portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG). However, the effects of sclerotherapy on hemorrhoids, anorectal or colonic varices and portal hypertensive colopathy are not known. The aim of this study was to investigate these effects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 39 patients with portal hypertension were studied. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and full-length colonoscopy were carried out before the patients underwent EST for esophageal varices, and after obliteration of the varices following sclerotherapy. RESULTS: The obliteration of esophageal varices by EST did not significantly affect the prevalence of hemorrhoids (32 % before and after), anorectal varices (45% before and after) or portal hypertensive colopathy (60.5 % before and 66 % after, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Obliteration of esophageal varices does not affect the prevalence of hemorrhoids, anorectal varices, or portal hypertensive colopathy.     

Colonic changes in patients with cirrhosis and in patients with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Figures for the prevalence of anorectal varices and portal hypertensive colopathy have varied considerably in the available studies of patients with cirrhosis, and few studies have observed these changes in patients with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO). Our aim was to investigate the colonic changes, if any, in patients with EHPVO and to compare them with those seen in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 50 patients with cirrhosis and 35 patients with EHPVO, all of whom had a history of at least one episode of bleeding from esophageal varices, underwent both upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy. RESULTS: Anorectal varices were seen more commonly in patients with EHPVO than in patients with cirrhosis (63 % vs. 38 %, P < 0.03). Of the patients with anorectal varices, large anorectal varices were also more common in patients with EHPVO than in patients with cirrhosis (73 % vs. 32 %, P < 0.01). Colopathy was noted in 40 % of patients with EHPVO and in 62 % of patients with cirrhosis (P < 0.05). Of the patients with EHPVO, colopathy was noted in 27 % of patients who also had anorectal varices and in 61.5 % of patients without anorectal varices (P < 0.05). Similarly, patients with both cirrhosis and anorectal varices were found to have a lower prevalence of colopathy than cirrhotic patients without anorectal varices (42 % vs. 74 %, P < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Anorectal varices are more common in patients with EHPVO, while portal hypertensive colopathy is more common in patients with cirrhosis. Large anorectal varices are also more common in patients with EHPVO than in patients with cirrhosis and there is an inverse relationship between anorectal varices and colopathy in both cirrhotic patients and patients with EHPVO.     

Clinical relevance of colonic lesions in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: This prospective study was conducted in order to evaluate whether the colonic lesions previously described in cirrhotic patients may be of clinical relevance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-five patients with cirrhosis of the liver, but without colonic or systemic diseases unrelated to the liver disease, underwent colonoscopy and were followed up for at least 2 years. RESULTS: Colonic varices were observed in 31 % of the patients, portal hypertensive colopathy (PHC; defined as diffuse hyperemia, edema, spider angiomas, and spontaneous bleeding of the colonic mucosa) in 54 %, and normal colonic findings in 18 %. Colonic varices and PHC were present simultaneously in 27 % of the patients. Previous sclerotherapy or band ligation treatment for esophageal varices had been carried out in 27 % and 23 % of the patients, respectively. Portal hypertensive gastropathy was observed in 42 % of the patients. Polyps were found in 12 % of the cirrhotic patients and cancer in 3 %. All of the patients were followed up for at least 2 years; 34 % of them developed upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (81 % from esophageal varices, 19 % from the stomach), while only 6 % developed lower gastrointestinal bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Colonic lesions are frequent in cirrhotic patients, but statistical analysis showed that these lesions are not specific for the disease and do not correlate with the etiology and degree of cirrhosis, with the endoscopic treatment of esophageal varices, or with the risk of bleeding from the lower gastrointestinal tract.     

肝硬化食管胃静脉曲张破裂出血与再出血危险性预测的研究进展

肝硬化食管静脉曲张破裂出血与再出血危险性预测有门静脉高压、食管胃静脉曲张出血史、瞬时弹性成像术、多层螺旋CT成像、肝硬化脾肝体积比、内镜下食管静脉曲张套扎术后、内镜治疗后随访的顺应性、血清腹水白蛋白梯度、血小板计数进行性下降、出血的控制时间、细菌感染和病毒复制。本文就这些方面作一综述。     

Endoscopic gastrointestinal manifestations of liver disease

Esophageal and gastric varices are common manifestations of advanced chronic liver disease, but other endoscopic gastrointestinal manifestations of portal hypertension may occur. In the upper gastrointestinal tract, portal hypertensive gastropathy, particularly when severe, and gastric antral vascular ectasias are important alternative causes of gastrointestinal bleeding. Portal hypertensive enteropathy is an uncommon source of gastrointestinal bleeding, and its overall clinical significance remains unknown. In the lower gastrointestinal tract, portal hypertension may be associated with hemorrhoids, anorectal varices, and portal hypertensive colopathy, all of which are occasional causes of gastrointestinal bleeding.     

Variceal bleeding and portal hypertension: much to learn, much to explore

The newer diagnostic and therapeutic options continue to evolve and important developments have been made in the field of variceal bleeding and portal hypertension. A meeting was held at Baveno to update consensus on different terminologies in relation to portal hypertension. beta-blockers continue to be the mainstay for primary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding, and endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) is fast emerging as a strong contender. The role of vasoactive drugs in the management of variceal bleeding was assessed. Octreotide and terlipressin were shown to be as effective as sclerotherapy in achieving initial hemostasis, and octreotide was shown to be safe and efficacious in the prevention of rebleeding. EVL was superior to endoscopic sclerotherapy (EST) for obliteration of esophageal varices. Sequential and simultaneous ligation and sclerotherapy were more effective than ligation alone, in reducing the recurrence rate after variceal obliteration. For gastric varices, cyanoacrylate glue continues to be the first line of treatment, and band ligation is being assessed further. Bleeding ectopic varices were dealt by appropriate endoscopic means. Endosonography has developed strongly in the assessment of variceal eradication and prediction of variceal recurrence. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting (TIPS) significantly reduces rebleeding rates compared to EVL.     

Clinical evaluation of combined endoscopic variceal ligation and sclerotherapy of gastric varices in liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) using cyanoacrylate and balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) are the main procedures used to treat gastric varices. However, neither technique is free of problems. EIS for gastric varices may cause embolism in other organs; B-RTO requires a gastrorenal shunt and may aggravate esophageal varices. We have developed a combined form of endoscopic therapy involving band ligation and sclerotherapy which is an effective and safe procedure for treating gastric varices. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-six patients with gastric varices and liver cirrhosis were treated at Almeida Memorial Hospital from June 1997 to May 2002 using the combined procedure. Each gastric varix was tightly ligated with O-rings, and 1 % polidocanol was injected into the submucosa around the ligated varix. If necessary, additional sclerotherapy was carried out after the initial treatment. RESULTS: The rate of hemostasis for variceal bleeding was 100 %, and no critical complications were noted. Complete disappearance of the gastric varices was observed endoscopically in all cases. Computed tomography showed that collateral vessels outside the gastric wall were not occluded by the treatment. Endoscopic follow-up examinations were carried out, and gastric varices recurred in seven patients (12.5 %). Only two of the patients (3.6 %) had a small amount of oozing bleeding. Additional endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) and/or EIS were performed in these seven cases, and none of the patients died as a result of a bleeding gastric varix. CONCLUSIONS: The combined procedure was easily performed immediately after endoscopic examination, and required no special apparatus. It was found to be a safe and effective method of treating gastric varices.     

肝硬化食管静脉曲张内镜下皮圈结扎术对门静脉高压性胃病的影响及研究

目的: 分析肝硬化食管静脉曲张内镜下皮圈结扎术（endoscopic varix ligation,EVL）对门静脉高压性胃病（portal hypertensive gastropathy,PHG）的影响。方法: 回顾性分析63例肝硬化PHG患者,其中35例食管静脉曲张行EVL术治疗者为治疗组,28例未行内镜下治疗者为对照组。8周后复查胃镜,观察患者有无PHG加重改变。结果: EVL治疗组中发生PHG加重变者占74.28%（26/35）,对照组中发生PHG加重变者占10.71%（3/28）。经χ²检验,两者间差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论: 食管静脉曲张的EVL治疗可能是PHG发生和加重的重要危险因素。     

肝硬化静脉曲张套扎及硬化术后近期不良预后危险因素

目的：探讨肝硬化静脉曲张套扎及硬化术后不良预后的危险因素。方法收集天津医科大学总医院内镜中心行内镜下食管胃底静脉曲张套扎术（endoscopic variceal ligation,EVL）和硬化术（endoscopic injection sclerotherapy,EIS）治疗患者142例,对其性别、年龄、肝硬化病因、是否合并糖尿病、动脉粥样硬化及脾切除术史以及术前实验室检查、影像学检查、内镜下治疗方式等因素进行统计分析。结果肝硬化食管胃底静脉曲张 EVL、EIS治疗不良预后的发生率为22．5％（32／142）,病死率2．1％（3／142）,存在不良预后因素者病死率高达9．4％（3／32）。其中术后早期出血率11．3％（16／142）,术后感染率9．2％（13／142）。Child-Pugh分级、治疗方式、门静脉血栓、腹水程度、术前胆红素水平与治疗后预后不良相关（均P＜0．05）,Child分级及门静脉血栓是内镜下治疗后预后不良的独立危险因素,OR值分别为4．006,14．06,95％CI 分别为1．742～9．215,3．527～56．113。结论 Child-Pugh分级、治疗方式、门静脉血栓、腹水程度、术前胆红素水平是食管胃底静脉曲张内镜下治疗预后的相关因素,门静脉血栓、Child-Pugh分级是食管胃底静脉曲张内镜下治疗预后不良的独立危险因素,行 EVL和 EIS治疗前应严格掌握适应证,术后密切监测并积极预防。     

内镜下套扎术联合药物治疗食管静脉曲张出血的疗效观察

目的观察内镜下食管静脉曲张套扎术联合药物治疗肝硬化食管静脉曲张出血的临床疗效。方法回顾性分析2007年2月-2010年8月56例确诊为肝硬化食管静脉曲张出血患者,随机分为联合治疗组和对照组,各28例。对照组行胃镜下套扎术联合生长抑素、泮托拉唑;联合治疗组行内镜下套扎术联合生长抑素、泮托拉唑、普萘洛尔等药物治疗。观察所有食管静脉曲张出血患者1、3、6、12、18个月后随访,两组近期再出血率、食管曲张静脉消失率及复发率、不良反应及并发症的情况。结果联合治疗组曲张静脉消失率、不良反应及并发症与对照组比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);联合治疗组近期再出血及食管静脉曲张复发等发生率明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论食管静脉曲张套扎术联合药物是治疗食管静脉曲张出血一种安全有效的方法,疗效确切,提高了患者生存率。     

Evaluation of endosonography in sclerotherapy of esophageal varices.

During intravariceal sclerotherapy of esophageal varices with polidocanol in 32 patients with portal hypertension due to liver cirrhosis of various etiologies, endosonographic assessment of both esophageal and gastric intramural vessels was carried out in order to evaluate the usefulness of endosonography in the follow-up of the variceal status. In all cases endosonography demonstrated esophageal and gastric varices; in contrast, only five cases of gastric varices could be demonstrated by endoscopy. Furthermore, different stages of variceal obliteration following sclerotherapy could be demonstrated by means of endosonography, and it was possible to identify incomplete obliteration in about one-third of the patients in whom inadequate sclerotherapy was suspected endoscopically. In addition, the status of gastric varices during sclerotherapy was demonstrated by means of endosonography. Only in cases of adequate sclerotherapy of esophageal varices, as assessed by both endoscopic and endosonographic criteria, were gastric varices plugged. On the basis of these findings endosonography would appear to be a useful technique for the diagnosis and follow-up of esophageal and gastric varices during intravariceal sclerotherapy.     

肝硬化食管静脉曲张出血20例围术期心理干预效果观察

目的:探讨对肝硬化食管静脉曲张出血患者行改良三腔二囊管(BT)止血与内镜下食管胃底静脉套扎术(EVL)围术期心理干预的方法及临床效果。方法:将40例肝硬化食管静脉曲张出血患者随机分为观察组与对照组各20例。对照组按传统方法置管,并给予常规围术期护理;观察组行改良BT置管,并在常规围术期护理基础上加强心理干预。结果:观察组BT止血所需置管时间少于对照组(P<0.01),不良反应发生率低于对照组(P<0.05),一次置管成功率高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:对肝硬化食管静脉曲张出血患者行改良BT止血与EVL术,加强围术期心理干预,可消除其紧张心理,缩短置管时间,减轻不良反应,提高一次置管成功率,促进康复。     

Portal vein thrombosis after variceal endoscopic sclerotherapy in cirrhotic patients: role of genetic thrombophilia

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Portal vein thrombosis is a rare event in patients with liver cirrhosis in the absence of a related neoplasm. Endoscopic sclerotherapy of esophageal varices has been anecdotally associated with the development of portal vein thrombosis. We tested the hypothesis that genetic thrombophilia plays a role in the development of portal vein thrombosis in patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing endoscopic sclerotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From June 1998 to December 1999, 61 consecutive patients underwent multiple sessions of endoscopic sclerotherapy for bleeding esophageal varices. Doppler ultrasound of the portal vein was performed before sclerotherapy and every 3 months thereafter. Antiphospholipid antibodies, factor V Leiden (FVL) mutation, prothrombin mutation G20210A (PTHRA20210) and mutation TT677 of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR C677T) were evaluated in all patients. RESULTS: Portal vein thrombosis developed in 16 % of the patients (10 of 61) after a mean follow-up period of 16 months. A genetic cause for thrombosis was found in 70 % of patients with liver cirrhosis who developed portal vein occlusion, but only in 8 % of patients without this complication. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic sclerotherapy of esophageal varices may represent a trigger factor for portal vein thrombosis in cirrhotic patients with genetic thrombophilia.     

内镜序贯治疗肝硬化食管胃底静脉曲张的疗效分析

目的评价内镜序贯治疗肝硬化食管胃底静脉曲张的临床效果。方法回顾性分析经内镜序贯治疗的193例肝硬化食管胃底静脉曲张患者,采取规范的一级、二级预防,依据静脉曲张分型、分级采用不同内镜治疗方法,按时间节点定期随访序贯治疗,总结评估内镜治疗时机、方法合理性及短期、长期疗效。结果 193例患者胃镜下见食管静脉曲张186例,合并胃底静脉曲张103例,近贲门部胃底静脉曲张4例,IGV1型3例。行食管静脉曲张套扎(EVL)178例,贲门部套扎5例,胃底密集套扎(DEVL)9例,胃底组织胶注射96例,食管套扎点平均7.12环;胃底套扎7～14环,组织胶注射1.0～5.0 ml;平均治疗食管2.68次、胃底1.07次。第1次内镜治疗后静脉曲张消除51例(26.42%)、缓解140例(72.54%)、无效2例(1.04%),治疗有效率为98.96%;1个月后再行治疗,静脉曲张消除113例(58.55%),缓解28例(14.51%),无效1例(0.52%);3个月后再次内镜治疗,静脉曲张完全消除23例(11.92%),缓解6例(3.11%)。近期再出血8例,其中1例死亡。静脉曲张近期治疗总有效率96.89%,远期总有效率99.48%。结论肝硬化食管胃底静脉曲张内镜序贯治疗效果明显,减少出血和再出血风险,提高患者生活质量。     

The use of self-expanding metal stents to treat acute esophageal variceal bleeding

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Acute variceal bleeding is a life-threatening complication of liver cirrhosis. Essential factors for survival after variceal bleeding are the rapidity and efficacy of initial primary hemostasis. Endoscopic and vasoactive therapy is the gold standard in the management of acute variceal hemorrhage. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the use of self-expandable metallic stents to arrest uncontrollable acute variceal bleeding. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between November 2002 and May 2005, esophageal stents were implanted in 20 patients (18 men, two women; mean age 52, range 27-87) with massive ongoing bleeding from esophageal varices, as an alternative treatment to balloon tamponade. The patients had not been successfully managed with prior pharmacologic or endoscopic therapy. They had had one to five previous bleeding episodes (mean 2.4). Eight of the patients were in Child-Pugh grade B and 12 in grade C. A new type of stent with special introducers was developed that allowed placement without radiographic assistance. RESULTS: The stents were successfully placed in all of the patients and were left in place for 2-14 days. Bleeding from the esophageal varices ceased immediately after implantation of the stent in all cases. While the stent was in place, further diagnostic steps were carried out to optimize management of the patients' illness and portal hypertension. No recurrent bleeding, morbidity, or mortality occurred during treatment with the esophageal stent. All of the stents were extracted without any complications after definitive treatment had been started. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, the new method of implantation of an esophageal stent was found to be a safe and effective treatment for massive bleeding from esophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis. These initial clinical results will of course have to be confirmed in comparative studies including a large number of patients.     

Endoscopic ultrasonographic study of the azygos vein before and after endoscopic obliteration of esophagogastric varices by injection sclerotherapy

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The azygos vein plays an important role as a drainage system for the superior portosystemic collateral circulation in portal hypertensive patients. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and Doppler EUS allow the performance of hemodynamic studies of the azygos vein. In this study, we observed the changes in the azygos vein which occur with variceal obliteration by endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We recruited patients with portal hypertension and bleeding varices who were not on portal pressure-lowering agents and who were scheduled for the EIS program. EUS was performed in these patients to study the azygos vein at the start of EIS. The azygos vein diameter, maximal velocity (Vmax), and blood flow volume index (BFVI) were measured. After variceal obliteration and within 1 week, another EUS study of the azygos vein was carried out. RESULTS: Out of 40 patients recruited into the study variceal obliteration and EUS assessment of the azygos vein, within 1 week of obliteration, was achieved in 33. We noticed a significant increase in azygos vein diameter (P<0.001) and BFVI (P=0.001) following variceal obliteration. No significant change was observed in Vmax (P>0.05). In one patient, marked caliber irregularities were observed in the azygos vein after variceal obliteration. CONCLUSIONS: Using EUS and Doppler EUS, hemodynamic studies of the azygos vein blood flow can be performed, allowing the monitoring of the effects of EIS and variceal obliteration on the superior portosystemic collateral circulation. The clinical significance of the observed changes in azygos blood flow that occur with variceal obliteration should be investigated in further studies and correlated with short-term and long-term outcome.     

套扎与硬化剂比较治疗肝硬化食管静脉曲张出血的中文随机试验的系统评价

目的系统评价国内有关套扎治疗与硬化剂治疗肝硬化食管静脉曲张出血的有效性和安全性。方法计算机检索CBMdisc(1979～2006)和CNKI (1994～2006),收集有关套扎与硬化剂比较治疗肝硬化食管静脉曲张出血的随机对照试验(RCT)和半随机对照试验(CCT),由两名评价员独立对纳入文献进行质量评价和数据提取,并使用RevMan4．2．7软件进行Meta分析。结果共纳入9个RCT,包括1371例患者,其中套扎组688例,硬化剂组683例。Meta分析结果显示：对于死亡率,两组间差异有统计学意义[RR=0．60,95%CI (0．36,0．98)],套扎治疗组低于硬化剂治疗组；对于急诊止血率、出血复发率和并发症发生率,套扎治疗组也显示出更好的疗效趋势；而对于曲张静脉消失率和曲张静脉复发率,硬化剂治疗组则显示出更好的疗效趋势。结论在治疗肝硬化食管静脉曲张出血患者时,套扎较硬化剂治疗显示出更好的疗效及更少的并发症。但由于纳入研究质量不高,这一结论的强度受到一定的限制,尚需今后开展高质量随机对照试验来进一步验证。     

Ruptured gastric fundal varices treated with endoscopic variceal ligation and transjugular retrograde obliteration: case report

Therapeutic modalities for the obliteration of collateral vessels connecting the portal venous system with the systemic circulation, transjugular retrograde obliteration (TJO) and balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration have recently been developed, and several satisfactory results have been reported with their use. We report a case of ruptured gastric fundal varices treated with TJO after endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL). In our case, variceal bleeding was controlled successfully with EVL and varices were eradicated with TJO.     

微探头超声内镜对肝硬化患者行食管静脉曲张套扎术 治疗的预后价值评估*

目的应用微探头超声内镜(EUS)对肝硬化患者食管静脉曲张套扎术(EVL)治疗的预后评估。方法选择2015年8月-2017年8月于天津市第二人民医院住院治疗的肝硬化患者64例,均进行EVL根治术治疗。EVL根治术后,患者每半年复查胃镜及EUS,随访1年,胃镜观察有无食管静脉复发。EUS观察食管黏膜下静脉曲张及侧枝静脉的最大直径,记录其曲张程度。结果①EVL根治术后1年内,死亡2例,其余62例均完成随访。其中,复发30例,复发率48.4%(30/62);再次出现食管静脉曲张破裂出血患者4例,出血率6.5%(4/62);②与治疗前相比,EVL根治术后食管黏膜下静脉曲张中/重度例数、食管旁静脉曲张及周围静脉曲张重度例数,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);③EVL根治术后,与食管静脉曲张未复发组相比,复发组食管黏膜下静脉曲张中/重度例数明显增多,食管旁静脉曲张及周围静脉曲张重度例数明显增多,差异有统计学意义(P=0.000)。结论应用微探头EUS随访EVL根治术患者,观察食管黏膜下静脉曲张及食管侧枝静脉的程度,对EVL术后食管静脉曲张复发有一定的预测价值。     

食管静脉曲张出血急诊内镜套扎止血84例护理分析

目的探讨急诊内镜下行食管静脉曲张套扎术（EVL）的护理配合与经验。方法使用套扎器对84例食管静脉曲张出血患者的曲张静脉进行套扎治疗。结果84例患者食管曲张静脉均成功套扎,止血成功率达100％,其中3例术后2周内复查胃镜仍有局部食管静脉曲张伴红色征,再行EVL治疗。所有病例患者术后1-3d内均有不同程度的胸骨后疼痛、吞咽困难或异物感、低热等并发症。结论食管静脉曲张套扎术止血可靠、短期再出血率低,设备简单,可重复性强,是肝硬化食管静脉曲张出血的有效止血方法。急诊内镜下套扎每个环节的护理配合均十分重要。