Study of controlling acute hemorrhage from esophageal varices rupture with technique of traditional Chinese medicine

Objective: To find a method for inducing Chinese drugs to adhere to the esophageal mucosa to control bleeding from ruptured esophageal varices. Methods: The site and time that the Chinese drugs adhere to esophageal mucosa were observed in 30 healthy volunteers under the specific condition of standing and lying posture. Seventy episodes bled with ruptured esophageal varices patients (treated group 36 episodes in 25 patients and control group 34 episodes in 27 patients) suffering from cirrhosis of liver were treated by the technique of drug adhesion. Results: (1) The adhesion of Chinese hemostatic drugs remained in the lower segment of esophagus for more than 15 minutes in lying posture, longer than that in standing posture ( P <0.01). (2) The effectiveness of controlling bleeding esophageal varices had no significant difference between the balloon tamponade and adhesion of Chinese hemostatic drugs ( P >0.05). Conclusion: This drug adhesion technique provides a new approach to control hemorrhage from ruptured esophageal varices.