Endoscopic Prophylaxis and Treatment of Portal-Genesis Oesophageal Haemorrhage

Abstract

Background. Portal hypertension-triggered oesophageal and gastric variceal bleeding is the most dangerous and threatening complication, with an up to 50–70 % mortality at first episode. High-mortality repeated bleeding develops subsequently in 30–50 % patients, with the proved 100 % recurrence rate in the first two years following the first episode. The world experience dictates further research to continue towards developing new surgical methods and approaches.Aim: to evaluate the treatment efficacy of pneumatic endoscopic band ligation of bleeding oesophageal varices (OV).Materials and methods. The experience of applying pneumatic endoscopic ligation treatment in the patients managed at the General Surgery Unit of the Clinical Hospital of the Kyrgyz Republic Presidential Administration during 2017–2019 was analysed. Endoscopic ligation is a modern minimally invasive and less traumatic intervention used to markedly reduce mortality and improve quality of life in patients with portal hypertension syndrome. The evidence on 76 patients following endoscopic OV ligation was summarised. The patient age ranged from 11 to 70 years (mean 46.26 years); 40 men (52.6 %) and 36 women (47.4 %) were included. Among the 76 patients, portal hypertension was caused by viral cirrhosis in 38, hepatitis B in 5, delta agent hepatitis B in 18, hepatitis C in 13, a hepatitis B–C combination in 1 and a delta agent hepatitis B — hepatitis C combination in 1 patient. In 21 patients, cirrhosis was of unknown aetiology. A portal vein malformation was observed in 13 people of whom 4 had it combined with thrombosis.Results. A total of 94 ligation procedures were performed in 76 patients with grade II–III OV. Some patients needed to undergo the procedure several times, 18 patients had 2 sessions. Two cases required 3 and 4 sessions each. Moderate oesophageal soreness was reported in 32 patients for 1–6 days following the ligation. No complications were registered during the operation. In early postoperative period, 2 patients developed recurrent bleeding, with haemostasis re-achieved by a repeated vein ligation below bleeding.Conclusion. Hence, small invasiveness and minor traumatism coupled with high efficiency and lesser complications render endoscopic ligation the method of choice in primary and secondary prophylaxis and treatment of OV. Endoscopic ligation improves the patient’s quality of life, allows an extra time for conservative treatment and longer period to liver transplantation.