Retrospective Study On The Efficacy Comparison Between Endoscopic Variceal Ligation And Endoscopic Injection Sclerotherapy In Patients With Esophageal Varices

Objective:To retrospectively determine the efficacy and safety of endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) and endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) in patients with esophageal varices; thus guide clinical treatment.Methods:Seventy eight patients with esophageal varices were divided into two groups: EIS group (n=30) and EVL group (n=48).To compare the rates of hemostatic success, early rebleeding, mortality, and other complications between the two groups, a retrospective follow-up study was performed in patients after endoscopic therapy. The patients’ death or clinical outcome within six months were the study endpoint.Results:The patients treated by EVL had a higher rate of hemostatic success than those by EIS though the difference was not significant.The EVL group had significantly lower rates of early rebleeding than the EIS group.Furthermore, the patients treated by EVL had lower mortality rate than EIS group though the difference had not statistical significance.The patients treated by EIS had a higher probability of fever and chest pain, longer average fever days and chest pain days, higher incidence of esophageal ulcers and abdominal distention, those differences had statistical significance.Conclusions:EVL is similar effective and safer than EIS in the treatment of esophageal varices because the former therapy is associated with a lower probability of rebleeding and other complications. However, we need more clinical samples to confirm this conclusion.