Endoscopic variceal ligation of patients with liver cirrhosis and cirrhosis accompanied by hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: Rupture of esophageal varices with severe gastrointestinal hemorrhage is one of the most serious complications of liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) complicating LC. The present study looks at the success of hemostasis in LC and LC accompanied by HCC, the success of breaking the varices cluster and the rate of rebleeding in patients of LC subject to emergency ligation and prophylactic ligation. Methods: Seventy‐five patients were divided into three groups. Group 1: 30 patients with LC accompanied by HCC with digestive bleeding; group 2: 30 patients with LC with digestive bleeding; and group 3: 15 patients with LC with high risk of digestive bleeding from esophageal varices (with no medical history of digestive bleeding). Success of hemostasis 72 h after endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) was that patients did not vomit blood nor produce black feces. The effectiveness of EVL for iradication of the variceal cluster was classified into three levels: good, fairly good and poor. Results: The hemostasis success in group 1 (LC accompanied by HCC) and group 2 (LC with digestive bleeding due to esophageal varices) was 73.3% and 93.4%, respectively. The success of breaking the varix cluster in group 2 (LC) and group 3 (LC with high risk of digestive bleeding and treated by prophylactic ligation) was 73.3% and 80%, respectively. The rate of rebleeding in group 2 and group 3 after 1 year was 20% and 13.3%, respectively. Conclusion: Endoscopic variceal ligation is a good technique for variceal hemostasis and eradication of the esophageal varices cluster.