Endoscopic Scleroligation is a Superior New Technique for Preventing Recurrence of Esophageal Varices.

This study compared a new method endoscopic scleroligation intravariceal injection sclerotherapy followed by ligation plus extravariceal injection sclerotherapy with ligation plus extravariceal injection sclerotherapy. Fifty‑nine patients with cirrhosis and esophageal varices were treated by endoscopic scleroligation(ESL group n=28)or ligation plus extravariceal injection sclerotherapy(EVL+extraEIS group n=31) . The demographics and clinical charac‑ teristics of the two treatment groups were similar as was the rate of complete eradication with initial treatment. However the 1‑ and 3‑year cumulative recurrence rates in the ESL group (3.8% and 22.4%)were very significantly lower than those in the EVL+extraEIS group (48.3% and 81.0%) (p<0.0001) . The overall survival rates in the two groups were similar. In conclusion endoscopic scleroligation is superior to ligation plus extravariceal injection sclero‑ therapy in preventing variceal recurrence. The efficacy of intravariceal injection sclerotherapy before ligation is believed to arise from the eradication of feeder vessels. (J Nippon Med Sch 2002; 69: 160―164)