[Results and outcomes of band ligation among 95 cases with esophageal varices in Taleghani Hospital between 2002 and 2007]

Endoscopic Variceal Ligation [EVL] is considered the selective method of therapy for patients who suffer from esophageal varices. In this article we evaluated the results and outcomes of patients who underwent EVL with multiband ligators due to their esophageal varices. We studied 95 cases of esophageal varices who underwent EVL at Taleghani Hospital between 2002 and 2007. EVL was applied because of active bleeding, primary or secondary prophylaxis for esophageal varice of grade 2 or above. The process was repeated every 3-4 weeks until the varices were occluded or become to grade 1 varices or small thrombosed ones. Their demographaic data were gathered and analyzed as well as all the 1 informations about their recent procedure. Our studied subjects had the mean age of 51.53 +/- 15.31 [ranged from 15 to 81]. The average number of sessions for performing EVL were 1.81 +/- 1.07 [ranged between 1 and 8 times]. The mostprevalent cause for applying EVL was active bleeding. Complications were significantly more in patients whom were candidated for EVL by reason of active bleeding, compared to those who underwent EVL for either primary or secondary prophylactic reasons [P=0.02]. Among cases who had developed any complications, the numbers of ligation sessions were significantly more than other patients [2.58 +/- 1.25 vs 1.40 +/- 0.66, P<0.001]. There was no case of death due to this mode of therapy. EVL as a selective mode of therapy for treatment of esophageal varices possesses a few cosequential complications and its application, therfore, is reasonable

[ effect of omeprazole on the number and size of after-endoscopic band ligation ulcers of esophageal varices]

Endoscopic variceal ligation [EVL] is an effective option in treatment of esophageal varices bleeding or elective ablation. Although the after-EVL ulceration is well recognised, the effect of acid suppression on ulcer healing is not determined, definitely. In this study, we tried to evaluate the efficacy of Omeprazole as the most available protone pomp inhibitor [PPI] on the numbers and size of after-EVL esophageal ulcers in patients electively underwent this procedure. We performed a randomised placebo-controled trial of Omeprazol after elective EVL. Fifty consecutive cirrhotic patients who were cadidated for EVL randomly enrolleded in and were divided equally into case [25] and control [25] groups. After endoscopy and EVL, case subjects received Omeprazole [20 mg twice a day] for 2 weeks and control subjects received placebo for the same period as well. All the patients underwent a follow up endoscopy 13-15 days after EVL. Forty two patients [20 cases and 22 controls] completed the study. Numbers and size of ulcers were evaluated throughin the follow up endoscopy. Numbers of ulcers were significantly higher in control group [3.15 vs. 2.59, p=0.03]. The ulcers in Omeprazole group were on average half as large as in the placebo group [37.08 mm[2] vs.73.74 mm[2], p<0.0001]. After elective EVL, Omeprazol-treated Patients experienced a significant reduction in number and size of their post-banding ulcers. It seems that Omeprazole reduces the numbers and size of after-EVL ulcers