ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the prevention of esophageal varices recurrence by laser inducing esophageal mucosal fibrosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Our study included 42 patients after esophageal varices eradicated by endoscopic varices ligation, and they were divided into 2 groups randomly, each group included 21 patients. One group was assigned to received laser treatment, and indocyanine green solution (1 mg/ml) was injected submucosally, a diode laser (power 10 watts) was applied to the surface from the esophagogastric junction to 5 cm above it. Another group was controlling without any treatments. All patient were followed up by endoscopy every 3 months until 12 months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Laser irradiation was performed safely without any major complications. And lower esophageal mucosa produced fibrosis widely after laser irradiated 1 month. After 12 months follow up, the cumulative recurrence rate was significantly lower than the control group, 14% (3/21) vs 43% (9/21) (chi(2) = 4.20, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our study indicates that laser inducing mucous fibrosis is safely and can prevent recurrence of esophageal varices.</p>