Variceal bleed is a severe complication of portal hypertension. We studied the predictors of failure to control variceal bleed and re-bleed in patients with cirrhosis. We reviewed the case records of 382 consecutive patients admitted with variceal bleed from January 2001 to December 2005. Diagnosis of cirrhosis was made on clinical, laboratory, and radiological parameters. Acute variceal bleedi...

BACKGROUND Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has been popularized for the treatment of refractory variceal bleeding. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and long-term effect of TIPS in the treatment of variceal bleeding that is not controlled with pharmacological and endoscopic treatment. METHODS Thirty-six patients who underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosy...

In this randomized controlled multicenter trial, we compared endoscopic variceal banding ligation (VBL) with propranolol (PPL) for primary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding. One hundred fifty-two cirrhotic patients with 2 or more esophageal varices (diameter >5 mm) without prior bleeding were randomized to VBL (n=75) or PPL (n=77). The groups were well matched with respect to baseline characteri...

Esophageal variceal bleeding is a serious complication of portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients. Current treatment approach consists of band ligation and sclerotherapy. More than 10% of variceal bleedings are refractory to standard treatments and have a higher mortality rate. In this study, we aimed to share our experiences regarding covered self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) as a bridging t...

Blood spurting or oozing from a varix confirms the diagnosis of variceal hemorrhage. In most cases of variceal hemorrhage, however, the bleeding has ceased by the time endoscopy is performed. Endoscopists rely on identification of stigmata of recent hemorrhage to determine whether varices are the cause of bleeding and to predict the likelihood of rebleeding. Most of the attention has focused on...

Bleeding from oesophageal varices has a high death rate. Injection sclerotherapy is the most appropriate treatment but facilities for this are not always available. Balloon tamponade and vasoactive therapy may be used as stop gap measures. Somatostatin and octreotide are therapeutic candidates for the treatment of variceal bleeding and there are several trials that have compared somatostatin an...

BACKGROUND/AIMS This observational, retrospective cohort study assessed outcomes of the current management strategies for nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding in several European countries (Belgium, Greece, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey) (NCT00797641; ENERGIB). MATERIALS AND METHODS Turkey contributed 23 sites to this study. Adult patients (≥18 years old) consecutively adm...

Variceal haemorrhage in cirrhotic patients carries a high early mortality even when balloon tamponade or emergency sclerotherapy are applied. The aim of this study to identify patients dying within six weeks of their first variceal haemorrhage. One hundred and twenty one patients with parenchymal cirrhosis presenting with the first variceal bleeding episode between June 1983 and December 1988 w...

Rectal variceal bleeding, though rare, can pose significant morbidity and mortality in the wake of treatment failure. Conventional treatment utilizing endoscopic glue injection might not be feasible in all cases due to poor visualization and inadvertent missing of variceal source of bleed. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided rectal variceal management is a promising and effective modality. We pr...