New endoscopic techniques for eradication of esophageal varices

Portal hypertension remains the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cirrhosis, 90% of cirrhotic patients will develop esophageal varices sometime in their lifetime and of these 30% will bleed. Esophageal varices are the commonest cause of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Egypt, due to the prevalence not only of schistosomiasis but also chronic hepatitis. Bleeding from esophageal varices is the most severe and lethal complication of portal hypertension. Without treatment, approximately 30% of cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension will bleed and over 50% will die after the first episode of variceal bleeding.The aim of this work was to evaluate the endoscopic band ligation plus argon plasma photocoagulation versus scleroligation as a new methods used for eradication of esophageal varices.