Endoscopic variceal ligation in pediatric patients with portal hypertension secondary to liver cirrhosis

• Published in: Gastrointestinal endoscopy Vol. 46; no. 3; pp. 244 - 246
• Main Authors: Reinoso, Manuel A., Sharp, Harvey L., Rank, Jeffrey
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.09.1997; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Diseases of the digestive system; Endoscopy - adverse effects; Endoscopy - methods; Esophageal and Gastric Varices - etiology; Esophageal and Gastric Varices - surgery; Female; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - etiology; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - surgery; Humans; Hypertension, Portal - etiology; Infant; Ligation - adverse effects; Ligation - methods; Liver Cirrhosis - complications; Male; Medical sciences; Postoperative Complications; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Retrospective Studies; Safety; Treatment Outcome; Pediatrics; Portal circulation disease; Treatment efficiency; Esophageal disease; Instrumentation therapy; Cardiovascular disease; Hepatic disease; Venous disease; Esophagus; Vascular disease; Cirrhosis; Ligature; Portal hypertension; Digestive diseases; Complication; Endoscopy; Varix
• ISSN: 0016-5107; 1097-6779
• DOI: 10.1016/S0016-5107(97)70094-4

Background: Endoscopic variceal ligation is the initial treatment of choice in the management of esophageal varices. Few reports include its use in the pediatric population. We review our experience with this therapeutic modality in pediatric patients with end stage liver disease and esophageal varices. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of pediatric patients with end stage liver disease who underwent endoscopic variceal ligation from January 1994 until December 1996. Results: Thirty-two endoscopic variceal ligation procedures were performed in six pediatric patients during the period of study. In all patients, the esophageal varices classification was improved at the end of treatment. Only one patient had an episode of bleeding from esophageal varices during the period of study; only one patient had a complication associated with endoscopic variceal ligation. Conclusions: Endoscopic variceal ligation is feasible, safe, and effective for the management of esophageal varices in pediatric patients with end stage liver disease.(Gastrointest Endosc 1997;46:244-6.)