Comparison of emergency endoscopic variceal ligation plus octride or octride alone for acute esophageal variceal bleeding

Abstract

Background: Octride was the main method for the treatment of esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB). The aim of this study was to compare the cost-effect and safety between esophageal variceal ligation (EVL) plus octride and octride alone in acute esophageal bleeding.

Methods: A total of 101 cirrhotic patients with EVB were involved in this study and received emergency EVL + octride (EVL group) or only octride therapy randomly. The cost, efficacy and safety were analyzed and compared between the two groups.

Results: Among 51 patients in EVL group, 5 (10%) patients failed. Among 50 patients in the octride treatment group, 13 patients (26%) failed. The difference was significant (P < 0.05). The average blood transfusion volume was (2.4 +/- 2.2) units in the EVL group and (6.4 +/- 3.4) units in the octride treatment group (P < 0.05). Hospital stay was (7.4 +/- 1.3) days in the EVL group and (11.4 +/- 3.3) days in the octride treatment group (P < 0.05). The average hospital cost was (10 983 +/- 1147) yuan in the EVL group and (13 921 +/- 2107) yuan in the octride treatment group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Emergency endoscopic ligation plus octride is superior to octride alone in the treatment of acute EVB with lower cost and higher efficacy with enough safety.