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Review
. 2014 Apr-Jun;27(2):138-44.
doi: 10.1590/s0102-67202014000200011.

Management of variceal hemorrhage: current concepts

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Fabricio Ferreira Coelho  1 , Marcos Vinícius Perini  1 , Jaime Arthur Pirola Kruger  1 , Gilton Marques Fonseca  1 , Raphael Leonardo Cunha de Araújo  1 , Fábio Ferrari Makdissi  2 , Renato Micelli Lupinacci  1 , Paulo Herman  1
Affiliations
Review

Management of variceal hemorrhage: current concepts

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Fabricio Ferreira Coelho et al. Arq Bras Cir Dig. 2014 Apr-Jun.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Introduction: The treatment of portal hypertension is complex and the the best strategy depends on the underlying disease (cirrhosis vs. schistosomiasis), patient's clinical condition and time on it is performed (during an acute episode of variceal bleeding or electively, as pre-primary, primary or secondary prophylaxis). With the advent of new pharmacological options and technical development of endoscopy and interventional radiology treatment of portal hypertension has changed in recent decades.

Aim: To review the strategies employed in elective and emergency treatment of variceal bleeding in cirrhotic and schistosomotic patients.

Methods: Survey of publications in PubMed, Embase, Lilacs, SciELO and Cochrane databases through June 2013, using the headings: portal hypertension, esophageal and gastric varices, variceal bleeding, liver cirrhosis, schistosomiasis mansoni, surgical treatment, pharmacological treatment, secondary prophylaxis, primary prophylaxis, pre-primary prophylaxis.

Conclusion: Pre-primary prophylaxis doesn't have specific treatment strategies; the best recommendation is treatment of the underlying disease. Primary prophylaxis should be performed in cirrhotic patients with beta-blockers or endoscopic variceal ligation. There is controversy regarding the effectiveness of primary prophylaxis in patients with schistosomiasis; when indicated, it is done with beta-blockers or endoscopic therapy in high-risk varices. Treatment of acute variceal bleeding is systematized in the literature, combination of vasoconstrictor drugs and endoscopic therapy, provided significant decline in mortality over the last decades. TIPS and surgical treatment are options as rescue therapy. Secondary prophylaxis plays a fundamental role in the reduction of recurrent bleeding, the best option in cirrhotic patients is the combination of pharmacological therapy with beta-blockers and endoscopic band ligation. TIPS or surgical treatment, are options for controlling rebleeding on failure of secondary prophylaxis. Despite the increasing evidence of the effectiveness of pharmacological and endoscopic treatment in schistosomotic patients, surgical therapy still plays an important role in secondary prophylaxis.

Introdução: O tratamento da hipertensão portal é complexo e a definição da melhor estratégia depende da causa subjacente (cirrose vs. Esquistossomose), da condição clínica e do momento em que é realizado (episódio agudo de hemorragia ou como profilaxia pré-primária, primária ou secundária). Com o advento de novas opções medicamentosas e o desenvolvimento da endoscopia e radiologia intervencionista, o tratamento da hipertensão portal tem sofrido grande transformação nas últimas décadas.

Objetivo: Avaliar os avanços e as estratégias empregadas no tratamento emergencial e eletivo da hemorragia varicosa em pacientes cirróticos e esquistossomóticos.

Método: Revisão bibliográfica nas bases de dados PubMed, Embase, Lilacs, SciELO e Cochrane até junho de 2013, com os descritores: portal hypertension, esophageal and gastric varices, variceal bleeding, liver cirrhosis, schistosomiasis mansoni, surgical treatment, pharmacological treatment, secondary prophylaxis, primary prophylaxis, pré-primary prophylaxis.

Conclusão: Com relação à profilaxia pré-primária não existem estratégias específicas; a melhor recomendação é tratamento da doença de base. A proflaxia primária em pacientes cirróticos deve ser feita com betabloqueadores ou terapêutica endoscópica com ligadura elástica. Existe controvérsia quanto à efetividade da profilaxia primária em pacientes esquistossomóticos; quando indicada, faz-se com betabloqueadores ou terapêutica endoscópica nas varizes de maior risco. O tratamento do sangramento agudo é o com melhor sistematização e mais alto nível de evidência; a associação de drogas vasoconstritoras e terapia endoscópica proporcionou queda significativa na mortalidade nas últimas décadas. O TIPS e o tratamento cirúrgico são opções na terapia de resgate. A profilaxia secundária é feita com terapia farmacológica (betabloqueadores) e endoscópica em pacientes cirróticos. Na falha da profilaxia secundária, o TIPS ou o tratamento cirúrgico são opções viáveis para controle da recidiva hemorrágica. Apesar do aumento das evidências da eficácia da terapêutica farmacológica e endoscópica em pacientes esquistossomóticos, o tratamento cirúrgico ainda tem papel preponderante na profilaxia secundária destes pacientes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: none

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of management of acute variceal hemorrhage from Liver Surgery Unit of University of São Paulo Medical School EGV=Esophagogastric varices; BL=band ligation; TIPS=transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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