Follow-up of patients after variceal eradication. A comparison of patients with cirrhosis, noncirrhotic portal fibrosis, and extrahepatic obstruction

Abstract

One hundred one patients, 54 with cirrhosis of liver, 31 with noncirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF), and 16 with extrahepatic obstruction (EHO), were followed up at monthly intervals for a mean (+/- SD) period of 17.9 +/- 4.8 months after achieving total variceal eradication with endoscopic sclerotherapy. Recurrence of esophageal varices was seen in 19 (18.8%) patients, 12 with cirrhosis and seven with NCPF, within a mean (+/- SD) period of 5.7 +/- 1.6 months. No patient with EHO showed recurrence. Three (2.9%) patients rebled from the recurred varices. Mean (+/- SD) number of sclerotherapy sessions and the amount of absolute alcohol required for eradication of recurred varices were 1.6 +/- 0.8 and 3.6 +/- 1.8 ml, respectively. Dysphagia and esophageal stricture were present in 15 (14.9%) patients with nearly similar frequency in patients with cirrhosis, NCPF, and EHO. Dysphagia in four patients with stricture improved without dilatation. While there were no deaths in patients with NCPF and EHO, 11 patients with cirrhosis died. There was significant (p less than 0.01) improvement in the liver status of surviving patients with cirrhosis after variceal eradication. It can be concluded that variceal recurrence and rebleeding are not major problems after sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy probably helps in spontaneous improvement of the liver status of surviving cirrhotics and reduces long-term morbidity and mortality of patients with NCPF and EHO.