Variceal bleeding is a life-threatening complication of portal hypertension with a six-week mortality rate of approximately 20%. Patients with medium- or largesized varices can be treated for primary prophylaxis of va...Variceal bleeding is a life-threatening complication of portal hypertension with a six-week mortality rate of approximately 20%. Patients with medium- or largesized varices can be treated for primary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding using two strategies: non-selective beta-blockers(NSBBs) or endoscopic variceal ligation(EVL). Both treatments are equally effective. Patients with acute variceal bleeding are critically ill patients. The available data suggest that vasoactive drugs, combined with endoscopic therapy and antibiotics, are the best treatment strategy with EVL being the endoscopic procedure of choice. In cases of uncontrolled bleeding, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS) with polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE)-covered stents are recommended. Approximately 60% of the patients experience rebleeding, with a mortality rate of 30%. Secondary prophylaxis should start on day six following the initial bleeding episode. The combination of NSBBs and EVL is the recommended management, whereas TIPS with PTFE-covered stents are the preferred option in patients who fail endoscopic and pharmacologic treatment. Apart from injection sclerotherapy and EVL, other endoscopic procedures, including tissue adhesives, endoloops, endoscopic clipping and argon plasma coagulation, have been used in the management of esophageal varices. However, their efficacy and safety, compared to standard endoscopic treatment, remain to be further elucidated. There are safety issues accompanying endoscopic techniques with aspiration pneumonia occurring at a rate of approximately 2.5%. In conclusion, future research is needed to improve treatment strategies, including novel endoscopic techniques with better efficacy, lower cost, and fewer adverse events.展开更多
Bleeding from esophageal varices is a life threatening complication of portal hypertension.Primary prevention of bleeding in patients at risk for a first bleeding episode is therefore a major goal.Medical prophylaxis ...Bleeding from esophageal varices is a life threatening complication of portal hypertension.Primary prevention of bleeding in patients at risk for a first bleeding episode is therefore a major goal.Medical prophylaxis consists of non-selective beta-blockers like propranolol or carvedilol.Variceal endoscopic band ligation is equally effective but procedure related morbidity is a drawback of the method.Therapy of acute bleeding is based on three strategies:vasopressor drugs like terlipressin,antibiotics and endoscopic therapy.In refractory bleeding,self-expandable stents offer an option for bridging to definite treatments like transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS).Treatment of bleeding from gastric varices depends on vasopressor drugs and on injection of varices with cyanoacrylate.Strategies for primary or secondary prevention are based on non-selective beta-blockers but data from large clinical trials is lacking.Therapy of refractory bleeding relies on shuntprocedures like TIPS.Bleeding from ectopic varices,portal hypertensive gastropathy and gastric antral vascular ectasia-syndrome is less common.Possible medical and endoscopic treatment options are discussed.展开更多
Management of acute variceal bleeding has greatly improved over recent years. Available data indicates that general management of the bleeding cirrhotic patient by an experienced multidisciplinary team plays a major r...Management of acute variceal bleeding has greatly improved over recent years. Available data indicates that general management of the bleeding cirrhotic patient by an experienced multidisciplinary team plays a major role in the f inal outcome of this complication. It is currently recommended to combine pharmacological and endoscopic therapies for the initial treatment of the acute bleeding. Vasoactive drugs (preferable somatostatin or terlipressin) should be started as soon as a variceal bleeding is suspected (ideally during transfer to hospital) and maintained afterwards for 2-5 d. After stabilizing the patient with cautious fluid and blood support, an emergency diagnostic endoscopy should be done and, as soon as a skilled endoscopist is available, an endoscopic variceal treatment (ligation as f irst choice, sclerotherapy if endoscopic variceal ligation not feasible) should be performed. Antibiotic prophylaxis must be regarded as an integral part of the treatment of acute variceal bleeding and should be started at admission and maintained for at least 7 d. In case of failure to control the acute bleeding, rescue therapies should be immediately started. Shunt therapies (especially tran sjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) are very effective at controlling treatment failures after an acute variceal bleeding. Therapeutic developments and increasing knowledge in the prognosis of this complication may allow optimization of the management strategy by adapting the different treatments to the expected risk of complications for each patient in the near future. Theoretically, this approach would allow the initiation of early aggressive treatments in high-risk patients and spare low-risk individuals unnecessary proce dures. Current research efforts will hopefully clarify this hypothesis and help to further improve the outcomes of the severe complication of cirrhosis.展开更多
AIM: To analyze the clinical risk factors for early variceal rebleeding after endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL).METHODS: 342 cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices who received elective EVL to prevent bleeding or...AIM: To analyze the clinical risk factors for early variceal rebleeding after endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL).METHODS: 342 cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices who received elective EVL to prevent bleeding or rebleeding at our endoscopy center between January 2005 and July 2010.were included in this study.The early rebleeding cases after EVL were confirmed by clinical signs or endoscopy.A case-control study was performed comparing the patients presenting with early rebleeding with those without this complication.RESULTS: The incidence of early rebleeding after EVL was 7.60%,and the morbidity of rebleeding was 26.9%.Stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that four variables were independent risk factors for early rebleeding: moderate to excessive ascites [odds ratio (OR) 62.83,95% CI: 9.39-420.56,P < 0.001],the number of bands placed (OR 17.36,95% CI: 4.00-75.34,P < 0.001),the extent of varices (OR 15.41,95% CI: 2.84-83.52,P = 0.002) and prothrombin time (PT) > 18 s (OR 11.35,95% CI: 1.93-66.70,P = 0.007).CONCLUSION: The early rebleeding rate after EVL is mainly affected by the volume of ascites,number of rubber bands used to ligate,severity of varices and prolonged PT.Effective measures for prevention and treatment should be adopted before and after EVL.展开更多
To assess “predictors” of esophageal varices (EV) and variceal bleeding using non-invasive markers in Albanian patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. METHODSOne hundred thirty-nine newly diagnosed cirrhotic patien...To assess “predictors” of esophageal varices (EV) and variceal bleeding using non-invasive markers in Albanian patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. METHODSOne hundred thirty-nine newly diagnosed cirrhotic patients without variceal bleeding were included in this analysis. Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio (AST/ALT), AST to platelet ratio index (APRI), platelet count to spleen diameter (PC/SD), fibrosis-4-index (FIB-4), fibrosis index (FI) and King’s Score were measured for all participants. All patients underwent endoscopic assessment within two days of hospitalization. The major end point was the first esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) event. The diagnostic performance of “predictors” for the presence of EV and EVB were assessed by sensitivity and specificity values obtained from the receiver operating characteristics procedure. RESULTSFIB-4 was the only strong and significant “predictor” of esophageal varices (multivariable-adjusted OR = 1.57 for one unit increment; 95%CI: 1.15-2.14). Furthermore, a cut-off value of 3.23 for FIB-4 was a significant predictor of esophageal varices, with a sensitivity of 72%, a specificity of 58% and a proportion of area under the curve (AUC) of 66% (P = 0.01). During the follow-up (median: 31.5 mo; interquartile range: 11-59 mo), 34 patients (24%) experienced a first EVB. FIB-4 was a poor predictor of EVB (the AUC was only 51%) for a cut-off value of 5.02. Furthermore, the AUC of AST/ALT, APRI, PC/SD, FI, MELD and King’s Score ranged from 45% to 55%. None of the non-invasive markers turned out to be a useful predictor of EVB. CONCLUSIONDespite the low diagnostic accuracy, FIB-4 appears the most efficient non-invasive liver fibrosis marker which can be used as an initial screening tool for cirrhotic patients.展开更多
Bacterial infections are common in cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding,occurring in 20%within48 h.Outcomes including early rebleeding and failure to control bleeding are strongly associated with bacterial ...Bacterial infections are common in cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding,occurring in 20%within48 h.Outcomes including early rebleeding and failure to control bleeding are strongly associated with bacterial infection.However,mortality from variceal bleeding is largely determined by the severity of liver disease.Besides a higher Child-Pugh score,patients with hepatocellular carcinoma are particularly susceptible to infections.Despite several hypotheses that include increased use of instruments,greater risk of aspiration pneumonia and higher bacterial translocation,it remains debatable whether variceal bleeding results in infection or vice versa but studies suggest that antibiotic prophylaxis prior to endoscopy and up to 8 h is useful in reducing bacteremia and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.Aerobic gram negative bacilli of enteric origin are most commonly isolated from cultures,but more recently,gram positives and quinolone-resistant organisms are increasingly seen,even though their clinical significance is unclear.Fluoroquinolones(including ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin)used for short term(7 d)have the most robust evidence and are recommended in most expert guidelines.Short term intravenous cephalosporin(especially ceftriaxone),given in a hospital setting with prevalent quinolone-resistant organisms,has been shown in studies to be beneficial,particularly in high risk patients with advanced cirrhosis.展开更多
AIM: To evaluate the effect of the shunting branch of the portal vein (PV) (left or right) and the initial stent position (optimal or suboptimal) of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).
BACKGROUND Acute variceal bleeding is one of the deadliest complications of cirrhosis,with a high risk of in-hospital rebleeding and mortality.Some risk scoring systems to predict clinical outcomes in patients with up...BACKGROUND Acute variceal bleeding is one of the deadliest complications of cirrhosis,with a high risk of in-hospital rebleeding and mortality.Some risk scoring systems to predict clinical outcomes in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding have been developed.However,for cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding,data regarding the predictive value of these prognostic scores in predicting in-hospital outcomes are limited and controversial.AIM To validate and compare the overall performance of selected prognostic scoring systems for predicting in-hospital outcomes in cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding.METHODS From March 2017 to June 2019,cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding were retrospectively enrolled at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University.The clinical Rockall score(CRS),AIMS65 score(AIMS65),Glasgow-Blatchford score(GBS),modified GBS(mGBS),Canada-United Kingdom-Australia score(CANUKA),Child-Turcotte-Pugh score(CTP),model for endstage liver disease(MELD)and MELD-Na were calculated.The overall performance of these prognostic scoring systems was evaluated.RESULTS A total of 330 cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding were enrolled;the rates of in-hospital rebleeding and mortality were 20.3%and 10.6%,respectively.For inhospital rebleeding,the discriminative ability of the CTP and CRS were clinically acceptable,with area under the receiver operating characteristic curves(AUROCs)of 0.717(0.648-0.787)and 0.716(0.638-0.793),respectively.The other tested scoring systems had poor discriminative ability(AUROCs<0.7).For inhospital mortality,the CRS,CTP,AIMS65,MELD-Na and MELD showed excellent discriminative ability(AUROCs>0.8).The AUROCs of the mGBS,CANUKA and GBS were relatively small,but clinically acceptable(AUROCs>0.7).Furthermore,the calibration of all scoring systems was good for either inhospital rebleeding or death.CONCLUSION For cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding,in-hospital rebleeding and mortality rates remain high.The CTP and CRS can be used clinically t展开更多
BACKGROUND The albumin-bilirubin(ALBI)score was validated as a prognostic indicator in patients with liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma.Incorporating platelet count in the platelet-albumin-bilirubin(PALBI)scor...BACKGROUND The albumin-bilirubin(ALBI)score was validated as a prognostic indicator in patients with liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma.Incorporating platelet count in the platelet-albumin-bilirubin(PALBI)score improved validity in predicting outcome of patients undergoing resection and ablation.AIM To evaluate the PALBI score in predicting outcome of acute variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis.METHODS The data of 1517 patients with cirrhosis presenting with variceal bleeding were analyzed.Child Turcotte Pugh(CTP)class,Model of End-stage Liver Disease(MELD),ALBI and PALBI scores were calculated on admission,and were correlated to the outcome of variceal bleeding.Areas under the receivingoperator characteristic curve(AUROC)were calculated for survival and rebleeding.RESULTS Mean age was 52.6 years;1176 were male(77.5%),69 CTP-A(4.5%),434 CTP-B(29.2%),1014 CTP-C(66.8%);306 PALBI-1(20.2%),285 PALBI-2(18.8%),and 926 PALBI-3(61.1%).Three hundred and thirty-two patients died during hospitalization(21.9%).Bleeding-related mortality occurred in 11%of CTP-B,28%of CTP-C,in 21.8%of PALBI-2 and 34.4%of PALBI-3 patients.The AUROC for predicting survival of acute variceal bleeding was 0.668,0.689,0.803 and 0.871 for CTP,MELD,ALBI and PALBI scores,respectively.For predicting rebleeding the AUROC was 0.681,0.74,0.766 and 0.794 for CTP,MELD,ALBI and PALBI scores,respectively.CONCLUSION PALBI score on admission is a good prognostic indicator for patients with acute variceal bleeding and predicts early mortality and rebleeding.展开更多
Endoscopic variceal obturation of gastric varices with tissue glue is considered the first choice for management of gastric varices, and is usually safe and effective. However, there is still a low incidence of compli...Endoscopic variceal obturation of gastric varices with tissue glue is considered the first choice for management of gastric varices, and is usually safe and effective. However, there is still a low incidence of complications and some are even fatal. Here, we present a case in which endoscopic variceal ligation caused laceration of the esophageal varicose vein with tissue glue emboli and massive bleeding after 3 mo. Cessation of bleeding was achieved via variceal sclerotherapy using a cap-fitted gastroscope. Methods of recognizing an esophageal varicose vein with tissue glue plug are discussed.展开更多
AIM:To determine if liver stiffness(LS) measurements by means of transient elastography(TE) correlate with the presence of significant esophageal varices(EV) and if they can predict the occurrence of variceal bleeding...AIM:To determine if liver stiffness(LS) measurements by means of transient elastography(TE) correlate with the presence of significant esophageal varices(EV) and if they can predict the occurrence of variceal bleeding.METHODS:We studied 1000 cases of liver cirrhosis divided into 2 groups:patients without EV or with grade 1 varices(647 cases) and patients with significant varices(grade 2 and 3 EV)(353 cases).We divided the group of 540 cases with EV into another 2 subgroups:without variceal hemorrhage(375 patients) and patients with a history of variceal bleeding(165 cases).We compared the LS values between the groups using the unpaired t-test and we established cut-off LS values for the presence of significant EV and for the risk of bleeding by using the ROC curve.RESULTS:The mean LS values in the 647 patients without or with grade 1 EV was statistically significantly lower than in the 353 patients with significant EV(26.29 ± 0.60 kPa vs 45.21 ± 1.07 kPa,P < 0.0001).Using the ROC curve we established a cut-off value of 31 kPa for the presence of EV,with 83% sensitivity(95%CI:79.73%-85.93%) and 62% specificity(95% CI:57.15%-66.81%),with 76.2% positive predictive value(PPV)(95% CI:72.72%-79.43%) and 71.3% negative predictive value(NPV)(95% CI:66.37%-76.05%)(AUROC 0.7807,P < 0.0001).The mean LS values in the group with a history of variceal bleeding(165 patients) was statistically significantly higher than in the group with no bleeding history(375 patients):51.92 ± 1.56 kPa vs 35.20 ± 0.91 kPa,P < 0.0001).For a cut-off value of 50.7 kPa,LS had 53.33% sensitivity(95% CI:45.42%-61.13%) and 82.67% specificity(95% CI:78.45%-86.36%),with 82.71% PPV(95% CI:78.5%-86.4%) and 53.66% NPV(95% CI:45.72%-61.47%)(AUROC 0.7300,P < 0.0001) for the prediction of esophageal bleeding.展开更多
Spontaneous porto-systemic shunts(SPSS)are frequent in liver cirrhosis and their prevalence increases as liver function deteriorates,probably as a consequence of worsening portal hypertension,but without achieving an ...Spontaneous porto-systemic shunts(SPSS)are frequent in liver cirrhosis and their prevalence increases as liver function deteriorates,probably as a consequence of worsening portal hypertension,but without achieving an effective protection against cirrhosis'complications.Several types of SPSS have been described in the literature,each one associated with different clinical manifestations.In particular,recurrent or persistent hepatic encephalopathy is more frequent in patients with splenorenal shunt,while the presence of gastric varices and consequently the incidence of variceal bleeding is more common in gastrorenal shunt.In the advanced stage,the presence of large SPSS can lead to the so called“portosystemic shunt syndrome”,characterized by a progressive deterioration of hepatic function,hepatic encephalopathy and,sometimes,portal vein thrombosis.The detection of SPSS in patients with liver cirrhosis is recommended in order to prevent or treat recurrent hepatic encephalopathy or variceal bleeding.展开更多
AIM:To investigate glue extrusion after endoscopic N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injection on gastric variceal bleeding and to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of this therapy.METHODS:A total of 148 cirrhotic pati...AIM:To investigate glue extrusion after endoscopic N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injection on gastric variceal bleeding and to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of this therapy.METHODS:A total of 148 cirrhotic patients in our hospital with esophagogastric variceal bleeding(EGVB) were included in this study.N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate was mixed with lipiodol in a 1:1 ratio and injected as a bolus of 1-3 mL according to variceal size.Patients underwent endoscopic follow-up the next week,fourth week,second month,fourth month,and seventh month after injection and then every 6 mo to determine the cast shape.An abdominal X-ray fi lm and ultrasound or computed tomographic scan were also carried out in order to evaluate the time of variceal disappearance and complete extrusion of the cast.The average follow-up time was 13.1 mo.RESULTS:The instantaneous hemostatic rate was 96.2%.Early re-bleeding after injection in 9 cases(6.2%) was estimated from rejection of adhesive.Late re-bleeding occurred in 12 patients(8.1%) at 2-18 mo.The glue cast was extruded into the lumen within one month in 86.1% of patients and eliminated within one year.Light erosion was seen at the injection position and mucosa edema in the second week.The glue casts were extruded in 18 patients(12.1%) after one week and in 64 patients(42.8%) after two weeks.All kinds of glue clumping shapes and colors on endoscopic examination were observed in 127 patients(86.1%) within one month,including punctiform,globular,pillar and variform.Forty one patients(27.9%) had glue extrusion after 3 mo and 28 patients(28.9%) after six months.The extrusion time was not related to the injection volume of histoacryl.Obliteration was seen in 70.2%(104 cases) endoscopically.The main complication was re-bleeding resulting from extrusion.The prognosis of the patients depended on the severity of the underlying liver disease.CONCLUSION:Endoscopic injection of cyanoacrylate is highly effective for gastric varices bleeding.The glue clump shape is correlated with anatomic structure of v展开更多
Hepatic venous pressure gradient(HVPG)is an independent predictor of variceal rebleeding in patients with cirrhosis.After pharmacological and/or endoscopic therapy,the use of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic ...Hepatic venous pressure gradient(HVPG)is an independent predictor of variceal rebleeding in patients with cirrhosis.After pharmacological and/or endoscopic therapy,the use of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)may be necessary in HVPG non-responders,but not in responders.Thus,HVPG measurement may be incorporated into the treatment algorithm for acute variceal bleeding,which further identifies the candidates that should undergo early insertion of TIPS or maintain the traditional pharmacological and/or endoscopic therapy.The potential benefits are to reduce the cost and prevent TIPS-related complications.展开更多
AIM： To identify clinical parameters, and develop an Upper Gastrointesinal Bleeding （UGIB） Etiology Score for predicting the types of UGIB and validate the score. METHODS： Patients with UGIB who underwent endoscop...AIM： To identify clinical parameters, and develop an Upper Gastrointesinal Bleeding （UGIB） Etiology Score for predicting the types of UGIB and validate the score. METHODS： Patients with UGIB who underwent endoscopy within 72 h were enrolled. Clinical and basic laboratory parameters were prospectively collected. Predictive factors for the types of UGIB were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses and were used to generate the UGIB Etiology Score. The best cutoff of the score was defined from the receiver operating curve and prospectively validated in another set of patients with UGIB. RESULTS： Among 261 patients with UGIB, 47 （18%） had variceal and 214 （82%） had non-variceal bleeding. Univariate analysis identified 27 distinct parameters significantly associated with the types of UGIB. Logistic regression analysis identified only 3 independent factors for predicting variceal bleeding; previous diagnosis of cirrhosis or signs of chronic liver disease （OR 22.4, 95% CI 8.3-60.4, P 〈 0.001）, red vomitus （OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.8-11.9, P = 0.02）, and red nasogastric （NG） aspirate （OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.3-8.3, P = 0.011）. The UGIB Etiology Score was calculated from （3.1× previous diagnosis of cirrhosis or signs of chronic liver disease） ＋ （1.5× red vomitus） ＋ （1.2× red NG aspirate）, when 1 and 0 are used for the presence and absence of each factor, respectively. Using a cutoff ≥ 3.1, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value （PPV）, and negative predictive value （NPV） in predicting variceal bleeding were 85%, 81%, 82%, 50%, and 96%, respectively. The score was prospectively validated in cases （46 variceal and 149 another set of 195 UGIB non-variceal bleeding）. The PPV and NPV of a score ≥ 3.1 for variceal bleeding were 79% and 97%, respectively. CONCLUSION： The UGIB Etiology Score, composed of 3 parameters, using a cutoff ≥ 3.1 accurately predicted variceal bleeding and may help to guide the choice of initial therapy for UG展开更多
文摘Variceal bleeding is a life-threatening complication of portal hypertension with a six-week mortality rate of approximately 20%. Patients with medium- or largesized varices can be treated for primary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding using two strategies: non-selective beta-blockers(NSBBs) or endoscopic variceal ligation(EVL). Both treatments are equally effective. Patients with acute variceal bleeding are critically ill patients. The available data suggest that vasoactive drugs, combined with endoscopic therapy and antibiotics, are the best treatment strategy with EVL being the endoscopic procedure of choice. In cases of uncontrolled bleeding, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS) with polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE)-covered stents are recommended. Approximately 60% of the patients experience rebleeding, with a mortality rate of 30%. Secondary prophylaxis should start on day six following the initial bleeding episode. The combination of NSBBs and EVL is the recommended management, whereas TIPS with PTFE-covered stents are the preferred option in patients who fail endoscopic and pharmacologic treatment. Apart from injection sclerotherapy and EVL, other endoscopic procedures, including tissue adhesives, endoloops, endoscopic clipping and argon plasma coagulation, have been used in the management of esophageal varices. However, their efficacy and safety, compared to standard endoscopic treatment, remain to be further elucidated. There are safety issues accompanying endoscopic techniques with aspiration pneumonia occurring at a rate of approximately 2.5%. In conclusion, future research is needed to improve treatment strategies, including novel endoscopic techniques with better efficacy, lower cost, and fewer adverse events.
文摘Bleeding from esophageal varices is a life threatening complication of portal hypertension.Primary prevention of bleeding in patients at risk for a first bleeding episode is therefore a major goal.Medical prophylaxis consists of non-selective beta-blockers like propranolol or carvedilol.Variceal endoscopic band ligation is equally effective but procedure related morbidity is a drawback of the method.Therapy of acute bleeding is based on three strategies:vasopressor drugs like terlipressin,antibiotics and endoscopic therapy.In refractory bleeding,self-expandable stents offer an option for bridging to definite treatments like transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS).Treatment of bleeding from gastric varices depends on vasopressor drugs and on injection of varices with cyanoacrylate.Strategies for primary or secondary prevention are based on non-selective beta-blockers but data from large clinical trials is lacking.Therapy of refractory bleeding relies on shuntprocedures like TIPS.Bleeding from ectopic varices,portal hypertensive gastropathy and gastric antral vascular ectasia-syndrome is less common.Possible medical and endoscopic treatment options are discussed.
基金Supported partially by a Grant from Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación SAF2009-08354Salvador Augustin is a recipient of a Río Hortega’ Fellowship Grant from the Instituto de Salud Carlos Ⅲ and is enrolled in the postgraduate programme of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
文摘Management of acute variceal bleeding has greatly improved over recent years. Available data indicates that general management of the bleeding cirrhotic patient by an experienced multidisciplinary team plays a major role in the f inal outcome of this complication. It is currently recommended to combine pharmacological and endoscopic therapies for the initial treatment of the acute bleeding. Vasoactive drugs (preferable somatostatin or terlipressin) should be started as soon as a variceal bleeding is suspected (ideally during transfer to hospital) and maintained afterwards for 2-5 d. After stabilizing the patient with cautious fluid and blood support, an emergency diagnostic endoscopy should be done and, as soon as a skilled endoscopist is available, an endoscopic variceal treatment (ligation as f irst choice, sclerotherapy if endoscopic variceal ligation not feasible) should be performed. Antibiotic prophylaxis must be regarded as an integral part of the treatment of acute variceal bleeding and should be started at admission and maintained for at least 7 d. In case of failure to control the acute bleeding, rescue therapies should be immediately started. Shunt therapies (especially tran sjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) are very effective at controlling treatment failures after an acute variceal bleeding. Therapeutic developments and increasing knowledge in the prognosis of this complication may allow optimization of the management strategy by adapting the different treatments to the expected risk of complications for each patient in the near future. Theoretically, this approach would allow the initiation of early aggressive treatments in high-risk patients and spare low-risk individuals unnecessary proce dures. Current research efforts will hopefully clarify this hypothesis and help to further improve the outcomes of the severe complication of cirrhosis.
文摘AIM: To analyze the clinical risk factors for early variceal rebleeding after endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL).METHODS: 342 cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices who received elective EVL to prevent bleeding or rebleeding at our endoscopy center between January 2005 and July 2010.were included in this study.The early rebleeding cases after EVL were confirmed by clinical signs or endoscopy.A case-control study was performed comparing the patients presenting with early rebleeding with those without this complication.RESULTS: The incidence of early rebleeding after EVL was 7.60%,and the morbidity of rebleeding was 26.9%.Stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that four variables were independent risk factors for early rebleeding: moderate to excessive ascites [odds ratio (OR) 62.83,95% CI: 9.39-420.56,P < 0.001],the number of bands placed (OR 17.36,95% CI: 4.00-75.34,P < 0.001),the extent of varices (OR 15.41,95% CI: 2.84-83.52,P = 0.002) and prothrombin time (PT) > 18 s (OR 11.35,95% CI: 1.93-66.70,P = 0.007).CONCLUSION: The early rebleeding rate after EVL is mainly affected by the volume of ascites,number of rubber bands used to ligate,severity of varices and prolonged PT.Effective measures for prevention and treatment should be adopted before and after EVL.
文摘To assess “predictors” of esophageal varices (EV) and variceal bleeding using non-invasive markers in Albanian patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. METHODSOne hundred thirty-nine newly diagnosed cirrhotic patients without variceal bleeding were included in this analysis. Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio (AST/ALT), AST to platelet ratio index (APRI), platelet count to spleen diameter (PC/SD), fibrosis-4-index (FIB-4), fibrosis index (FI) and King’s Score were measured for all participants. All patients underwent endoscopic assessment within two days of hospitalization. The major end point was the first esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) event. The diagnostic performance of “predictors” for the presence of EV and EVB were assessed by sensitivity and specificity values obtained from the receiver operating characteristics procedure. RESULTSFIB-4 was the only strong and significant “predictor” of esophageal varices (multivariable-adjusted OR = 1.57 for one unit increment; 95%CI: 1.15-2.14). Furthermore, a cut-off value of 3.23 for FIB-4 was a significant predictor of esophageal varices, with a sensitivity of 72%, a specificity of 58% and a proportion of area under the curve (AUC) of 66% (P = 0.01). During the follow-up (median: 31.5 mo; interquartile range: 11-59 mo), 34 patients (24%) experienced a first EVB. FIB-4 was a poor predictor of EVB (the AUC was only 51%) for a cut-off value of 5.02. Furthermore, the AUC of AST/ALT, APRI, PC/SD, FI, MELD and King’s Score ranged from 45% to 55%. None of the non-invasive markers turned out to be a useful predictor of EVB. CONCLUSIONDespite the low diagnostic accuracy, FIB-4 appears the most efficient non-invasive liver fibrosis marker which can be used as an initial screening tool for cirrhotic patients.
文摘Bacterial infections are common in cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding,occurring in 20%within48 h.Outcomes including early rebleeding and failure to control bleeding are strongly associated with bacterial infection.However,mortality from variceal bleeding is largely determined by the severity of liver disease.Besides a higher Child-Pugh score,patients with hepatocellular carcinoma are particularly susceptible to infections.Despite several hypotheses that include increased use of instruments,greater risk of aspiration pneumonia and higher bacterial translocation,it remains debatable whether variceal bleeding results in infection or vice versa but studies suggest that antibiotic prophylaxis prior to endoscopy and up to 8 h is useful in reducing bacteremia and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.Aerobic gram negative bacilli of enteric origin are most commonly isolated from cultures,but more recently,gram positives and quinolone-resistant organisms are increasingly seen,even though their clinical significance is unclear.Fluoroquinolones(including ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin)used for short term(7 d)have the most robust evidence and are recommended in most expert guidelines.Short term intravenous cephalosporin(especially ceftriaxone),given in a hospital setting with prevalent quinolone-resistant organisms,has been shown in studies to be beneficial,particularly in high risk patients with advanced cirrhosis.
文摘AIM: To evaluate the effect of the shunting branch of the portal vein (PV) (left or right) and the initial stent position (optimal or suboptimal) of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).
文摘BACKGROUND Acute variceal bleeding is one of the deadliest complications of cirrhosis,with a high risk of in-hospital rebleeding and mortality.Some risk scoring systems to predict clinical outcomes in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding have been developed.However,for cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding,data regarding the predictive value of these prognostic scores in predicting in-hospital outcomes are limited and controversial.AIM To validate and compare the overall performance of selected prognostic scoring systems for predicting in-hospital outcomes in cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding.METHODS From March 2017 to June 2019,cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding were retrospectively enrolled at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University.The clinical Rockall score(CRS),AIMS65 score(AIMS65),Glasgow-Blatchford score(GBS),modified GBS(mGBS),Canada-United Kingdom-Australia score(CANUKA),Child-Turcotte-Pugh score(CTP),model for endstage liver disease(MELD)and MELD-Na were calculated.The overall performance of these prognostic scoring systems was evaluated.RESULTS A total of 330 cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding were enrolled;the rates of in-hospital rebleeding and mortality were 20.3%and 10.6%,respectively.For inhospital rebleeding,the discriminative ability of the CTP and CRS were clinically acceptable,with area under the receiver operating characteristic curves(AUROCs)of 0.717(0.648-0.787)and 0.716(0.638-0.793),respectively.The other tested scoring systems had poor discriminative ability(AUROCs<0.7).For inhospital mortality,the CRS,CTP,AIMS65,MELD-Na and MELD showed excellent discriminative ability(AUROCs>0.8).The AUROCs of the mGBS,CANUKA and GBS were relatively small,but clinically acceptable(AUROCs>0.7).Furthermore,the calibration of all scoring systems was good for either inhospital rebleeding or death.CONCLUSION For cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding,in-hospital rebleeding and mortality rates remain high.The CTP and CRS can be used clinically t
文摘BACKGROUND The albumin-bilirubin(ALBI)score was validated as a prognostic indicator in patients with liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma.Incorporating platelet count in the platelet-albumin-bilirubin(PALBI)score improved validity in predicting outcome of patients undergoing resection and ablation.AIM To evaluate the PALBI score in predicting outcome of acute variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis.METHODS The data of 1517 patients with cirrhosis presenting with variceal bleeding were analyzed.Child Turcotte Pugh(CTP)class,Model of End-stage Liver Disease(MELD),ALBI and PALBI scores were calculated on admission,and were correlated to the outcome of variceal bleeding.Areas under the receivingoperator characteristic curve(AUROC)were calculated for survival and rebleeding.RESULTS Mean age was 52.6 years;1176 were male(77.5%),69 CTP-A(4.5%),434 CTP-B(29.2%),1014 CTP-C(66.8%);306 PALBI-1(20.2%),285 PALBI-2(18.8%),and 926 PALBI-3(61.1%).Three hundred and thirty-two patients died during hospitalization(21.9%).Bleeding-related mortality occurred in 11%of CTP-B,28%of CTP-C,in 21.8%of PALBI-2 and 34.4%of PALBI-3 patients.The AUROC for predicting survival of acute variceal bleeding was 0.668,0.689,0.803 and 0.871 for CTP,MELD,ALBI and PALBI scores,respectively.For predicting rebleeding the AUROC was 0.681,0.74,0.766 and 0.794 for CTP,MELD,ALBI and PALBI scores,respectively.CONCLUSION PALBI score on admission is a good prognostic indicator for patients with acute variceal bleeding and predicts early mortality and rebleeding.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81272640 and No.81470848Guangdong Science and Technology Program,No.2010B031200008 and No.2012B031800043
文摘Endoscopic variceal obturation of gastric varices with tissue glue is considered the first choice for management of gastric varices, and is usually safe and effective. However, there is still a low incidence of complications and some are even fatal. Here, we present a case in which endoscopic variceal ligation caused laceration of the esophageal varicose vein with tissue glue emboli and massive bleeding after 3 mo. Cessation of bleeding was achieved via variceal sclerotherapy using a cap-fitted gastroscope. Methods of recognizing an esophageal varicose vein with tissue glue plug are discussed.
文摘AIM:To determine if liver stiffness(LS) measurements by means of transient elastography(TE) correlate with the presence of significant esophageal varices(EV) and if they can predict the occurrence of variceal bleeding.METHODS:We studied 1000 cases of liver cirrhosis divided into 2 groups:patients without EV or with grade 1 varices(647 cases) and patients with significant varices(grade 2 and 3 EV)(353 cases).We divided the group of 540 cases with EV into another 2 subgroups:without variceal hemorrhage(375 patients) and patients with a history of variceal bleeding(165 cases).We compared the LS values between the groups using the unpaired t-test and we established cut-off LS values for the presence of significant EV and for the risk of bleeding by using the ROC curve.RESULTS:The mean LS values in the 647 patients without or with grade 1 EV was statistically significantly lower than in the 353 patients with significant EV(26.29 ± 0.60 kPa vs 45.21 ± 1.07 kPa,P < 0.0001).Using the ROC curve we established a cut-off value of 31 kPa for the presence of EV,with 83% sensitivity(95%CI:79.73%-85.93%) and 62% specificity(95% CI:57.15%-66.81%),with 76.2% positive predictive value(PPV)(95% CI:72.72%-79.43%) and 71.3% negative predictive value(NPV)(95% CI:66.37%-76.05%)(AUROC 0.7807,P < 0.0001).The mean LS values in the group with a history of variceal bleeding(165 patients) was statistically significantly higher than in the group with no bleeding history(375 patients):51.92 ± 1.56 kPa vs 35.20 ± 0.91 kPa,P < 0.0001).For a cut-off value of 50.7 kPa,LS had 53.33% sensitivity(95% CI:45.42%-61.13%) and 82.67% specificity(95% CI:78.45%-86.36%),with 82.71% PPV(95% CI:78.5%-86.4%) and 53.66% NPV(95% CI:45.72%-61.47%)(AUROC 0.7300,P < 0.0001) for the prediction of esophageal bleeding.
文摘Spontaneous porto-systemic shunts(SPSS)are frequent in liver cirrhosis and their prevalence increases as liver function deteriorates,probably as a consequence of worsening portal hypertension,but without achieving an effective protection against cirrhosis'complications.Several types of SPSS have been described in the literature,each one associated with different clinical manifestations.In particular,recurrent or persistent hepatic encephalopathy is more frequent in patients with splenorenal shunt,while the presence of gastric varices and consequently the incidence of variceal bleeding is more common in gastrorenal shunt.In the advanced stage,the presence of large SPSS can lead to the so called“portosystemic shunt syndrome”,characterized by a progressive deterioration of hepatic function,hepatic encephalopathy and,sometimes,portal vein thrombosis.The detection of SPSS in patients with liver cirrhosis is recommended in order to prevent or treat recurrent hepatic encephalopathy or variceal bleeding.
文摘AIM:To investigate glue extrusion after endoscopic N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injection on gastric variceal bleeding and to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of this therapy.METHODS:A total of 148 cirrhotic patients in our hospital with esophagogastric variceal bleeding(EGVB) were included in this study.N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate was mixed with lipiodol in a 1:1 ratio and injected as a bolus of 1-3 mL according to variceal size.Patients underwent endoscopic follow-up the next week,fourth week,second month,fourth month,and seventh month after injection and then every 6 mo to determine the cast shape.An abdominal X-ray fi lm and ultrasound or computed tomographic scan were also carried out in order to evaluate the time of variceal disappearance and complete extrusion of the cast.The average follow-up time was 13.1 mo.RESULTS:The instantaneous hemostatic rate was 96.2%.Early re-bleeding after injection in 9 cases(6.2%) was estimated from rejection of adhesive.Late re-bleeding occurred in 12 patients(8.1%) at 2-18 mo.The glue cast was extruded into the lumen within one month in 86.1% of patients and eliminated within one year.Light erosion was seen at the injection position and mucosa edema in the second week.The glue casts were extruded in 18 patients(12.1%) after one week and in 64 patients(42.8%) after two weeks.All kinds of glue clumping shapes and colors on endoscopic examination were observed in 127 patients(86.1%) within one month,including punctiform,globular,pillar and variform.Forty one patients(27.9%) had glue extrusion after 3 mo and 28 patients(28.9%) after six months.The extrusion time was not related to the injection volume of histoacryl.Obliteration was seen in 70.2%(104 cases) endoscopically.The main complication was re-bleeding resulting from extrusion.The prognosis of the patients depended on the severity of the underlying liver disease.CONCLUSION:Endoscopic injection of cyanoacrylate is highly effective for gastric varices bleeding.The glue clump shape is correlated with anatomic structure of v
文摘Hepatic venous pressure gradient(HVPG)is an independent predictor of variceal rebleeding in patients with cirrhosis.After pharmacological and/or endoscopic therapy,the use of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)may be necessary in HVPG non-responders,but not in responders.Thus,HVPG measurement may be incorporated into the treatment algorithm for acute variceal bleeding,which further identifies the candidates that should undergo early insertion of TIPS or maintain the traditional pharmacological and/or endoscopic therapy.The potential benefits are to reduce the cost and prevent TIPS-related complications.
文摘AIM： To identify clinical parameters, and develop an Upper Gastrointesinal Bleeding （UGIB） Etiology Score for predicting the types of UGIB and validate the score. METHODS： Patients with UGIB who underwent endoscopy within 72 h were enrolled. Clinical and basic laboratory parameters were prospectively collected. Predictive factors for the types of UGIB were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses and were used to generate the UGIB Etiology Score. The best cutoff of the score was defined from the receiver operating curve and prospectively validated in another set of patients with UGIB. RESULTS： Among 261 patients with UGIB, 47 （18%） had variceal and 214 （82%） had non-variceal bleeding. Univariate analysis identified 27 distinct parameters significantly associated with the types of UGIB. Logistic regression analysis identified only 3 independent factors for predicting variceal bleeding; previous diagnosis of cirrhosis or signs of chronic liver disease （OR 22.4, 95% CI 8.3-60.4, P 〈 0.001）, red vomitus （OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.8-11.9, P = 0.02）, and red nasogastric （NG） aspirate （OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.3-8.3, P = 0.011）. The UGIB Etiology Score was calculated from （3.1× previous diagnosis of cirrhosis or signs of chronic liver disease） ＋ （1.5× red vomitus） ＋ （1.2× red NG aspirate）, when 1 and 0 are used for the presence and absence of each factor, respectively. Using a cutoff ≥ 3.1, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value （PPV）, and negative predictive value （NPV） in predicting variceal bleeding were 85%, 81%, 82%, 50%, and 96%, respectively. The score was prospectively validated in cases （46 variceal and 149 another set of 195 UGIB non-variceal bleeding）. The PPV and NPV of a score ≥ 3.1 for variceal bleeding were 79% and 97%, respectively. CONCLUSION： The UGIB Etiology Score, composed of 3 parameters, using a cutoff ≥ 3.1 accurately predicted variceal bleeding and may help to guide the choice of initial therapy for UG
