Endoscopic variceal ligation: an alternative to sclerotherapy.

Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) consists of mechanical ligation and thrombosis of varices using elastic "O" rings. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of EVL as definitive therapy for bleeding esophageal varices. During a 16-month period, 68 consecutive patients with bleeding varices had EVL. Fourteen patients died from 3 to 125 (median = 12.5) days after initial EVL. Fifteen (88%) of those actively bleeding at index treatment had bleeding controlled during index hospitalization. Survivors of index hospitalization had a 37% incidence of recurrent bleeding. Thirty-five patients had varices eradicated or reduced to small size with a median of five EVL treatments. No significant treatment-related nonbleeding complications resulted from 265 EVL sessions. EVL appears to control active variceal bleeding and eradicates varices with repeat treatments. EVL results in few nonbleeding complications, and may be employed as a safe alternative to sclerotherapy.