RESUMEN
Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) is a new method for treating oesophageal varices, which was developed to reduce the high complication rate seen with endoscopic sclerotherapy. This technique consists of mechanical occlusion and thrombosis applying small elastic bands around the variceal channels in the distal oesophagus. We report 39 patients treated with EVL during the period from April 1995 to December 1996. The average age of patients was 50.1 years, 33 men, 6 women. Portal hypertension was caused by alcoholic liver disease in 36 patients. Seven patients died within 1 month. Varices were eradicated in 28 patients. Variceal eradication required an average of 3, 4 sessions. Active bleeding was controlled by EVL in 11 patients out of 12. Recurrent bleeding occurred in 14 out of 39 patients (35%). One oesophageal perforation occurred in connection with overtube placement. There were no other major complications. In conclusion EVL is an effective treatment for bleeding oesophageal varices.
Asunto(s)
Várices Esofágicas y Gástricas/cirugía , Endoscopía , Várices Esofágicas y Gástricas/complicaciones , Várices Esofágicas y Gástricas/etiología , Esofagoscopía , Femenino , Hemorragia/etiología , Hemorragia/cirugía , Humanos , Ligadura , Masculino , Persona de Mediana EdadRESUMEN
Intestinal obstruction due to gallstone is a rare, but quite severe gastrointestinal disorder, which always requires a rapid and correct diagnosis to achieve optimal therapy. Digestive endoscopy is an important method to determine the level of the bowel obstruction and to plan an optimal therapeutic strategy. Our present case demonstrates that in a high-risk patient, a combined endoscopic and surgical therapy is the best choice to solve the obstruction of the colon, of the stomach and of the common bile duct caused by multiple gallstones.