Esophageal varices are expanded veins of the submucosa that develop in patients with portal hypertension. They develop as collaterals between the portal vein and the superior vena cava. Varices are seen when the HPVG rises >12mmHG and can lead to a life-threatening bleeding episode. Endoscopic band ligation (EBL) is the treatment of choice of acute variceal bleeding. It is also performed for primary and secondary prophylaxis of bleeding from esophageal varices. After EBL, patients are at risk of postinterventional bleeding. Therefore, patients are often hospitalized until endoscopy proves all applied ligation bands have dropped off. At present, there is no standardized algorithm for surveillance of patients after EBL. Furthermore, risk factors for bleeding complications after EBL are poorly evaluated. The available studies mostly investigated patient collectives .after endoscopic sclerotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate bleeding behaviour after EBL, to make recommendations for in- and out-patient surveillance after EBL and to analyze independent risk factors for bleeding complications after EBL.

Background: Endoscopic band ligation (EBL) is generally accepted as the treatment of choice for bleeding from esophageal varices. It is also used for secondary prophylaxis of esophageal variceal hemorrhage. However, there is no data or guidelines concerning endoscopic control of ligation ulcers. We conducted a retrospective study of EBL procedures analyzing bleeding complications after EBL. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from patients who underwent EBL. We analyzed several data points, including indication for the procedure, bleeding events and the time interval between EBL and bleeding. Results: 255 patients and 387 ligation sessions were included in the analysis. We observed an overall bleeding rate after EBL of 7.8%. Bleeding events after elective treatment (3.9%) were significantly lower than those after treatment for acute variceal hemorrhage (12.1%). The number of bleeding events from ligation ulcers and variceal rebleeding was 14 and 15, respectively. The bleeding rate from the ligation site in the group who underwent emergency ligation was 7.1% and 0.5% in the group who underwent elective ligation. Incidence of variceal rebleeding did not vary significantly. Seventy-five percent of all bleeding episodes after elective treatment occurred within four days after EBL. 20/22 of bleeding events after emergency ligation occured within 11 days after treatment. Elective EBL has a lower risk of bleeding from treatment-induced ulceration than emergency ligation. Conclusions: Patients who underwent EBL for treatment of acute variceal bleeding should be kept under medical surveillance for 11 days. After elective EBL, it may be reasonable to restrict the period of surveillance to four days or even perform the procedure in an out-patient setting.

Background: Endoscopic band ligation (EBL) is generally accepted as the treatment of choice for bleeding from esophageal varices. It is also used for secondary prophylaxis of esophageal variceal hemorrhage. However, there is no data or guidelines concerning endoscopic control of ligation ulcers. We conducted a retrospective study of EBL procedures analyzing bleeding complications after EBL. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from patients who underwent EBL. We analyzed several data points, including indication for the procedure, bleeding events and the time interval between EBL and bleeding. Results: 255 patients and 387 ligation sessions were included in the analysis. We observed an overall bleeding rate after EBL of 7.8%. Bleeding events after elective treatment (3.9%) were significantly lower than those after treatment for acute variceal hemorrhage (12.1%). The number of bleeding events from ligation ulcers and variceal rebleeding was 14 and 15, respectively. The bleeding rate from the ligation site in the group who underwent emergency ligation was 7.1% and 0.5% in the group who underwent elective ligation. Incidence of variceal rebleeding did not vary significantly. Seventy-five percent of all bleeding episodes after elective treatment occurred within four days after EBL. 20/22 of bleeding events after emergency ligation occured within 11 days after treatment. Elective EBL has a lower risk of bleeding from treatment-induced ulceration than emergency ligation. Conclusions: Patients who underwent EBL for treatment of acute variceal bleeding should be kept under medical surveillance for 11 days. After elective EBL, it may be reasonable to restrict the period of surveillance to four days or even perform the procedure in an out-patient setting.

Esophageal varices are expanded veins of the submucosa that develop in patients with portal hypertension. They develop as collaterals between the portal vein and the superior vena cava. Varices are seen when the HPVG rises >12mmHG and can lead to a life-threatening bleeding episode. Endoscopic band ligation (EBL) is the treatment of choice of acute variceal bleeding. It is also performed for primary and secondary prophylaxis of bleeding from esophageal varices. After EBL, patients are at risk of postinterventional bleeding. Therefore, patients are often hospitalized until endoscopy proves all applied ligation bands have dropped off. At present, there is no standardized algorithm for surveillance of patients after EBL. Furthermore, risk factors for bleeding complications after EBL are poorly evaluated. The available studies mostly investigated patient collectives .after endoscopic sclerotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate bleeding behaviour after EBL, to make recommendations for in- and out-patient surveillance after EBL and to analyze independent risk factors for bleeding complications after EBL.