COMPARISON AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ULCERATIONS INDUCED BY ENDOSCOPIC LIGATION OF ESOPHAGEAL-VARICES VERSUS ENDOSCOPIC SCLEROTHERAPY

Esophageal variceal ligation and esophageal variceal sclerotherapy are two modes of therapy commonly used in the treatment of esophageal var ices. The purpose of this study was to compare the local complications of these procedures, with special emphasis on production and healing of ulcerations. Twenty-three patients entered the study. Ten patients were randomized to esophageal variceal ligation and 13 to esophageal v ariceal sclerotherapy. Esophageal variceal ligation produced shallow ( 0.6 +/- 0.07 mm) circular ulcerations with a large surface area (85.4 +/- 20.3 mm2) that resolved in 14.4 +/- 1.4 days. Esophageal variceal sclerotherapy produced linear, deep ulcerations (1.8 +/- 0.01 mm) with a smaller surface area (13.3 +/- 2.8 mm2) and resolution in 20.9 +/- 1.3 days. These differences were statistically significant by independ ent t test (p < 0.0001). Esophageal variceal ligation patients require d 3.6 +/- 0.4 sessions to achieve obliteration, whereas esophageal var iceal sclerotherapy patients required 6.2 +/- 0.5 sessions (independen t t test, p < 0.0001). No significant difference was noted between the two groups with regard to death or stricture formation.