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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 28, 2014; 20(32): 11326-11332
Published online Aug 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i32.11326
Published online Aug 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i32.11326
Hospitalization for variceal hemorrhage in an era with more prevalent cirrhosis
Nicholas Lim, Steven D Lidofsky, Eric Ganguly, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05401, United States
Michael J Desarno, Department of Biostatistics, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05401, United States
Author contributions: Lim N contributed to the study design, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting of manuscript; Lidofsky SD contributed to the study design, analysis and interpretation of data, critical revision of manuscript; Desarno MJ contributed to statistical analysis, drafting of manuscript; Ganguly E contributed to the study concept and design, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting and revision of manuscript.
Correspondence to: Eric Ganguly, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Smith 235A, Fletcher Allen Health Care, 111 Colchester Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401, United States. eric.ganguly@vtmednet.org
Telephone: +1-802-8476618 Fax: +1-802-8474928
Received: January 17, 2014
Revised: March 11, 2014
Accepted: May 23, 2014
Published online: August 28, 2014
Revised: March 11, 2014
Accepted: May 23, 2014
Published online: August 28, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Strategies to prevent gastroesophageal variceal bleeding, a morbid complication of cirrhosis, have been largely unchanged for 15 years. With the rising burden of cirrhosis over this time, it might be predicted that there would be a parallel increase in hospitalization rates for this complication. The findings from this study show that hospitalization rates for variceal bleeding are in fact decreasing, specifically in non-alcoholic cirrhosis. This raises the possibility that reductions in hospital admissions for variceal bleeding are attributable to more widespread use of prophylactic measures, and that expansion of these measures in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis could further reduce hospitalizations.