Comparison between endoscopic sclerotherapy and band ligation for hemostasis of acute variceal bleeding

Table 1 Patient demographic characteristics and portal hypertension etiology n (%)

	Ligationn = 50	Sclerotherapyn = 50
Mean age (years)	54.48	50.24	P1 = 0.47
Gender
Male	37 (74.0)	35 (70.0 )	P2 = 0.58
Female	13 (26.0)	15 (30.0 )
Etiology
Alcohol	19 (38.0)	17 (34.0)	P2 = 0.83
Virus	19 (38.0)	15 (30.0)	P2 = 0.53
Schistosomiasisa	6 (12.0)	11 (22.0)	P2 = 0.29
Secondary biliary cirrhosis	4 (8.0)	3 (6.0)	P2 = 0.99
Cryptogenic cirrhosis	1 (2.0)	2 (4.0)	P2 = 0.99
Primary biliary cirrhosis	1(2.0)	2 (4.0)	P2 = 0.99
Child-Pugh Classification
Child A	2 ( 4.0)	3 (6.0)
Child B	22 (44.0)	21 (42.0)	P1 =0.69
Child C	20 (40.0)	15 (30.0)

P¹: Student's t test; P²: χ² test;

^a: Not included in Child-Pugh classification.

Table 2 Clinical and endoscopic findings at index bleeding n (%)

	Band Ligation (n=50)	Sclerotherapy (n =50)
Size of Varices
Small	10	13
Medium	5	7
Large	5	4
Small/Medium	17	17
Small/Large	2	2
Medium/Large	11	7
Digestive hemorrhage intensity
Mild	15 (30)	17 (34)
Moderate	20 (40)	19 (38)	P = 0.32
Severe	15 (30)	14 (28)
Hemoglobin at admission
mean ± SD	9.52 ± 3.25	9.47 ± 2.55	P = 0.96
Red spots
Presence	46(92.8)	43(86.8)	P = 0.64
Absence	4 (8.8)	7 (14.8)
Endoscopic criteria for variceal bleeding
Active bleeding	5 (10)	10 (20)
Platelet-fibrin plug	35 (70)	34 (68)	P = 0.43
Varices and gastric blood	10 (20)	6 (12)

Table 3 Occurrences of re-bleeding, success and mortality up to 5 d n (%)

Group	Re-bleeding	Success	Mortality
Sclerotherapy (n = 50)	7 (14.0)	43 (86.0)	3 (6.0)
Band Ligation (n = 50)	11 (22.0)	39 (78.0)	6 (12.0)

P = 0.63

Table 4 Occurrences of re-bleeding, success and mortality up to 5 d, excluding patients with schistosomiasis n (%)

Group	Success	Re-bleeding	Mortality
Sclerotherapy (n = 39)	33 (84.6)	6 (15.4)	3 (7.7)
Band Ligation (n = 44)	33 (75.0)	11 (25.0)	6 (13.6)
		P = 0.41	P = 0.49

Table 5 Occurrences of re-bleeding, success and mortality from 5 d to 6 wk n (%)

Group	Re-bleeding	Success	Mortality
Sclerotherapy (n = 42)	2 (4.8)	36 (86.0)	6 (14.0)
Band Ligation (n = 37)	1 (2.7)	33 (89.0)	4 (11.0)

P = 0.58

Table 6 Mortality rate through 6 wk n (%)

Group	Deaths through 6 wk
	Mortalityup to 5 d	Mortality after 5 d	Total Mortality	Success
Sclerotherapy (n = 45)	3 (7.0)	6 (13.0)	9 (20.0)	36 (80.0)
Band Ligation (n = 43)	6 (14.0)	4 (9.0)	10 (23.0)	33 (77.0)
				P = 0.40