COMPARISON OF ENDOSCOPIC BAND LIGATION AND ARGON PLASMA COAGULATION FOR MANAGEMENT OF GASTRIC VASCULAR ECTASIAS IN PATIENTS OF CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE

Aims To compare the efficacy of endoscopic band ligation (EBL) and argon plasma coagulation (APC) for management of gastric vascular ectasias (GVE).

Hypothesis EBL is comparable to APC for management of patients with GVE.

Methods Study period was 6 months i.e. from 1st February 2021 to 1st August 2021; carried out in Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.

Study design was Randomized controlled trial.

20 patients of chronic liver disease who had presented with upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to Gastric Vascular Ectasias were recruited and randomly divided into two groups of 10 patients each. Group A was managed with EBL and group B was managed with APC. After initial endoscopy and therapy (EBL or APC) these patients were followed up at 2 and 4 weeks.

Efficacy of therapy was assessed by using clinical, laboratory and endoscopic parameters

Results One patient from both groups was lost to follow up.

In group A (EBL ) 3 out of 9 patients (33%) needed repeat therapy at 4 weeks and 6 out of 9 patients (66%) did not need repeat therapy during our study period.

In group B (APC ) 5 out of 9 patients (56%) needed repeat therapy at 4 weeks. 4 out of 9 patients (44%) did not need repeat therapy during our study period.

No significant procedure related side effects were encountered in either groups

Conclusions Endoscopic Band Ligation is comparable in efficacy to Argon Plasma Coagulation for management of Gastric Vascular ectasias, and has a similar side effect profile.

Publication History

Article published online:
14 April 2022