[Bleeding from rectal varices in a patient with severe decompensated cirrhosis: success of endoscopic band ligation. A case report and review of the literature]

Gastroenterol Clin Biol. 2006 May;30(5):783-5. doi: 10.1016/s0399-8320(06)73315-2.
[Article in French]

Abstract

In patients with cirrhosis, portal hypertension can be complicated by bleeding rectal varices. Treatment of bleeding rectal varices is not well established because clinical therapeutic trials are scarce in the literature and there are only a few case reports. In most cases, first line treatment is endoscopic (band ligation or sclerotherapy) and in case of failure or rebleeding, portosystemic shunts are the second line treatment. The indication of endoscopic treatment is not always easy in patients with cirrhosis and impaired liver function as well as major haemostatic problems. We report the case of a patient with severe decompensated cirrhosis and bleeding rectal varices who was successfully treated by endoscopic band ligation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / complications
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / surgery*
  • Hemostasis, Endoscopic*
  • Humans
  • Ligation
  • Liver Cirrhosis / complications*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Rectum / blood supply*
  • Rectum / surgery
  • Varicose Veins / complications
  • Varicose Veins / surgery*