Frequency of re-bleeding after esophageal variceal banding in cirrhotic patients at 3 weeks

Background: acute esophageal variceal bleeding is a deadly complication in cirrhotic patients. without proper treatment recurrent bleeding occurs in 30-40% within next 2-3 days,and upto 60% within 1 week. aim: to determine frequency of re-bleeding after esophageal variceal banding incirrhotic patients during 3 weeks. study design: descriptive study place and duration: department of medicine,lahore general hospital,lahore. six months from 03-03-2015 to 02-09-2015. methods: total 220 patients with active variceal bleeding were included in this study. on identification of bandable varices,endoscopic bands were applied. patients were followed for 3 weeks for history of hematemesis or melena or fall in hemoglobin of 2grams or more and endoscopy performed and endoscopic findings noted. results: out of 220 patients,115(52.3%) were males and 105(47.7%) were females,patients ranged between 20-70 years of age with mean age of 54.86±9.83 years. according tochild-pugh classification 23 patients (10.5%) were child a,64 patients (29%) were child b and 133 patients (60.5%) belonged to child class c. red wale markings were observed in 132 patients (60%). evidence of re-bleed observed in 14 patients (6.4%).amongst these14 patients 13(92.8%) had more than 2 columns of varices and belonged to child class c,all 14(100%) had red wale marks conclusion: endoscopic variceal band ligation is an effective modality for control of esophageal variceal bleeding. re-bleeding after variceal banding was 6.4%.major factors contributing to rebleeding werenumber of columns of varices,presence of red signs and severity of cirrhosis.