system
Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Esophageal and Gastric Varices, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage, Hemostasis, Endoscopic, Hepatitis C, Humans, Ligation, Liver Cirrhosis, Male, Middle Aged, Polidocanol, Polyethylene Glycols, Sclerosing Solutions, Time Factors, Treatment Outcome.
user
Is endoscopic variceal ligation a sufficient procedure for the treatment of oesophageal varices in patients with hepatitis C liver cirrhosis : comparison with injection sclerotherapy? Context: Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) is a recently developed alternative to endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) for the treatment of oesophageal varices. Endoscopic variceal ligation and EIS were compared in an attempt to clarify the efficacy and safety of EVL for patients with cirrhosis due to hepatitis C. Endoscopic variceal ligation was performed in 60 patients and EIS in 30. Varices were eradicated in all patients by EVL and 87% (26 out of 30) by EIS. There was no significant difference between EVL and EIS in relation to the incidence of bleeding and the 5 year survival rate after treatment. There were no severe complications except mild substernal pain after EVL, while pulmonary embolism occurred in one patient receiving EIS.
assistant
Endoscopic variceal ligation is a safe and effective technique for eradicating oesophageal varices in patients with hepatitis C cirrhosis. Final Decision: yes