What is endoscopic intervention for esophagogastric fundic varices?

  Endoscopic interventions are divided into sclerotherapy and ligation, both of which are good treatments for bleeding varices in the esophagogastric fundus. Prophylactic treatment can also be done for patients who have not bled before and have heavy varices and may be expected to be at risk of bleeding in the near future. Although both methods are treated under direct gastroscopic view, their treatment methods and mechanisms are different.  Venous sclerotherapy: It is performed by inserting an injection needle through the gastroscopic biopsy hole, then extending the tip of the needle and piercing into the varicose vein, and the assistant injects sclerosing agent into the varicose vein through the injection needle. The mechanism is: the sclerosing agent causes the formation of sterile inflammation in the inner wall of the varicose vein, enhances the inner covering of the vein, thickens the wall of the vein p the lumen of the vein becomes narrow p smaller or occluded, and achieves the purpose of reducing or disappearing the degree of varicose vein. Suitable for: 1. acute ruptured vein bleeding; 2. previous history of ruptured vein bleeding; 3. vein recurrence after surgical procedure; 4. not suitable for surgical treatment; 5. no previous history of bleeding, but heavy varicose veins and high risk of bleeding.  Venous ligation treatment: Before treatment, a ligature with a ligature ring is fitted on the front end of the gastroscope, then the gastroscope is inserted into the esophagus, and the front end of the gastroscope is aligned with the varicose vein above the cardia, and the varicose vein is sucked into the ligature lumen by negative pressure attraction, and the nylon cord is pulled to pop out the ligature ring and ligate the varicose vein. The mechanism is: mechanical blockage of varicose vein blood flow (similar to surgical dissection). After the ligature, the varicose vein blood flow is blocked, resulting in local tissue ischemia and necrosis, granulation tissue proliferation, necrotic tissue detachment, superficial ulcer formation, and finally scar tissue formation and varicose vein disappearance, to control or reduce varicose vein rupture bleeding. The indications are the same as sclerotherapy, but the treatment is risky in the following cases: 1. esophageal varices with significant fundic varices and combined with ulcers, thrombosis or positive red sign; 2. with severe renal dysfunction, massive ascites, jaundice, and after several recent sclerotherapy treatments or with small varices.  Although sclerotherapy is applicable to both esophageal and fundic varices, the sclerosing agents used are different. While esophageal varices are generally treated with 5% sodium cod liver oil and 1% ethoxylated sclerosing alcohol, fundic varices are generally treated with tissue adhesive because the pressure in the fundic varices is high and the postoperative needle is prone to bleeding and difficult to control, while the tissue adhesive coagulates in a short time. Also, the treatment methods differ in that the fundic varices are treated by sandwich method while the esophageal varices are treated by direct injection of sclerosing agent.  Sleeve treatment is mainly used for esophageal varices, and fundic varices treatment is generally used less, mainly because: firstly, the fundic varices are thick and not easy to be snared as a whole; secondly, it is difficult to operate; thirdly, the pressure inside the fundic varices is high. These factors can affect the whole treatment effect, and the main complication is that the ligature ring is prone to bleeding after surgery due to early detachment.  In conclusion, endoscopic intervention is an effective method for treating esophagogastric fundic variceal bleeding, but it is also a highly technical and risky operation and treatment technique, and the specific patients who are suitable for the treatment and what methods should be taken in the treatment should be decided by the professional physicians according to the specific conditions.