[Endoscopic pressure measurement in distal esophageal varices. A prospective study]

Portal pressure in distal oesophageal varices near the cardia was measured 71 times directly during endoscopy in 44 patients (average age: 52 years; 18 female and 26 male subjects) with confirmed diagnosis of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension who had suffered from bleeding of oesophageal varices. No significant differences in portal pressure were seen on grouping the patients according to individual Child stages. However, a significant difference was found (P less than 0.01) on comparing the patients (n = 26) without recurrent bleeding (average follow-up period 10 months) with those who had an early (n = 5) and a late recurrent bleeding (n = 13). Although the number of cases was small a risk group for recurrent bleedings was defined at portal pressure values of 25 mm Hg and higher.