Prophylactic cyanoacrylate injection for gastric extension of esophageal varices: a randomized controlled trial

Gastric variceal bleeding is more severe and fatal than esophageal bleeding. Injection of cyanoacrylate into bleeding gastric varices is recommended, but prophylactic injection is debatable. Aim of this study is to evaluate prophylactic cyanoacrylate injection into gastric extension of esophageal varices type 2 (GOV2).

This randomized controlled trial included 75 patients (3 groups) with risky or bleeding esophageal varices and non-bleeding GOV2. Group A received a cyanoacrylate GOV2 injection, esophageal variceal band ligation (EBL), and β-blocker (BB); group B received EBL and BB; and group C received EBL. Follow-up for ≥ 24 weeks to check for bleeding or death was performed.

Baseline variables were comparable among the 3 groups. During follow-up (median, 37.5 weeks), increasing gastric extension and or bleeding risk signs were significantly lower in group A (0%) than B (12%) and C (32%) (p < 0.001). Bleeding occurred more in groups B (24%) and C (24%) than in A (8%) (p = 0.2). Gastric extension size was an independent predictor of bleeding (p = 0.03). Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) decreased in groups A (24%) and B (24%) more than in C (8%) (p = 0.5). Mortality rates were 0.0% in group A, 8% in B, and 4% in C (p = 0.2).

Prophylactic cyanoacrylate injection into GOV2 before EBL significantly decreased the varix size and risk signs for bleeding with a statistically insignificant tendency to decrease the bleeding rate. A large gastric extension was an independent predictor of bleeding. Adding β-blockers can potentially decrease PHG and bleeding risk. An independent study with a larger sample size is recommended to confirm the rate of bleeding and test the mortality difference.