Catheter US probe EUS evaluation of gastric cardia and perigastric vascular structures to predict esophageal variceal recurrence

Background: This study assessed the risk of recurrence of esophageal varices by evaluating the severity of cardia vascular structures in patients with portal hypertension by EUS with a catheter US probe before endoscopic variceal ligation. Methods: Thirty consecutive patients with esophageal varices at high risk for bleeding were studied. Simultaneous conventional endoscopy and EUS with a 20 MHz catheter US probe were performed before endoscopic variceal ligation. By catheter US probe EUS findings, vascular structures in the gastric cardia were classified into 2 grades, mild and severe, and the relationship between the catheter US probe EUS findings and the recurrence rate of esophageal varices was analyzed. Results: Catheter US probe EUS before endoscopic variceal ligation demonstrated cardial submucosal varices in all patients, whereas conventional endoscopy revealed cardial varices in only 21 patients (70.0%, NS). Patients with recurrent esophageal varices after endoscopic variceal ligation were more likely to have severe-grade perforating veins before treatment than those without recurrence (71.4% vs. 12.5%, p < 0.01). Patients with severe as opposed to mild-grade perforating veins before treatment had a significantly higher recurrence rate (90.9% vs. 21.0%, p < 0.01%). Conclusions: Catheter US probe EUS findings for cardial vascular structures before treatment are useful for predicting the likelihood of recurrence of esophageal varices. (Gastrointest Endosc 2002;55:197-203.)