Portal hypertension: a surgical hepatologist's view of current management

Abstract

Current strategies for management of acute esophageal variceal bleeding and for long-term treatment after an episode of variceal bleeding are outlined. Acute variceal bleeding is best managed by means of endoscopic therapy (sclerotherapy, band ligation, or “superglue”), whereas the role of pharmacologic agents remains controversial. In cases of failure of endoscopic therapy, a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure, an emergency shunt, or a transection operation should be performed. Patients who experience an acute variceal bleeding episode require long-term management to prevent recurrent bleeding. Endoscopic treatment is preferred using either sclerotherapy or banding. The principal alternative is long-term pharmacologic therapy with beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agents. Major surgical procedures should be reserved for failures of endoscopic or pharmacologic therapy. The distal splenorenal shunt or the new narrow-diameter polytetrafluoroethylene portacaval shunt is preferred. All patients who are first seen with acute variceal bleeding should be considered for a liver transplant, although few will ultimately become transplant candidates. Patients with end-stage liver disease who are not transplant candidates should be identified and major high-cost therapy discontinued. Prophylactic therapy prior to variceal bleeding should be considered in selected patients. At present, only pharmacologic therapy is justified. The major problem remains identification of those patients at high risk for a first episode of variceal bleeding.