Effect of Esophageal Variceal Band Ligation on Hemorrhoids, Anorectal Varices, and Portal Hypertensive Colopathy

Background and study aims Although it is known that obliteration of esophageal varices following endoscopic variceal band ligation results in an increase in the incidence of portal hypertensive gastropathy, the effect of variceal ligation on hemorrhoids, anorectal/colonic varices and portal hypertensive colopathy is not known. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of endoscopic variceal band ligation on hemorrhoids, anorectal/colonic varices and portal hypertensive colopathy. Patients and methods A total of 60 consecutive patients with cirrhosis of the liver and portal hypertension were prospectively studied. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and full-length colonoscopy were carried out before the patients underwent endoscopic variceal band ligation for esophageal varices and after obliteration of the varices following band ligation. Results Obliteration of esophageal varices by endoscopic variceal band ligation did not affect the incidence of hemorrhoids (37 % before and after), anorectal varices (40 % before and after), and portal hypertensive colopathy (57 % before and after). Conclusions It is concluded that esophageal variceal band ligation does not affect the incidence of hemorrhoids, anorectal varices or portal hypertensive colopathy in patients with cirrhosis of the liver.