Aim of the study: 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).
Material and methods: 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.
Results: 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).
Conclusions: 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 b-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.