Hemodynamic changes in a patient with esophageal varices after endoscopic injection sclerotherapy evaluated by endoscopic color Doppler ultrasonography

A 46-year-old man with alcoholic cirrhosis was admitted to our hospital for treatment of high-risk esophageal varices in February 2000. Images of the esophageal varices, paraesophageal veins and palisade veins were obtained by endoscopic color Doppler ultrasonography (ECDUS) before endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS). Prophylactic EIS was performed six times per week for esophageal varices, and EIS was continued until the esophageal varices were completely eradicated. In July 2002, endoscopy revealed esophageal varices graded as Cb, F1, Lm, and RC(−), and color flow images of the palisade veins (hepatofugal flow), esophageal varices, and a developed paraesophageal vein were obtained with ECDUS. In April 2003, endoscopy showed esophageal varices graded as Cb, F1, Lm, and RC(−), and color flow images of the palisade veins and esophageal varices were obtained using ECDUS. The blood in the palisade veins flowed in an alternate direction on color flow images, and pulsatile waves were delineated at the gastroesophageal junction. In January 2004, endoscopy revealed esophageal varices graded as F0 and RC(−), and pulsatile waves were delineated in the lower esophagus with ECDUS. However, the esophageal varices and palisade veins had disappeared from color flow images. In conclusion, ECDUS was useful for evaluating hemodynamic changes after EIS.