BACKGROUND: Oesophageal varices (EV) rupture remains one of the most severe complications of cirrhosis. As the gold standard to predict this accident, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) itself also has a weakness. Not all patients are convenient with this modality in clinical practice apart from the risk and cost burden. Hence, the search for other non-invasive modalities with high accuracy is still noteworthy. Among them, spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) with 100 Hz probe, liver stiffness measurement (LSM), and the aspartate amino transferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) score became popular and intensively studied with good accuracy, but the results remain conflicting. This study aims to investigate the performance of SSM, LSM, APRI score, and their combination especially as a screening tool for predicting EV in liver cirrhosis patients.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we included 141 patients with liver cirrhosis who had undergone endoscopy, SSM, LSM, and APRI score calculation between January and March 2023 were enrolled. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed by the area under the receiver-operator curve (AUC). Transient elastography (TE) measurement was performed using a spleen-dedicated FibroScan with a 100-Hz probe.
RESULTS: Of the 141 patients, the most common aetiology was hepatitis B in 71 patients (50.4 %). EV were found in 116 patients. Using the AUC, SSM at a cutoff of 40 kPa had the best performance with an AUC of 0.892 (CI 95 %: 0.814-0.969, p <0.0001), with sensitivity 88.79 % and specificity 80 %). Meanwhile, LSM and APRI score had an AUC of 0.832 (CI 95 %: 0.742-0.922, p <0.0001) and 0.780 (CI 95 %: 0.660-0.900, p <0.0001), respectively. The combination of all measurement tools did not show better performance than SSM alone with an AUC of 0.892 (CI 95 %: 0.802-0.982, P <0.0001) CONCLUSION: SSM provides better performance than LSM and APRI scores for predicting EV. Performance of SSM alone is non-inferior compare to multiple diagnostic tools combined.

BACKGROUND: Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) using vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) is being increasingly used as a screening tool to predict varices. Our aim was to test the utility of Baveno VII criteria and other combinations of LSM, platelet count (PC), and splenic stiffness measurement (SSM) to predict the presence of varices in a cohort of Sri Lankan patients with compensated advanced liver cell disease (cALCD).
METHODS: Consecutive patients with newly diagnosed Child-Pugh class A cALCD (non-viral, BMI<30) were recruited prospectively. They underwent gastroscopy. LSM and SSM were taken using vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) (Echosens FibroScan 502 Touch; Echosens SA, Paris, France) by a single operator who was unaware of endoscopy findings. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of different Baveno VII criteria to predict the varices and different combinations of LSM, SSM, and PC were also explored.
RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-four individuals were recruited. The mean age was 61.4 ((95% CI: 59.7-62.8) years. A total of 110 individuals were males, and 106 had varices. Our results indicated that the three Baveno VII criteria had sensitivities of 61%, 63%, and 42%, and specificities of 79%, 77%, and 87% to predict varices. SSM>30kPa alone and in combination with LSM>15kPa had sensitivities of 81 and 75%, specificities of 72 and 83%, PPVs of 82 and 87%, NPVs of 71% and 67%, and accuracies of 78 and 78%, respectively, to predict varices.
CONCLUSIONS: Baveno VII criteria had a low sensitivity but high specificity in predicting the presence of varices. However, SSM>30kPa alone or in combination with LSM>15kPa had better sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy in predicting varices.

This report describes a case of extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) with esophageal varices that would have led to significant bleeding if left untreated or inadequately managed. A 56-year-old diabetic and hypothyroid female visited our medical outpatient clinic to be assessed for pancytopenia and easy fatiguability. She experienced acute calculus cholecystitis 24 years ago, which was treated with a partial cholecystectomy. The laboratory tests showed indications of hypersplenism, characterized by anemia, leucopenia, and thrombocytopenia. The MRI results showed signs of long-term blockage of the portal vein outside the liver, with the liver tissue seeming normal. The upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed grade IV esophageal varices, gastroesophageal varices 1, fundal varices, isolated gastric varices 2, and antral varices. The patient was diagnosed with EHPVO, and banding was performed as a preventive measure against upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Additionally, she was treated using conservative management techniques such as beta blockers. Endoscopic treatment is the standard of care for treating acute varices, while beta blockers are given as a secondary preventive measure. Despite cholelithiasis being a cause and/or sequelae to portal venous thrombosis, a clear explanation has not been offered to this patient while taking consent for cholecystectomy or thereafter. EHPVO is not frequently detected, and there is still a dearth of appropriate guidelines for managing this illness, even though it is a frequent cause of acute calculus cholecystitis and upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Esophageal varices are life-threatening complications in which the enlargement of the esophageal veins causes bleeding and reduces blood flow to the esophagus. They are complications caused by portal hypertension, renal failure, hepatic dysfunction, and infection. The leading cause of esophageal varices is cirrhosis, as patients with this disease are more susceptible to forming esophageal varices. Bleeding episodes occur due to the rupture of the blood vessels. We present the case of a 45-year-old male patient in the hospital with a history of chronic alcohol use and clinical symptoms of hematemesis, a distended abdomen, and melena. The patient experienced mild symptoms of giddiness and dizziness after undergoing various radiological investigations, laboratory tests, ultrasonography (USG), and CT scans. USG diagnosed portal hypertension, gross ascites, pleural effusion, and hepatosplenomegaly. A CT scan diagnosed the patient with esophageal varices and testicular carcinoma. Laboratory tests diagnosed anemia. The treatment plan included oral and intravenous iron supplements, blood transfusions, vitamin B12, folate supplements, and nonselective beta-blockers to manage portal hypertension and reduce variceal bleeding risk. During acute bleeding episodes, vasoconstrictors and endoscopic band ligation were employed. Regular endoscopies and hepatic venous catheterization were conducted to monitor and manage the condition. Follow-up included regular assessments of hemoglobin levels, iron status, liver function tests, and periodic endoscopies. The patient\'s adherence to beta-blockers was closely monitored. Esophageal varices, often resulting from portal hypertension because of cirrhosis, require early diagnosis and a combination of pharmacological and endoscopic treatments to prevent complications. Advances in treatment have reduced mortality rates, but effective management of portal hypertension and liver dysfunction remains crucial.

OBJECTIVE: Beta-blockers and endoscopic variceal band ligation (VBL) have been preferred therapies for primary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding. However, the choice of therapy in patients with advanced liver disease with high-risk varices is not clear. A comparison of these therapies alone or in combination to prevent the first variceal bleed in advanced cirrhosis patients was carried out.
METHODS: 330 Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) B and C cirrhosis patients, with \'high-risk\' varices were prospectively enrolled (n=110 per group) to receive carvedilol (group A), VBL (group B) or combination (group C). Primary endpoint was reduction in the incidence of first variceal bleed at 12 months. The secondary endpoints included overall mortality, bleed-related mortality, new-onset decompensation, change in hepatic vein pressure gradient (HVPG) and treatment-related adverse events.
RESULTS: The patients were predominantly males (85.2%), aged 51.4±10.5 years with CTP score of 8.87±1.24, MELD score 15.17±3.35 and HVPG-16.96±3.57 mm Hg. The overall incidence of variceal bleed was 23.8% (n=78) at 1 year. Intention-to-treat analysis showed that the combination arm (group C) significantly reduced the incidence of first variceal bleed by 62.9% as compared with group B (HR 0.37, 95% CI 0.192 to 0.716, p<0.003) and by 69.3% as compared with group A (HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.163 to 0.578, <0.001). The overall mortality was 13.6% (45/330). The 1-year mortality in group C was lowest among the three groups (A, B, C=20%, 14.5%, 6.3%, p=0.012). Reduction in HVPG (20.8% vs 25.1%, p=0.54) and the rate of non-response to carvedilol (53.4% vs 41.25%, p=0.154) were not different between group A and C patients. The incidence of new-onset ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, shock, and acute kidney injury and postbleed organ failure was also comparable between the groups.
CONCLUSIONS: In CTP B and C cirrhosis patients with high-risk varices, combination of carvedilol and VBL is more effective than either therapy alone, for primary prevention of variceal bleeding.
BACKGROUND: NCT03069339.

BACKGROUND: In liver cirrhosis, acute variceal bleeding (AVB) is associated with a 1-year mortality rate of up to 40%. Data on early or pre-emptive transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPSS) in AVB is inconclusive and may not reflect current management strategies. Randomised controlled trial of EArly transjugular intrahepatiC porTosystemic stent-shunt in AVB (REACT-AVB) aims to investigate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of early TIPSS in patients with cirrhosis and AVB after initial bleeding control.
METHODS: REACT-AVB is a multicentre, randomised controlled, open-label, superiority, two-arm, parallel-group trial with an internal pilot. The two interventions allocated randomly 1:1 are early TIPSS within 4 days of diagnostic endoscopy or secondary prophylaxis with endoscopic therapy in combination with non-selective beta blockers. Patients aged ≥18 years with cirrhosis and Child-Pugh Score 7-13 presenting with AVB with endoscopic haemostasis are eligible for inclusion. The primary outcome is transplant-free survival at 1 year post randomisation. Secondary endpoints include transplant-free survival at 6 weeks, rebleeding, serious adverse events, other complications of cirrhosis, Child-Pugh and Model For End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores at 6 and 12 months, health-related quality of life, use of healthcare resources, cost-effectiveness and use of cross-over therapies. The sample size is 294 patients over a 4-year recruitment period, across 30 hospitals in the UK.
BACKGROUND: Research ethics committee of National Health Service has approved REACT-AVB (reference number: 23/WM/0085). The results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. A lay summary will also be emailed or posted to participants before publication.
BACKGROUND: ISRCTN85274829; protocol version 3.0, 1 July 2023.

Brachycephalic dogs with pulmonary stenosis are known to have a higher incidence of concurrent coronary artery abnormalities than non-brachycephalic breeds, which increases risk when performing balloon valvuloplasty. The use of ECG-gated CT angiography has been reported for the evaluation of coronary arteries in normal dogs and dogs with pulmonary stenosis. The purpose of this study was to report findings of coronary artery origination and morphology of main branches using ECG-gated CT angiography in brachycephalic dogs with pulmonary stenosis.
An ECG-gated CT angiographic protocol was used to image coronary artery anatomy in nine brachycephalic dogs with pulmonary stenosis. Images were assessed for quality as well as coronary artery morphology by one veterinary radiologist, one veterinary cardiologist and one veterinary radiology resident.
All nine dogs had good to excellent image quality. Coronary artery anomalies were identified in three of nine dogs: one R2A anomaly, one L2A anomaly and one L2C anomaly. Two dogs were assessed to be poor balloon valvuloplasty candidates based on CT angiographic images.
Coronary artery morphology was not confirmed via postmortem examination in all patients.
ECG-gated CT angiography is a minimally invasive imaging modality capable of diagnosing various coronary artery anomalies in brachycephalic dogs with pulmonary stenosis and aiding in the determination of patient candidacy for balloon valvuloplasty.

UNASSIGNED: Variceal bleeding is an important cause of mortality in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). The gold standard for detection and grading of oesophageal varices (EV) is upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. However, it is expensive, time-consuming and invasive.
UNASSIGNED: This study aimed to find any association between splenic shear wave velocity (SWV) measured by acoustic radiation force imaging (ARFI) and the presence of EV.
UNASSIGNED: The quasi-experimental study included 50 patients with CLD and 50 subjects without CLD as the control group. Both underwent upper abdominal ultrasonography followed by elastographic assessment on a Siemens Acuson S2000TM ultrasound system. A comparison of the findings was made between the control and patient groups.
UNASSIGNED: Both groups had similar hepatic size while patients with CLD had larger splenic size and area (p < 0.05). The CLD patients had higher mean hepatic and splenic SWV compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The mean splenic size and splenic SWV were higher in patients with varices than in those without varices (p < 0.05).
UNASSIGNED: Chronic liver disease causes significant increase in liver and splenic stiffness with splenic SWV values being higher for patients with varices emphasising the role of elastography as a non-invasive predictor for the presence of EVs. Splenic SWV had the highest sensitivity and specificity, which was augmented by a combination of hepatic and splenic SWV. Thus, splenic SWV alone or in combination with hepatic SWV is a useful technique for prediction of the presence of EVs.
UNASSIGNED: This study aims to find an alternative non-invasive and cost-effective technique for screening of EV.

This randomised trial aimed to address whether endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) or propranolol (PPL) is more effective at preventing initial oesophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Patients with HCC and medium-to-large oesophageal varices (EVs) but without previous EVB were randomised to receive EVL (every 3-4 weeks until variceal eradication) or PPL (up to 320 mg daily) at a 1:1 ratio. Long-term follow-up data on EVB, other upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), non-bleeding liver decompensation, overall survival (OS) and adverse events (AEs) were analysed using competing risk regression.
Between June 2011 and April 2021, 144 patients were randomised to receive EVL (n=72) or PPL (n=72). In the EVL group, 7 patients experienced EVB, and 30 died; in the PPL group, 19 patients had EVB, and 40 died. The EVL group had a lower cumulative incidence of EVB (Gray\'s test, p=0.009) than its counterpart, with no mortality difference (Gray\'s test, p=0.085). For patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage A/B, EVL was better than PPL in reducing EVB (p<0.001) and mortality (p=0.003). For patients beyond BCLC stage B, between-group outcomes were similar. Other UGIB, non-bleeding liver decompensation and AEs did not differ between groups. A competing risk regression model confirmed the prognostic value of EVL.
EVL is superior to PPL in preventing initial EVB in patients with HCC. The benefits of EVL on EVB and OS may be limited to patients with BCLC stage A/B and not to those with BCLC stage C/D.
NCT01970748.

There are two distinct phases in the natural history of cirrhosis: compensated disease (corresponding to Child Pugh A and early Child Pugh B disease), where the patient may be largely asymptomatic, progressing with increasing portal hypertension and liver dysfunction to decompensated disease (corresponding to Child Pugh late B-C), characterised by the development of overt clinical signs, including jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy (HE), ascites, renal dysfunction and variceal bleeding. The transition from compensated cirrhosis to decompensated cirrhosis (DC) heralds a watershed in the nature and prognosis of the disease. DC is a systemic disease, characterised by multiorgan/system dysfunction, including haemodynamic and immune dysfunction. In this second part of our three-part series on the outpatient management of cirrhosis, we address outpatient management of DC, including management of varices, ascites, HE, nutrition, liver transplantation and palliative care. We also introduce an outpatient DC care bundle. For recommendations on screening for osteoporosis, hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance and vaccination see part one of the guidance. Part 3 of the guidance focusses on special circumstances encountered in patients with cirrhosis, including surgery, pregnancy, travel, management of bleeding risk for invasive procedures and portal vein thrombosis.