Frequency of Bacteremia in Chronic Liver Diseased Egyptian Patients after Oesophageal Variceal Band Ligation

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of bacteremia following endoscopic band ligation of oesophageal varices in chronic liver disease patients. Fourty adult patients were included. They were admitted in the gasteroentrology department, police hospital (Agouza) and they were referred for oesophago-gastroduodonoscopy for elective band ligations for primary or secondary prophylaxis in the gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Liver unit. All patients were subjected to full clinical assessment, laboratory test evaluation (blood picture, liver and kidney function test), abdominal ultrasonography and upper endoscopy. Blood cultures were withdrawn five minutes before and 30 minutes after the endoscopic procedures. Our patients were comparable regarding the clinical, laboratory, imaging and endoscopic criteria. Child classification did not show any difference between them statistically, although there is a higher mean MELD score among cases with infection after endoscopic band ligation compared to cases without infections but the difference is not significant statistically.