Published online Jan 16, 2015. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v7.i1.1
Peer-review started: August 13, 2014
First decision: September 16, 2014
Revised: October 30, 2014
Accepted: November 17, 2014
Article in press: November 19, 2014
Published online: January 16, 2015
Processing time: 155 Days and 12.7 Hours
The management of patients with gastrointestinal complications of portal hypertension is often complex and challenging. The endoscopy plays an important role in the management of these patients. The role of endoscopy is both diagnostic and interventional and in the last years the techniques have undergone a rapid expansion with the advent of different and novel endoscopic modalities, with consequent improvement of investigation and treatment of these patients. The choice of best therapeutic strategy depends on many factors: baseline disease, patient’s clinical performance and the timing when it is done if in emergency or a prophylactic approaches. In this review we evaluate the endoscopic management of patients with the gastrointestinal complications of portal hypertension.
Core tip: Endoscopy plays a primary role in the staging, diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal complications of portal hypertension. In this review, we summarize data from randomized clinical trials or prospective studies together with meta-analytical data, when applicable, to present the most updated recommendations on endoscopic management of the gastrointestinal complications of portal hypertension.