Various vasoactive drugs are recommended to use in combination with endoscopic variceal
ligation (EVL) in treating acute esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB). The efficacy and drug
choice of vasoactive agents under Taiwan's National Health Insurance program remain to be
validated.
The aim of this prospective cohort study was to assess the efficacy of somatostatin, compared
with terlipressin in cirrhotic patients who have acute EVB and received EVL and the
preference of vasoactive agents in real-world clinical practice.
From April 2010 through April 2015, cirrhotic patients with significant upper
gastrointestinal bleeding were screened. Eligible patients with acute EVB were non-randomly
assigned to receive early administration of somatostatin (group S) or terlipressin (group T)
infusion, followed by EVL. A decision to use vasoactive drugs depended on the physician's
favorite. In group S, somatostatin by intravenous bolus (250 μg) followed by 250 μg/hour was
continued for 3 days. In group T, terlipressin was started with 2mg bolus injection and
followed by 1 mg infusion every 6 hours for 3 days.