The impact of restrictive blood transfusion on the safety of patients with esophageal varices after endoscopic variceal ligation: A single-center retrospective study

An investigation was conducted to examine the impact of restrictive blood transfusion on the safety of early rebleeding following endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) in patients with liver cirrhosis. Data were collected from patients with cirrhosis and esophageal varices who underwent EVL at the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College between September 2021 and March 2023. Clinical information, including serum albumin levels, hemoglobin (Hb) levels, liver function classification, and the occurrence of early rebleeding, was recorded. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on their Hb levels: 60 g/L to 90 g/L (restrictive blood transfusion) or Hb ≥ 90 g/L after EVL. The impact of restrictive transfusion on the post-ligation safety of EVL was observed. A total of 246 cirrhotic patients were included in the analysis. Significant differences were found in Hb levels, liver function classification, early rebleeding rates, length of hospital stay, and hospitalization expenses between the restrictive transfusion and Hb ≥ 90 g/L groups. The early rebleeding rate was significantly varied between the groups with different Hb levels after EVL. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that restrictive blood transfusion (OR = 4.61, 95% CI: 1.06–19.99; P = .041), Hb (OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.95–0.97; P < .001), and Child-Pugh class C (OR = 6.37, 95% CI: 1.28–31.67; P = .024) were identified as independent factors influencing early rebleeding. Our findings suggest that the risk of early rebleeding in cirrhotic patients after EVL may be increased by restrictive blood transfusion, and this should be further investigated in future research.