What Researchers Did
Researchers reported a case of spinal cord infarction in a 75-year-old woman following endoscopic variceal ligation.
What They Found
A 75-year-old woman with cirrhosis and hepatitis C developed numbness and rapidly progressing sensory and motor dysfunction below C6 after endoscopic variceal ligation. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed spinal cord infarction from C6 through T5 levels. Following hyperbaric oxygen treatment, her neurological deficits nearly completely resolved within 3 months.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This case highlights a rare but serious complication of endoscopic variceal ligation, spinal cord infarction, which Canadian clinicians should be aware of. While rare, this report suggests that prompt diagnosis and treatment, such as hyperbaric oxygen, may lead to significant recovery for affected patients.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it is a case report from Japan.
Study Limitations
As a single case report, this study's findings cannot be generalized to a broader patient population.