Juan Gonzalez Abraldes, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine
Director, Liver Unit
Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta
AHS Hepatology Lead, Edmonton Zone
Saturday, November 20, 2021
10:55 am - 11:20 am
Approach to Variceal Risk Stratification When Endoscopy Access is Limited: Going Beyond Baveno
The introduction of Baveno VI criteria (a liver stiffness < 20 kPa and a platelet count > 150) led to a reduction in the need for endoscopy in patients with cirrhosis. The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the access to endoscopy, but also the access to elastography. In this talk I will discuss potential strategies to optimize the management of varices making an efficient use of endoscopy resources.
Learning Objectives
- To review the currently available non-invasive markers to risk stratify patients with compensated cirrhosis
- To discuss risk stratification without access to elastography
- To review potential management strategies based on the empirical use of beta-blockers
Dr. Juan G. Abraldes is a Transplant Hepatologist, Professor and Director of the Liver Unit at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. He gained his MD in 1995 from the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, and got his Board Certificate in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona (2000). He is the co-author of the Baveno guidelines and the American Association for the Liver Clinical Guidance for the management of varices and variceal bleeding in cirrhosis. He is Associate Editor of Hepatology.