Behçet's disease, as initially described, is a triad of recurrent oral and genital ulcers and relapsing uveitis. The incomplete form, in which there is no ocular involvement, has been described in Japan and Korea, but this is not commonly recognized in the southern Chinese. We reported herein a rare case of repeated intestinal perforations caused by an incomplete form of Behçet's syndrome in a southern Chinese man.

The overtube is the major cause for severe complications during endoscopic variceal ligation with a single-shot ligator. This retrospective study was designed to examine the necessity of the placement of an overtube during elective endoscopic variceal ligation. Thirty-one sessions in 18 patients were analyzed. An overtube was inserted using an over-the-scope technique in 11 sessions (group 1) but was omitted in 20 sessions (group II). The complications, technical difficulties, and operating time were analyzed. Child's grading, the size of the esophageal varices, and the number of rubber bands deployed were comparable in both groups. There was a significantly longer operating time (p < 0.01) and more oropharyngeal injury (p = 0.03) in group I than in group II. Mid esophageal injury, which was associated with resistance in withdrawing the gastroscope from the overtube, occurred in 55% of sessions in group I but in 0% of session in group II. In conclusion, the use of an overtube is associated with more complications, and it can be omitted during elective endoscopic variceal ligation.