Abstract: Objective To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of primary bleeding from esophageal varices( EVB) in cirrhotic patients from Yangzhou,China. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 80 cirrhotic patients with primary BEV who were treated at the Department of Gastroenterology,Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital,Yangzhou,China,from January 2010 to December 2013. Categorical data were expressed as rate or constituent ratio and comparison of the rate was performed using χ2test. Results Primary BEV caused by hepatitis B- related cirrhosis accounted for the largest proportion of patients under study. Clinical application of Sengstaken- Blakemore tubes saved the life of patients' to the maximum degree,which provided time for the following treatment. The basic treatment included hemostasis,blood transfusion,antacids,and fluid infusion,and the late treatment mainly included endoscopic variceal ligation( EVL),endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy( EVS),EVL + EVS,surgery,and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt,among which EVL was most widely used. Changes in hematologic indicators during early bleeding were useful for guiding clinical treatment and evaluating the prognosis of patients. Conclusion Cirrhosis- related primary BEV has complex causes in patients from Yangzhou,for whom the treatment still needs to be further improved to reach the individualized level. Timely and correct treatment has great implications for improving the clinical effect and reducing the mortality. Early physical examination plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.