Sclerotherapy for bleeding varices.

The efficacy of paravariceal sclerotherapy for bleeding oesophageal varices was evaluated. Alcoholic and post-hepatitis liver cirrhosis were the main causes of portal hypertension. A total of 28 patients between June 1982 and December 1983 were treated by this method using a flexible endoscope. Bleeding was initially controlled in 90% of patients. However 30% of patients developed recurrent bleeding within 12 months. One year survival of the patients was 70% indicating this treatment has no effect on the long term survival of the underlying disease. The technique is discussed and its complications analysed.