Value of sclerotherapy of bleeding oesophageal varices on the portal blood flow

ABSTRACT

It is well known nowadays that injection sclerotherapy of esophageal varices is the best method for controlling the life-threatening hemorrhage due to its rupture, and for the prevention of re-bleeding. There are many controversies regarding the effect of esophageal sclerotherapy on the portal blood flow. In the 16 patients using pulsed colored Doppler sonographic examination before starting esophageal sclerotherapy and after complete eradication of esophageal varices, it is found that portal blood flow was increased in 15 patients and decreased in 1 patient [which may be due to partial portal vein thrombosis, which were existed before sclerotherapy]. The mean increase in portal blood flow was about 26%. So, endoscopic sclerotherapy increases the blood flow, preserves the hepatopetal direction of the blood and portal vein thrombosis related to this type of therapy could not be detected