Endoscopic sclero-therapy [ES] in the treatment of bleeding gastric varices

ABSTRACT

Of 154 patients with portal hypertension gastric varices was found in 24 [16S percent]. While the majority [87.5 percent] of patients had gastric varices in association with oesophageal varices, 3 [12.5 percent] patients had isolated gastric varices. Cyano-acrylate glue was used in a 3 week schedule. Variceal obliteration was achieved in 6 patients [25 percent] and reduction in size was noted in another 4 patients [16.6 percent]. No change was noted in 8 patients [33.3 percent]. There were 6 deaths [25 percent] 4 due to uncontrolled bleeding and 2 due to hepatic coma. It is concluded that Gastric Variceal sclerotherapy [GVS] should be attempted .for bleeding gastricc varices. The definitive treatment is surgical decompression