Can follow-up sclerotherapy for oesophageal varices be improved? Early results of a new technique.
To help correctly identify varices as patent or thrombosed during follow-up sclerotherapy, a simple pressure device has been used to obtain intravariceal pressure. A high pressure denotes thrombosis and a low pressure (less than 50 mmHg) denotes patency. In 217 variceal assessments, conventional and pressure assessments agreed in 179 (82%). Over the 7 month study, a significant improvement was noted in correctly diagnosing thrombosed varices (p less than 0.01). No ulcers, bleeding or complications occurred. Pressure assessment of varices is simple and avoided 38 (18%) incorrect diagnoses and their consequences.
D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000628:therapy*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D006801:Humans; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D014654:Vascular Patency
D012597:Sclerosing Solutions