Transvenous sclerotherapy for huge oesophagogastric varices using open injection sclerotherapy.
BACKGROUND
The optimum procedure for long-term management of oesophagogastric varices when endoscopic sclerotherapy or ligation fails is yet to be established. This report describes a new procedure for treating huge oesophagogastric varices by open injection sclerotherapy.


METHODS
Twenty-three patients with huge oesophagogastric varices underwent laparotomy and devascularization of the upper stomach with splenectomy. The left gastric vein was catheterized for repeated injection of 5 per cent ethanolamine oleate during the postoperative period.


RESULTS
In all patients, the varices were eradicated after a mean of 3 sessions of sclerotherapy. There were no deaths or major complications during the mean follow-up period of 41 months. Small recurring varices in two patients were treated successfully by endoscopic sclerotherapy and interventional radiology.


CONCLUSIONS
Open injection sclerotherapy is an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of huge oesophagogastric varices.
Department of Surgery I, Oita Medical University, Oita 879-5593, Japan.
S
S
Kitano
D
D
Baatar
T
T
Bandoh
T
T
Yoshida
S
S
Tsuboi
T
T
Matsumoto
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009829:Oleic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009829:Oleic Acids; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D007479:Iopamidol; C033343:ethanolamine oleate