Injection Sclerotherapy for Recurrent Esophageal Varices after Surgical Procedures

Abstract

Abstract: Thirteen patients, who had recurrent esophageal varices after esophageal transection or esophagoproximal gastrectomy were treated by endoscopic injection sclerotherapy. Four patients successfully underwent emergency sclerotherapy to control active variceal hemorrhaging. Three of these patients and the remaining nine patients (including six rebleeding patients who were conservatively treated) underwent elective sclerotherapy. None of the patients had variceal rebleeding in the follow‐up study with sclerotherapies. Only one patient with recurrent varices did not undergo any additional sclerotherapy following emergency treatment. In this study, no deaths occured nor any major complications. Minor complications such as low grade fever and chest pain were observed, but they were transient and disappeared within 2 or 3 days without specific treatments. It is concluded that endoscopic injection sclerotherapy is considered to be the most effective procedure for recurrent varice following surgery.