[Clinical results of a combined peri- and intra-venous technic in endoscopic sclerosis of esophageal varices].

A series of 20 patients with bleeding oesophageal varices treated by endoscopic sclerotherapy is presented. The technique employed involved injecting the sclerosing fluid into peri- and endovenous variceal sites once a week for 4 weeks running followed by a month's rest. Up to three of those cycles were performed. However in 12 patients the risk of bleeding had fallen from 100% to 0% after 6 sessions. In the other 6 patients the risk was eliminated after the remaining cycles. In 2 patients only the sclerotherapy was suspected after the first session due to the deterioration of the syndrome. Four different complications were observed. Various degrees of bleeding recurred in 9 patients, retrosternal or epigastric pain after injection in 6, medium level coma in 2 and oesophageal ulcers at the injection site in another 2. Overall the mixed peri- and endovenous sclerosing technique was easy to handle and effective with a low incidence of failures and complications.