[Rupture of oesophagogastric varices: treatment by a new haemostatic tube (author's transl)].

The immediate arrest of haemorrhage due to ruptured oesophageal varices may be obtained only by the insertion of a haemostatic tube with a balloon. Tubes used up to the present time have been more or less discredited. Some authors consider the Sengstaken tube to be dangerous: rupture of oesophagus, asphyxia, bronchial inhalation of oesophageal secretions etc. The Lindon tube has a single grave disadvantage: cardio-oesophageal ulceration due to traction. The new tube would seem to be free of these problems since no traction is used and it is possible to suck out oesophageal secretions, thereby suppressing the risk of bronchial inhalation.