[Endoscopic sclerotherapy of esophageal varices]

Magnetic tape recordings of endoscopic images relating to pathologies with it is extremely important to follow morphological changes after treatment offer unquestionable advantages especially in the field of sclerosing endoscopic therapy for esophageal varices. This study--which was carried out using a 3/4 inch U-Matic videotape lasting 10 minutes--confirm the above statement. The criteria of selection for sclerosing techniques are illustrated according to the authors' personal evaluations made on the basis of experience accumulated during more than 10 years' activity; the results of modulated treatment are compared as both emergency and elective treatment, used as the single therapy or following deconnection or portosystemic derivation operations. The choices are confirmed by the number of successful outcomes, with only minimal and almost always easily controlled complications. This has led to the method's inclusion in clinical practice as yet another means of controlling hemorrhages due to portal hypertension, in addition to permitting a marked increase in the percentage of success following deconnecting and derivative operations performed in patients in better conditions of clinical compensation.