[Subtotal gastric devascularization for hemorrhage caused by the rupture of gastric varices in cirrhotic patients]

Hemorrhages caused by gastric varices are a real therapeutic problem in cirrhotic patients. We resort to gastric devascularization in such cases. In 5 of our patients, this devascularization was subtotal, preserving only the pyloric pedicle. Two patients died of liver failure, one immediately after the operation and the other during the second month. The other patients are still living and have not bled again after 9, 12 and 17 months, respectively. Three of the 5 operated patients presented with ischemia of the gastric mucosa postoperatively. In our opinion, the principle of gastric devascularization to an extent still to be defined seems to be an interesting way of treatment these hemorrhages, which are caused by the rupture of gastric varices due to overall portal hypertension.