Gastric operations in patients with hepatic cirrhosis following endoscopic sclerotherapy

Three patients with hepatic cirrhosis who had undergone gastric operations following endoscopic sclerotherapy were retrospectively reviewed. One patient had undergone total gastrectomy for gastric cancer and two had Hassab and Tanner operations for gastric and esophageal varices. All patients were recovering with no complications related to the operations and were free of disease for 2 years, postoperatively. When esophageal varices are found in combination with an upper gastric cancer that requires total gastrectomy, endoscopic sclerotherapy for esophageal varices is contraindicated because severe esophageal injuries may be induced by the sclerosing agent. The Hassab and Tanner method is useful for esophageal and gastric varices after sclerotherapy. A repeat endoscopic sclerotherapy should be performed after this operation.