[Problems in the emergency surgical treatment of bleeding esophageal varices]

An examination is made of a series of emergency operations carried out in the period 1974-78 to arrest haemorrhage due to the rupture of oesophageal varices. An account is given of the personal criteria employed in the choice of candidates and the type of surgical management. Stress is laid on the need for greater aggressivity. In addition, support is expressed for the porto-systemic shunts, especially shunts of the porto-cava and meso-cava type. These are superior to other forms on account of their easy and rapid execution.