Emergency oesophageal transection for uncontrolled variceal bleeding

Nine patients with bleeding oesophageal varices, who had not responded to aggressive conservative treatment, underwent emergency transabdominal oesophageal transection and reanastomosis using a mechanical stapling instrument. According to the classification of Child, 2 were graded as Class A, 4 as Class B, and 3 as Class C. Successful control of haemorrhage was achieved in all patients. Three patients died 15-33 days postoperatively. Causes were hepatic failure, sepsis and circulatory insufficiency. Recurrent variceal bleeding occurred in one patient after 15 and 23 months. One patient bled from the oesophageal wall were a clips had slipped after 17 months. One patient required postoperative dilatation due to oesophageal stricture. There was no anastomotic leakage and no cases of hepatic encephalopathy. One patient died after 26 months from an intercurrent disease. The remaining 5 patients are alive and free from symptoms related to varices 6, 20, 24, 25 and 32 months postoperatively. When other measures prove ineffective, transection with the EEA instrument can be recommended to control exsanguinating haemorrhage from oesophageal varices. It seems to be a useful additional procedure to those already in use. For definite assessment and conclusion, however, more experience from additional operations must be gained and longer follow-up is required.