Transhepatic obliteration of gastroesophageal varices with absolute ethanol

Absolute ethanol was evaluated as a vaso-obliterative agent in 15 patients with bleeding of gastroesophageal varices. Initial control of hemorrhaging was obtained in 13 (87%). Two patients died from unrelated causes within 48 hours of the procedure. Variceal bleeding recurred in seven of the 11 remaining patients (64%) from one week to 13 months after embolization. Four patients did not rebleed; two of them died (4 weeks and 6 months after the procedure), and two are alive (14 and 16 months after the procedure). Significant disadvantages of ethanol for obliteration of gastroesophageal varices (marked prolongation of procedure time and lack of radio-opacity) probably contributed to the high incidence of portal vein thrombosis (3 patients [20%]).