Injection sclerotherapy of esophageal varices

Forty-one patients with hepatic cirrhosis of alcoholic etiology and esophageal varices were subjected to endoscopic sclerotherapy. Four patients were treated during the intervals between hemorrhages; thirty after their first hemorrhage and 7 prophylactically. Propranolol was administered to 5 patients, in doses of 60-80 mg daily. The survival rate for a period of 5 to 16 months was 83%. No complications attributable to the procedure were observed.