[Fiberscopic obliteration of esophageal varices (author's transl)]

We are reporting our 2 years experience in the fiberscopic sclerotherapy of esophageal varices. 170 patients from 15-83 years of age were treated (61 females and 109 males), the majority being around 50 years of age. In 162 cases, the cause of the portal hypertension was cirrhosis of the liver and in 8 cases thrombosis of the splenic or portal vein. 47 patients were treated during acute bleeding, 101 in the interval, and 22 prophylactically. Using the modified intravascular technique, most varices could be sclerosed after a maximum of three treatments. In 83%, acute hemorrhages were stopped. The hospital mortality amounted to 30%, while in the interval group only it was 5%. None of the prophylactically treated patients died during their stay in hospital. The mortality after an average of 11.2 months amounted to 11.8%: The main cause was liver failure. Bleeding reoccurred in 11.2% and resulted in death in every fifth case. The most common complication, namely stenosis, arose in 16 cases and 4 of these necessitated dilation therapy. Esophagothoracic fistulae occurred in 2 cases and could be cured by siphon drainage. The rate of complication amounted to 10.6%, without any lethal outcome.