[Endoscopic sclerotic therapy for ruptured esophageal varix: an analysis of 73 cases]

Seventy-three patients with bleeding esophageal varices were treated by transesophageal injection of sclerosing agent through fiberoptic gastroscope (EIS). Hemostasis was noted in 63 cases (86.3%). The success rate was 100% among those classified as Child A & B and 79.59% in Child C patients. Hemostasis was achieved after repeated EIS in 90.2% of the patients. Bleeding stopped in 82.14% of the patients who failed to respond to balloon tamponade and in 95.65% of the patients with recurrent bleeding after open surgery. The recurrence rate of bleeding esophageal varices after EIS was 13.7% and the mortality rate was 15.07%. EIS was generally performed in the first week of hemorrhage, thereafter, it was repeated at a 4-14 days interval. EIS was a simple and safe procedure with a high percentage of immediate hemostasis and a comparatively low mortality. It could be used to tide some poor risk patients over the crisis for possibly further surgery.