[Percutaneous, transhepatic thrombosis of the coronary vein in the treatment of bleeding oesophageal varices (author's transl)].

Percutaneous, transhepatic catheterisation of the portal vein in order to occlude the gastric coronary vein was carried out in six patients with bleeding oesophageal varices. Bleeding stopped in three patients, but in the other three ceased only temporarily. Complications were one pleural effusion and one haemothorax. At autopsy, marginal portal vein thrombosis was found in two cases. The indication for this procedure is the presence of bleeding from oesophageal varices which cannot be controlled by conservative means in a patient unfit for operation. It provides an opportunity for carrying out a decompression shunt operation in the interva between the bleeds.