[Experience with 1000 sclerotizations of esophageal varices].

The authors submit the results of 1061 endoscopic sclerotizations of oesophageal varices in 183 patients. For sclerotization they used endoscopes of Olympus Co. at two-week intervals. Treatment was supplemented by administration of drugs reducing portal pressure. The number of complications associated with this treatment is very low. Serious life-threatening complications occur in much less than 1%. The authors consider endoscopic sclerotization of oesophageal varices after the first haemorrhage as the method of choice, in particular in combination with medicamentous treatment for reduction of portal pressure. They emphasize the necessity to perform these procedures in a department with adequate experience with sclerotizations where at least 100-200 sclerotization per year are performed. In the discussion other therapeutic possibilities are suggested. The problem of preventive sclerotization of varices has not been resolved so far. The authors recommend it in their department and use it in patients who according to the endoscopic finding or the level of the portocaval gradient are at risk of haemorrhage.