[Comparison of the results of sclerotherapy of esophageal varices using a rigid esophagoscope and fiber-optics esophagoscope].

The authors compared the results of 20 emergency and 100 elective varicosclerotisations with rigid esophagoscope and the same number of obliterations with the use of esophagofiberoscope. Haemorrhage was stopped in 90% of patients injected through the rigid esophagoscope and in 80% of patients in whom esophagofiberoscope was used. Hospital mortality rate in patients with bleeding esophageal warices was 25% in both groups. Complications were seen in 4.2% of procedures carried out with the rigid esophagoscope, and 5.8% of obliterations with esophagofiberoscope. The authors recommend rigid esophagoscope for emergency sclerotherapy and for the initial 2-3 series of injections in patients with large varices. Esophagofiberoscope is prefered in case of repeated, elective varicosclerotisations, first injections and recurrence of esophageal varices following obliterative therapy.