Controversies and certitudes on the upper digestive hemorrhage through rupture of esophageal varices. II. The therapy of portal hypertension and of variceal bleeding.

The present-day therapy of portal hypertension and of variceal bleeding includes new drugs (propranolol, glypressin, somatostatin, a.o.) and methods of hemostasis (variceal sclerotherapy). This second part of a paper concerned with the upper digestive hemorrhage through rupture of the esophageal varices presents the main drug therapies and other various methods used to decrease the portal pressure, to achieve a direct hemostasis in case of active variceal bleeding and to prevent the rebleedings.