Endoscopic sclerotherapy or selective embolisation of esophageal varices. An endoscopic and portographic study in an experimental model.

In an experimental animal model with portal hypertension and esophageal varices, endoscopic sclerotherapy of the varices with Aethoxysclerol was compared with selective embolisation of the coronary vein with absolute ethanol. After 4 courses of endoscopic sclerotherapy the varices were permanently obliterated, as documented by portography and endoscopy. Selective embolisation also caused obliteration of the coronary vein and varices, but early and repeated recanalisation occurred, and permanent obliteration was only obtained when embolisation was combined with endoscopic sclerotherapy. Portal vein thrombosis occurred when embolisation was repeated more than 3 times. Hepatic blood flow was significantly higher in animals treated by endoscopic sclerotherapy than in nontreated controls and animals treated by selective embolisation alone.