Transthoracic suturing of bleeding esophageal varices without esophagotomy. Preliminary report.

Suturing of bleeding esophageal varices by transthoracic esophagotomy is frequently followed by leakage in the suture line. To avoid this complication we suggest transesophageal suturing without esophagotomy. The technique was evaluated in five normal pigs and applied to two patients with bleeding esophageal varices. Esophagus both in the pigs and the patients tolerated the procedure well and the bleeding from the esophageal varices stopped. We suggest application of this procedure for bleeding esophageal varices instead of emergency portocaval shunt operation.