Eradication of esophageal varices with repeated injection sclerotherapy in inoperable patients.

Esophageal varices in 50 cirrhotic patients were treated with repeated injection sclerotherapy. Eradication of varices was achieved in 27 patients (54.0%) with a mean of 4.5 injections (range 2-12) after a mean period of 3.1 months (range 1-11). There was no variceal bleeding in these 27 patients once eradication had been achieved, with a mean follow up period of 5.6 months, although bleeding occurred in 5 of the same group before eradication of the varices had been achieved, during an average of 3.1 months, and in 6 of the remaining 23 patients (10 episodes) with residual varices after a mean of 4.7 injections (range 2-12) in a mean period of 12.2 months (range 1-33). Esophageal varices can thus be eradicated with repeated injections and bleeding from recurrent esophageal varices can be prevented in many patients after eradication has been achieved.