Pharmacologic manipulation of lower esophageal sphincter pressure. A possible means of treatment of variceal bleeding.

Ten patients with portal hypertension and esophageal varices had percutaneous transheptic portography with selective catheterization of the short gastric or left gastric vein. The effect was studied on variceal blood flow after injection of various drugs (vasopressin IV, pentagastrin IV, somatostatin IV, domperidone IV, and methylcholine SC). Vasopressin had no effect on variceal flow; pentagastrin gave a total occlusion of flow in five of nine patients; somatostatin interrupted the flow in one of four patients; domperidone obstructed flow completely in one patient, while another receiving the same dose was unaffected; methylcholine did not affect the flow in three patients examined.