Endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy: experience with 30 patients.

Endoscopic sclerotherapy is used to obliterate esophageal varices in an attempt to decrease bleeding episodes. First reported in the 1940s, sclerotherapy has recently enjoyed renewed interest because surgical shunting procedures, though effective in preventing rebleeding, are associated with significant mortality and provide no increase in long-term survival. Sclerotherapy, using a flexible endoscope, has been used in 30 patients at Vanderbilt University and the VA Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn. We present our clinical experience, compare our results with those of other groups, and discuss other approaches to the management of bleeding varices.