Control of bleeding esophageal varices by transabdominal esophageal transection, gastric devascularization, and splenectomy.

Between November 1980 and October 1982, 11 patients underwent modified Sugiura procedures (esophageal transection, gastric devascularization, and splenectomy) for bleeding esophageal varices, with an operative mortality of 36%. One patient rebled at 2 months and was successfully managed by sclerotherapy. Intraoperative portal pressure fell approximately 25% after splenectomy. We contend that esophageal transection and gastric devascularization provide good short-term control of bleeding varices, and that the decrease in portal pressure provided by splenectomy allows scars to form during a period of reduced portal pressure, providing long-term arrest of variceal hemorrhage.