Acute treatment of bleeding oesophageal varices. A retrospective study of 88 patients.

The records of 88 patients bleeding 140 times from oesophageal varices were retrospectively evaluated. The treatment consisted mainly of intravenous vasopressin and balloon tamponade. Percutaneous transhepatic and transoesophageal sclerotherapy were used as additional treatments. Acute operation was avoided as long as possible. With this conservative attitude the hospital mortality was 24%. A high mortality was correlated with low serum albumin, initial unconsciousness, high blood transfusion demand, and alcoholism. The first bleeding episode of the patient had a higher mortality than the following ones. Our experience with a conservative attitude in stopping bleeding from oesophageal varices has made it possible to construct an outline for treatment which can be followed in most of these patients.