Sclerotherapy of bleeding esophageal varices. Long-term results.

Sixty-one patients presenting with hemorrhage from esophageal varices were treated with sclerotherapy by means of a fiberoptic endoscope. Twenty-nine had acute bleeding, which was stopped in 90%. Thirty-two were treated after recent bleeding. The hospital mortality was 31%. Re-bleeding occurred in 55% of those discharged but was easily controlled. Fatal complications occurred in 5%. The calculated 4-year survival was 35%. Two thirds of this mortality could be attributed to liver failure. The intellectual function of the patients appeared to be unaffected.