[Therapy of bleeding esophageal varices in children--present and future aspects].

The authors' department has devoted the past 25 years to treatment of portal hypertension in children and above all to the most dramatic manifestations-haemorrhage from oesophageal varicosities. In previous years a number of surgical and conservative methods was used. The milestone in therapeutic strategy and tactics was the year 1990 when endoscopic sclerotization of oesophageal varices was introduced as a routine method. Since then 14 patients aged 5-17 years were treated. In addition to sclerotization also medicamentous and surgical treatment are used. The authors evaluate their experience assembled during the past three years and recommend optimal procedures in children. They try also to foresee the future development of therapy.