Non-surgical treatment of variceal haemorrhage.

Bleeding from gastro-oesophageal varices is a serious medical emergency associated with high morbidity and mortality. Recent advances in treatment include the use of safer vasoactive agents, endoscopic injection of cyanoacrylate, endoscopic variceal ligation and radiological porto-systemic shunt. This article will discuss these new therapies and suggest an integrated approach to the management of variceal haemorrhage.