Injection sclerotherapy of bleeding oesophageal and gastric varices in children
Stray, N.; Fausa, O.
Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. Supplement 107: 36-39
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0085-5928 PMID: 3872476 Document Number: 245580
During a 4 yr period (1980-1984) 9 children, aged 11-13 yr, with acute or recent bleeding from gastroesophageal varices were treated by injection sclerotherapy. Chronic liver disease was the cause of portal hypertension in 3 and extrahepatic portal venous obstruction in six. Seven had experienced recurrent bleeding episodes, and massive haemorrhage initiated treatment in 2 children. Seven patients rebled before eradication of all critical varices and 2 after, both from ulcers at the site of injection. All critical varices were eradicated in the nine children within a median of 1 1/2 mo., after a median of 5 courses of injections. No further variceal bleeding occurred during the follow-up period of up to 57 mo. (mean, 20.9 mo.). Complications included esophageal and gastric ulcers in 4 patients. One patient with congenital hepatic fibrosis and aortic insufficiency died of septicemia 19 mo. after entering the treatment.