Home > Encyclopedia of Surgery > Sclerotherapy for Esophageal Varices

Definition

Sclerotherapy for esophageal varices, also called endoscopic sclerotherapy, is a treatment for esophageal bleeding that involves the use of an endoscope and the injection of a sclerosing solution into veins.

Purpose

Esophageal varices are enlarged or swollen veins on the lining of the esophagus which are prone to bleeding. They are life-threatening and can be fatal in up to 50% of patients. Esophageal varices are a complication of portal hypertension, a condition characterized by increased blood pressure in the portal vein resulting from such liver disease, as liver cirrhosis. Increased pressure causes the veins to balloon outward. The vessels may rupture, causing vomiting of blood and bloody stools.

In most hospitals, sclerotherapy for esophageal varices is the treatment...