ENDOSCOPIC INJECTION SCLEROTHERAPY FOR ESOPHAGEAL-VARICES DURING PREGNANCY

Pregnancy is uncommon in patients with portal hypertension, and the co rrect treatment for pregnant women with esophageal varices has not yet been established. There have been only a few reports on endoscopic in jection sclerotherapy (EIS) during pregnancy for the control of varice al bleeding. Here we report two women with esophageal varices who unde rwent EIS. One was a pregnant woman with variceal hemorrhage who was s aved by emergency EIS and was delivered safely. The second woman under went prophylactic EIS for esophageal varices before becoming pregnant. This woman later gave birth uneventfully. Thus EIS appears to be a us eful treatment for pregnant women with esophageal varices.