BACKGROUND/AIMS: The pathophysiology of gastric varices may be due to gener
alized or segmental portal hypertension. A considerable debate has arisen r
egarding the role of injection sclerotherapy in the pathogenesis of gastric
varices.
METHODOLOGY: During the period from 1987 to 1997, a total of 1686 cases wit
h bleeding varices were presented to our center and 225 cases (13.3%) with
bleeding gastric varices were diagnosed. There were 198 males and 27 female
s with a total mean age of 45.7years (+/-7.6). Primary fundal varices (FV)
were found in 121 (54%) cases and secondary FV were found in 104 (46%) case
s. All patients with isolated FV presented with repeated attacks of upper g
astrointestinal bleeding.
RESULTS: The pathological diagnosis was studied in 120 cases; it was schist
osomal in 8.3% of cases, non-schistosomal in 33.3% of cases, and mixed (Sch
istosomal with post viral cirrhosis) in 58.3% of cases. Seventy-five cases
were subjected to splenectomy and gastroesophageal decongestion (SGED), 64
cases were subjected to distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS), and 86 cases were
subjected to sclerotherapy. Mortality after DSRS was 7.8%, after SGED it wa
s 12%, and after sclerotherapy it was 21%. Rebleeding was the major complic
ation and occurred in 3% after DSRS, in 13% after SGED, and in 18% of cases
after sclerotherapy.
CONCLUSIONS: Gastric varices are not an uncommon condition as a cause of up
per gastrointestinal bleeding. Our findings support the hypothesis that gas
tric varices may be considered a late sequel of injection sclerotherapy, th
ough they may also be considered as one of the pathophysiologies of general
ized portal hypertension. Finally, DSRS was found to be the treatment of ch
oice in the management of fundal varices.