Sclerosis of Esophageal Varices :: Nationwide Children's
Hospital  Sclerosis of Varices (Sclerotherapy)  Varices are
large, dilated veins that develop in the esophagus when there is
elevated pressure in the portal vein, the large vein that enters
the liver. This elevated pressure can occur under several
circumstances including severe liver disease and thrombosis
(clotting) of the portal vein. Sometimes these varices can bleed
or be at high risk of bleeding. These can be controlled either
by banding (see above) or sclerosing the varices. Sclerotherapy
is performed by injecting a medication into the varix that
causes it to scar. If the varix is scarred, it cannot bleed.
This is done while your child is asleep under anesthesia. A
fiber optic tube (endoscope) is passed through the mouth and
into the esophagus. A sclerotherapy needle is passed through the
endoscope. Once a varix is identified, the needle is advanced
into the vein and the medication injected. Several different
varices can be injected at the same se