Sclerotherapy for Gastric Varices 1994.2.23

Sclerotherapy for Gastric Varices 1994.2.23

Esophageal varices and gastric fundal varices in patients with cirrhosis are well known, but widespread gastric varices are often overlooked. This is a manifestation of portal hypertension, where patients experience discomfort in the epigastric region, abdominal distension, nausea, often accompanied by varying degrees of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and melena. Some use gastric variceal sclerotherapy to treat this condition, which I consider an absolutely symptomatic treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine says, “When you see liver disease, know that it will spread to the spleen,” which can be interpreted as liver wood overcoming earth—meaning the liver’s transverse invasion of the stomach. The evidence for liver wood overcoming earth has been confirmed through the following three aspects: ① bile reflux causing gastritis; ② cirrhosis leading to gastric varices; ③ anorexia in hepatitis patients. Xiaoyao San is the best formula for treating this condition.