Endoscopic hemostasis of esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding with Histoacryl

Endoscopic injection of the tissue adhesive n-butyl-2-cyano-acrylate (Histoacryl) has been tried for esophageal or fundic variceal bleeding in 23 patients. Definitive hemostasis was achieved in 22 with a single injection of Histoacryl. Throughout the entire hospitalization period, which was completed with at least two weekly sessions of conventional sclerotherapy, only one recurrent bleeding was recorded. Four patients died of hepatic decompensation. It is suggested that Cyanoacrylate could overcome some of the shortcomings of conventional sclerotherapy such as early recurrent hemorrhage and bleeding from fundic varices.