Following sclerotherapy, patients may experience pain under their breastbone and have a slight temperature for a few days. The bleeding either quickly ceases on its own or with medical treatment. A late complication can be narrowing of the oesophagus which can produce difficulty in swallowing solid food. This can be easily treated. Injection sclerotherapy is not always successful and in those whose bleeding recurs other forms of treatment are undertaken, such as surgical measures.
Liver transplantation is also an important option.
For further information on transplantation please see the British Liver Trust factsheet. Shunt operations involve surgically joining two veins. Shunting of blood is effective in some in preventing recurrent bleeding. The operation is usually carried out in non-emergency conditions, in patients who have bled from varices and whose liver function is still relatively good. One disadvantage of shunts is a risk of impairment of brain function called encephalopathy.