Hold that needle: Octreotide for acute variceal hemorrhage
William N. Katkov – 1 April 1994 – To compare octreotide with injection sclerotherapy in the treatment of acute variceal hemorrhage, patients admitted with gastrointestinal bleeding and oesophageal varices confirmed by endoscopy were randomised to receive either emergency sclerotherapy with 3% sodium tetradecyl sulphate or octreotide (50 μg intravenous bolus plus 50 μg per hr intravenous infusion for 48 hr). At the end of the study period (48 hr), the octreotide group also had sclerotherapy to obliterate the varices.