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Of the 205 patients treated by endoscopic injection sclerotherapy in the past 8 years and 4 months, 70 patients (34.1%) have survived more than 3 years. There were more Child's class A patients (p < 0.05) and fewer Child's C patients (p < 0.01) in this group as compared to 51 patients who died within 3 years. In addition, complications due to hepatoma were significantly lower (p < 0.01) in this group. The long‐term cumulative survival rates of those who had already survived over 3 years were 82% at the 5‐year and 78% at the 7‐year follow‐up. There was no significant difference among 3 groups classified by severity of liver damage or timing of the therapy. Rebleeding was noted in 13 patients (18.3%) and the cumulative bleeding rates were 9% at the 1‐year, 14% at the 3‐year, 18% at the 5‐year and 21% at the 7‐year follow‐up. In 12 of these patients hemostasis was obtained by the second sclerotherapy. There was no significant difference in the long‐term prognosis between patients who experienced repeat bleeding, and those who did not. Endoscopic findings in patients with rebleeding were characteristic in that the red color sign remained pronounced despite the fact that the varices had shrunk from F2 or larger to F1 in 6 patients. Bleeding occurred from the gastric varices in 4 patients. One of them died due to gastric bleeding, but 3 were operated on after sclerotherapy. For improving prognosis, it is important to carefully observe the clinical course and to perform additional aggressive treatments for complete obliteration of varices.

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