Between November 1980 and October 1982, 11 patients underwent modified Sugiura procedures (esophageal transection, gastric devascularization, and splenectomy) for bleeding esophageal varices, with an operative mortality of 36%. One patient rebled at 2 months and was successfully managed by sclerotherapy. Intraoperative portal pressure fell approximately 25% after splenectomy. We contend that esophageal transection and gastric devascularization provide good short-term control of bleeding varices, and that the decrease in portal pressure provided by splenectomy allows scars to form during a period of reduced portal pressure, providing long-term arrest of variceal hemorrhage.