Esophageal pressure was compared between esophageal varix and control group and also between before and after transection of the esophagus in variceal patients. Different types of non-shunt operations were perfomried on 157 esophageal varix cases from January 1979 to June 1992. The LES (lower esophageal sphincter) pressure was hiigher in variceal patients than in control group and it was decreased after transection of the esophagus. There were no significant differences in the amplitude and duration of the esophageal contractions between the esophagal varix and control group. The same was true before and after the transection. Of the 157 patients, 116 were male and 4l were female with ratio 2.8:1 and 81.6% were between 30 and 59. Of the 157 operations 80 were Sugiura operations, 61 were Kobayashi operations, 11 were TEPG and 5 were Hassab operations. Operative. mortality rates of prophylactic, elective and emergency surgery were 4.5%, 8.5% and 35%., respectively and of Childs criteria A, B and C werc 1.7% 11.3% and 28.6%, respectively. Of the total 135 intraoperative wedge liver biopsies, 108 cases revealed cirrhosis (80.6%), 12 cases chronic inflammation, 11 cases fibrosis and in 3 cases, no pathologacal findings were found. Postoperative complications include wound infection (21 cases), pleural effusion (17 cases), rebleeding (8 cases), esophageal leakage (5 cases), esophageal stenosis (5 cases) and others. The overall rnortality within one month after the surgery was 10.8% (17 cases) and the major causes of death were hepatic failure (,9 cases) and rebleeding (5 cases). Follow up esophagograms were obtained in 103 patients and in 45 patients varices disappeared compietely and in 50 patients, there were significant improvements.