Use of Sanvar® With Endoscopic Treatment for the Control of Acute Variceal Bleeding

Inclusion Criteria: * Female or male cirrhotic patient aged 18 to 75 years. * Hematemesis and/or melena (suspected to be caused by portal hypertension) * Time interval \<=24 hours between onset of initial hemorrhage and initiation of study drug infusion. * Time interval \<=6 hours between admission and initiation of study drug infusion. * Anticipated time interval\<=12 hours between admission and end of therapeutic endoscopy. * Unequivocal history of cirrhosis, either documented by at least one of classical clinical signs (abdominal collateral venous circulation, firm liver with a sharp lower liver edge, presence of spider naevi, and/or ascites), or by biochemical and/or Doppler-US signs. * Written informed consent obtained by the patient or his/her relative(s) Exclusion Criteria: * Patient previously included in this study for a prior bleeding episode. * Patients treated with a vasoactive drug such as octreotide, vasopressin or its analogue for the current episode of bleeding. * Hepatic encephalopathy Grade IV. * Balloon tamponade already positioned at admission. * Known Child-Pugh score \>=13 * Pregnant or breast-feeding women. * Known diffuse hepatocellular carcinoma. * Known complete portal venous thrombosis. * Bleeding from esophageal varices within the previous 6 weeks. * Patient currently enrolled in another therapeutic study, and/or who participated in another clinical study, within the previous 6 weeks. * Known allergy to somatostatin or somatostatin analogues. * Previous porto-systemic shunt (TIPS) or orthotopic liver transplantation. * Patient with known cancer. * Patient with known chronic renal failure (serum creatinine \> 1.5 mg/dl). * Severe concomitant disease judged by the Investigator as being incompatible with evaluation of treatment.