COMPLICATIONS OF ENDOSCOPIC VARICEAL SCLE ROTHERAPY

Within the framework of a retrospective study complications of endosco pic variceal sclerotherapy were analyzed. From April 1, 1988 till Augu st 31, 1994 267 consecutive patients (158 male 109 female, mean age 43 [27-78] years) with esophageal variceal hemorrhage due to liver cirrh osis and portal hypertension underwent endoscopic variceal injection t reatment. Sclerotherapy was performed with 24,5 ml (12-34 ml) 1% of po lydocanole on average per treatment. Each patient had 4,5 (2-7) therap y sessions on average. Local complications were: Transient dysphagia ( 73%), chest pain (65%). esophageal ulcerations (63%), ulerogenic bleed ing (14%), posttherapeutic hemorrhage (13%), esophageal strictures (10 %), pleural effusions (9%), subfebrile temperatures (6,4%) pericarditu s (0,4%) and esophageal perforation (0,4%). No patient died from scler otherapy induced side effects. Inclusion, endoscopic injection therapy is an efficient treatment of acute variceal hemorrhage. Not severe lo cal complications often occur, severe side effects are extremely rare however.