DEVELOPMENT OF PLEURAL EFFUSION AFTER SCLEROTHERAPY WITH ABSOLUTE ALCOHOL

Pleural effusion developed in 6 of 31 patients undergoing esophageal v ariceal sclerotherapy using absolute alcohol. The effusions were small , appeared within 48 hours of sclerotherapy, and disappeared without t reatment within 7 days in all six patients. Prevalence of chest pain w as significantly greater when pleural effusions developed than when pl eural effusions did not develop (83% of patients versus 19%, respectiv ely, p < 0.05). The persistence of chest pain was also significantly g reater when pleural effusions developed than when they did not develop (80% of patients versus 19%, respectively, p < 0.05). We conclude tha t pleural effusion occurs frequently after esophageal variceal sclerot herapy with alcohol and is commonly associated with chest pain.