RESUMO
This study was conducted on 50 patients [37 males and 13 females]. All patients had the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis, significant ascites and acute bleeding esophageal varices. Endoscopic sclerotherapy was done to control such acute bleeding. Ascitic fluid samples were taken from all patients for analysis and culture before 30 minutes and 24-36 hours after endoscopy. Blood culture was also done 5 and 30 minutes after endoscopy. All patients were followed up for 72 hours after endoscopy. Only 13 patients experienced fever after endoscopy. It was transient and mild except in one patient. Only eight patients had bacteremia [positive blood culture], three of them were feverish. Three patients developed bacteriascites [positive ascetic fluid culture], one of them had bacterial peritonitis