Injection sclerotherapy using absolute alcohol in bleeding oesophageal varices

ABSTRACT

Absolute alcohol was used as a sclerosant to control acute bleeding. Reduction in variceal size was achieved in all grades of varices in 160 [98.1%] patients who had completed at least 2 or more endoscopic sclerotherapy sessions with total eradication of varices in 150 [92.2%] patients. Thirteen [7.9%] patients died-ten [6.1%] because of portosystemic encephalopathy and three [1.8%] due to massive re-bleeds despite treatment. There were no fatal complications. Complications commonly seen were retrosternal pain, bleeding from the injection site, fever and ulceration at the site of injection. This stud shows that endoscopic sclerotherapy with absolute alcohol is effective not only in controlling acute bleeding but also in preventing re-bleeds