Influencing factors for esophageal stenosis caused by sclerotherapy for esophageal varices

Objective To investigate the influencing factors for esophageal stenosis caused by sclerotherapy for esophageal varices. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 17 patients with esophageal stenosis caused by sclerotherapy for esophageal varices who were treated in Beijing You'an Hospital from February 2011 to December 2016, and 17 patients who were given sclerotherapy for esophageal varices and did not experience esophageal stenosis were enrolled as control group. The two groups were compared in terms of dose of sclerosing agent, number of treatments, injection site, and other related factors. The t-test was used for comparison of continuous data between groups, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. Results The esophageal stenosis group had a significantly lower number of treatments with sclerosing agent than the control group ( 3. 11 ± 0. 90 vs 5. 12 ± 2. 11, t =-3. 267, P = 0. 003) . Compared with the control group, the esophageal stenosis group had significantly higher total dose of sclerosing agent ( 36. 12 ± 3. 55 ml vs 28. 36 ± 5. 08 ml, t = 4. 046, P < 0. 001) and dose of sclerosing agent for last injection ( 19. 13 ± 4. 19 ml vs 12. 46 ±2. 61 ml, t = 4. 179, P < 0. 001) , and the injection sites were close to each other or located on the same plane. Repeated sclerotherapy caused esophageal stenosis in case of improper operation. Conclusion It is of great clinical significance to properly determine injection dose, site, and number of injections and avoid overlap between ulcers, in order to prevent esophageal stenosis after sclerotherapy for esophageal varices.