[Morphology and function of the esophagus after sclerotherapy of esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients]

Abstract

To assess the effects of endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy on esophageal symptoms and function, we prospectively studied 24 consecutive cirrhotic patients (group I), 60 days after variceal eradication had been achieved. Nine cirrhotics with varices (group II) and 16 normal volunteers (group III) were control groups. After sclerotherapy, 9 patients had persistent dysphagia and two others had heartburn. Nine patients developed an esophageal stricture, without dysphagia in 2 cases. Distal esophageal scars were observed in 8 out of 9 patients with stricture and 2 out of 15 patients without stricture. The percentage of patients with abnormal peristaltic waves (abnormal pattern, non propulsive contractions, respectively) was significantly (p less than 0.01) more important in group I (83 p. 100, 96 p. 100) than in group II (22 p. 100, 22 p. 100). A very particular manometric "en plateau" waveform pattern, never seen before, was observed in 75 p. 100 of patients in group I. Relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) was significantly (p less than 0.01) lower in patients with stricture (38 p. 100 median) than in the others (71 p. 100 median). Motility disturbances were observed in the 6 +/- 3 last centimeters of the esophagus, and were unchanged 9 months later in 5 patients who had further examination. The percentage of time below pH 4 and the Kaye's score did not differ between group I (n = 17) and group III on 3 hours postprandial esophageal pH monitoring. The percentage of time at pH less than 4 was more than 9 p. 100 in 31 p. 100 of group I patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)