Endoscopic esophageal variceal sclerotherapy using 3% aqueous phenol

Endoscopic esophageal variceal sclerotherapy was performed in 301 patients with portal hypertension (emergency, 72 and elective, 229) using 3% aqueous phenol as sclerosant. The cause of portal hypertension was cirrhosis of the liver in 189 patients (Child's class A-48, B-66, and C-75), extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) in 90, and non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis in 22 patients. In the emergency group, active bleeding was controlled in 87% of cases. Re-bleeding occurred in 101 of 290 (35%) surviving patients. Obliteration of varices was achieved in 228 (84%) patients, with a mean of 5.14 +/- 2.27 sclerotherapy sessions. Of 301 patients, 29 (9.6%) had an early in-hospital mortality (30.5% in emergency and 3% in elective group), with 16 deaths due to variceal bleeding. Of the remaining 272 patients, 40 (15%) died during follow-up, of which only 11 died of variceal bleeding. Complications, such as superficial ulcers, dysphagia, and strictures, were observed in 14%, 7% of emergency, and 3% of elective patients. None of the patients developed systemic toxicity. In conclusion, 3% aqueous phenol is an effective, safe, and economical sclerosant for esophageal variceal sclerotherapy.