Morphological changes in esophagus following endoscopic sclerotherapy with 3% aqueous phenol

Autopsy studies have shown that a majority of sclerosants presently used for endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy achieve their end result by a process of necrotizing inflammation of the esophageal wall followed by fibrosis and thrombosis, rather than bland thrombosis of varices. We have been using 3% phenol in water for variceal sclerotherapy and found it to be an effective sclerosant. To study the effect of this sclerosant on varices and the esophageal wall, autopsies were performed in 15 patients who died following sclerotherapy. Histopathological examination of sections from the esophagus showed (a) fresh thrombus in the varices immediately following injection, (b) intimal damage with medial sclerosis and superficial mucosal ulceration after one week, (c) organisation and recanalization with marked medial sclerosis at 3-4 weeks, and (d) complete obliteration of varices after 6-12 weeks. None of the patients was found to have esophageal necrosis, perforation or mediastinitis. Thus, 3% aqueous phenol appears to be an effective and safe sclerosant for variceal sclerotherapy.