[Esophageal function following sclerotherapy of esophageal varices]

Functional disorders of the esophagus were evaluated in 24 patients 4 +/- 2 months after sclerotherapy following the first hemorrhage. The mean volume of polidocanol required per patient was 181 +/- 111 ml. 9 patients complained of dysphagia and/or reflux symptoms; strictures were found in two cases; 4 patients had esophagitis. Manometrically the lower esophageal sphincter was completely insufficient in 14 patients; only 7 patients still had a competent cardia. The first group had received significantly more polidocanol than the latter. Tubular motility was disturbed by nonpropulsive (18%) and repetitive (7%) contractions. By longterm-pH-metry the percentage of oesophageal reflux was elevated in all patients.