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Pleural effusions after endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy.
Gastroenterology
|June 1, 1985
Summary
Pleural effusions frequently occur after endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy, affecting nearly half of procedures. These effusions are typically exudative and associated with increased chest pain and larger sclerosant volumes.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pulmonology
- Medical Procedures
Background:
- Endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy is a common treatment for esophageal varices.
- Complications, such as pleural effusions, can impact patient outcomes.
- Understanding the incidence and characteristics of post-sclerotherapy pleural effusions is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of pleural effusions following endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy.
- To analyze the characteristics and potential contributing factors of these effusions.
- To investigate the biochemical nature of the effusions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 30 patients undergoing 65 sclerotherapy sessions.
- Radiographic identification of pleural effusions.
- Biochemical analysis of effusions via thoracentesis.
- Comparison of clinical and procedural data between patients with and without effusions.
Main Results:
- Pleural effusions occurred in 48% of sclerotherapy sessions (31 of 65).
- Effusions were right-sided, left-sided, or bilateral, with most being small (65%).
- Patients with effusions reported more chest pain and received a larger sclerosant volume (13.2 ml vs. 8.5 ml).
- Biochemical analysis indicated an exudative nature in 11 of 12 effusions.
Conclusions:
- Pleural effusions are a frequent complication of endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy.
- The effusions are predominantly exudative, likely due to mediastinal pleura inflammation.
- Increased sclerosant volume and chest pain are associated with effusion development.
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