Esophageal motility: effects of injection sclerotherapy

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the acute and chronic effects of sclerotherapy on esophageal motility and function. We studied motility in eight patients before and after injection sclerotherapy of esophageal varices. We injected the varices with 5% sodium morrhuate twice during the first week and then at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months. Lower esophageal sphincter pressure, contraction wave amplitude, and duration were not altered by sclerotherapy. However, the length of the high-pressure zone increased significantly from 3.6 +/- 0.3 cm to 4.2 +/- 0.2 cm during the first 3 days after initial treatment, and sclerotherapy caused considerable distortion of peristaltic wave form. Also, esophageal peristaltic velocity decreased in three patients who complained of dysphagia and subsequently developed esophageal stricture. The strictures have responded well to dilatation, and in two patients velocity has even returned toward the baseline value. Reflux esophagitis has not been a problem. Esophageal motility is altered by sclerotherapy of esophageal varices. Stricture formation seems to be reversible after sclerotherapy is stopped or discontinued.