Persistent bradyarrhythmia after sclerotherapy for esophageal varices

Sclerotherapy for esophageal varices has recently gained wide acceptance in major medical centers for the control of bleeding esophageal varices. We have described two elderly patients with preexisting cardiac disease (right bundle branch block) in whom persistent bradyarrhythmia followed sclerotherapy using 5% sodium morrhuate. Both patients required insertion of a permanent pacemaker. This is the first report associating sclerotherapy with significant bradyarrhythmias.