Studies in sclerotherapy: I. Comparison of sodium tetradecyl sulphate (STS) with absolute alcohol (AA) as sclerosants in the treatment of esophageal varices.

To compare the efficacy of 3% sodium tetradecyl sulphate (STS) with absolute alcohol (AA), we randomly assigned 52 patients with portal hypertension to one of the two sclerosants. Obliteration of esophageal varices was seen with an almost similar number of sessions (5.2 +/- 1.8 with STS and 4.7 +/- 1.5 with AA). Esophageal ulceration was more common with STS, while severe retrosternal pain was seen only with absolute alcohol. However, there was no statistical significance to these differences. The study suggests that absolute alcohol might be a suitable alternative to STS.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes