Morphological changes in the terminal oesophagus with varices, following sclerosis of the wall.

Autopsies were performed on 53 patients with oesophageal varices treated with ethoxysclerol to effect sclerosis of the terminal oesophageal wall. The morphological changes after perivascular injection, disturbance of wound healing and complications are described. In 20 cases it was possible to follow the various stages of the normal resorptive inflammatory reaction with transition to perivascular sclerosis of the oesophageal wall. Fatal complications tended to arise in cases with an existing oesophageal lesion produced by the mechanical action of an oesophageal tube. Deeply penetrating mucosal ulcers, perforation of the wall and phlegmonous inflammation leading to mediastinitis were observed in almost 75% of the cases. The results of this morphological analysis might be used as a basis for a prospective morphological study of patients with varices treated with oil-containing solutions injected into the oesophageal wall.