A comparative evaluation of sclerosants for esophageal varices: a prospective randomized controlled study.

The aim of this prospective randomized controlled study was to find a safe and effective sclerosing solution for endoscopic injection sclerotherapy in the treatment of esophageal variceal bleeding. Ninety consecutive patients with portal hypertension and variceal bleeding were randomized to receive sclerotherapy with 5% ethanolamine oleate, 3% sodium tetradecyl sulfate, or absolute alcohol at an interval of 3 weeks. Sixty-four patients who received more than three sessions were analyzed. All three agents were found to have similar success and complication rates (p greater than 0.05). However, absolute alcohol required fewer sessions (p less than 0.01) and lesser amounts (p less than 0.01) to produce successful variceal sclerosis and had the added advantage of low cost and easy availability.