Disturbances of the pulmonary perfusion after endoscopic sclerotherapy of oesophageal varices.

Haemorrhage from oesophageal varices is one of the most common reason of death of patients with liver cirrhosis. The possibility of treatment and prevention of the haemorrhage by endoscopic sclerotherapy (ES) has become one of the achievements of contemporary medicine. Nevertheless there are some complications described after this procedure, the most severe being the pulmonary embolia. In our study we analyzed the pulmonary circulation by perfusion scintigraphy after ES. Among twelve patients treated by ES we found two cases of disturbed pulmonary perfusion. We did not find clinical or gasometric changes in these patients. We suggest there should be done pulmonary perfusion monitoring after ES.