Endoscopic Sclerotherapy in Porcine Esophagus Changes Luminal Cross-sectional Area and Wall Distensibility Dose- and Time-dependently

The dose- and time-dependent effects of endoscopic sclerotherapy on luminal cross-sectional area and wall distensibility were studied in pigs at 5 and 12 cm proximal to the gastroesophageal junction by means of impedance planimetry. Sixteen healthy animals underwent two sessions of endoscopic sclerotherapy two weeks apart with injections of either 5 or 10 ml of 1% Polidocanol in the distal 7 cm of the esophagus each time. The animals were investigated before sclerotherapy, two weeks after each session, and finally six weeks after the last session. Six healthy animals were studied as controls. Endoscopic sclerotherapy caused luminal narrowing in the sclerosed zone followed by normalization six weeks after the last treatment (P < 0.05 in both groups). Wall distensibility decreased in the sclerosed zone after treatment with 10 ml sclerosant (P < 0.05) followed by partial normalization, while no effect was found after 5 ml sclerosant (P > 0.2). Progressive dilations were observed in the proximal esophagus in both groups and were most pronounced in the 10 ml group (P < 0.05). Wall distensibility did not change proximal to the site of sclerotherapy in either group (P > 0.1).