Pulmonary embolism after sclerotherapy treatment of bleeding varices

Abstract

We describe a case of pulmonary embolism after sclerosant injection for bleeding oesophageal varices. The patient was managed successfully with enoxaparin. Systemic embolization after sclerotherapy is rare and depends upon a number of factors including the amount of sclerosant agent used. The incidence of this complication could be as high as 6% which warrants careful post procedure monitoring of patients.

Keywords

• Pulmonary embolism
• sclerotherapy
• varices
• portal hypertension