Abstract： Objective To analyse retrospectively the causes and characterisics of esophageal stricture following esophageal variceal sclerotherapy in order to optimize the endoscopic treatment of esophageal varices. Methods 1547 patients with esophageal varice were treated by sclerotherapy in the recent seven years, 32 of whom were found to have esophageal stricture. Another 30 patients without stricture were used as controls to analyze the clinical characteristics, especially etiology, stricture location, stricture degree, sclerosis times and points, sclerosis doses, and treatment results. Statistical factor analysis was used to identify stricture-related factors. Results The main causes of portal hypertension in stricture group were HBV cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis(AIH), like those without stricture. Stricture was mostly located in the lower part of esophagus. The distance from the stricture to the incisors was（37.31±2.15）cm；the average treatment times were（4.68±1.68）and the total sclerosis dose was （105±41.32）ml. Statistical factor analysis indicated that esophageal stricture was correlated with the total sclerosis dose and treatment times rather than with age, gender and sclerosis points. Conclusions A sound knowledge of the dose, location and frequency of sclerotherapy is significant to preventing the occurrence of esophageal stricture.
