Oesophagitis in patients undergoing oesophageal transection for varices--a histological study.

Thirty-one oesophageal rings from patients undergoing transection for varices were examined histologically for oesophagitis. Four cases showed neutrophil infiltration but all had recent oesophageal intubation. Fifteen patients had significant morphological epithelial changes of oesophagitis assessed by two sets of criteria. Only 4 of these patients (13 per cent) had no other likely causative factor such as recent sclerotherapy or recent insertion of a Sengstaken tube. Therefore there appears little evidence for oesophagitis as a major aetiological factor in bleeding oesophageal varices.