A group of physicians attending a patient with hepatic cirrhosis are discussing possible treatments for variceal bleeding. The physicians were planning to give a sclerosant. The nurse, a part of the health care team, knows that the immediate complication involved with this drug is:
Explanation
Answer: A - The immediate complication of sclerosant therapy is substernal chest pain, which is usually transient and resolves spontaneously. Other immediate complications are dysphagia, low grade fever, and pleural effusion. On the other hand, delayed complications that rarely occur include esophageal strictures, perforation, ARDS, pneumothorax, pericarditis, mediastinitis, fistulas, and pleural effusion. Mucosal ulceration is a delayed complication that occurs in almost 90% of patients.
