2159 Endoscopic Management of Isolated Gastric Varices: Hematemesis in Pancreatitis-Induced Splenic Vein Thrombosis

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Brisk upper GI bleeding with acute blood loss anemia requires emergent endoscopic evaluation. Often, lesions are due to peptic ulcer disease or variceal hemorrhage. Here, we present a case of isolated bleeding gastric varices in a patient with splenic vein thrombosis likely due to recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis. CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: A 48-year-old man with alcohol abuse, thrombocytopenia, and chronic LUQ abdominal pain presented with four days of hematemesis and melena. He intermittently takes PPI, but reported no NSAID use or history of H. pylori. Previously, two similar episodes associated with severe epigastric pain radiating to his back occurred with heavy drinking. On exam, he is hemodynamically stable with an unremarkable abdominal exam. His admission hemoglobin is 4.9 g/dl and BUN is 26 mg/dl. He is resuscitated with blood products and EGD reveals type 1 isolated gastric varices (IGV) in the fundus with stigmata of recent bleed (Figure 1). Subsequent EUS confirms presence of fundal varices. Hemostasis is achieved with coiling and cyanoacrylate (CYA) glue (Figures 2 and 3). CT A/P shows splenomegaly with chronic splenic vein thrombosis with collateral gastric varices. On discharge, he is counseled on alcohol cessation, as his bleeding gastric varices were attributable to pancreatitis-induced splenic vein thrombosis (PISVT). DISCUSSION: PISVT is a sequalae of acute and chronic pancreatitis. The pathophysiology is centered on left-sided portal hypertension with collateral blood flow developing in the splenoportal or gastroepiploic systems. Most patients with subsequent IGV are asymptomatic, but in high-risk symptomatic groups, EUS guided CYA glue injection and intravascular coil embolization is an emerging therapy that has the potential to achieve higher rates of hemostasis and lower rebleeding rates compared to sclerotherapy or balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration. A recent study demonstrated that out of 100 patients who underwent EUS-guided coil and CYA glue injection, 93 had complete obliteration (on Doppler study) of gastric fundal varices on follow-up EUS examination (Bhat, GIE 2016). Patients who do not achieve hemostasis after CYA injection and coil should be considered for splenic artery embolization or splenectomy, which is currently the gold standard for management of splenic vein thrombosis complicated by variceal hemorrhage. A large comparison trial would be most beneficial to validate this treatment modality compared to existing conventional therapies.