Recurrence Of Gastric Varices Research Articles

Efficacy and Technical Feasibility of Plug-Assisted Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration of Gastric Varices via Pathways Other than the Gastrorenal Shunt

To evaluate the efficacy and technical feasibility of plug-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration of gastric varices via pathways different from the typical gastrorenal shunt. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 130 patients who underwent plug-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration for gastric varices between 2013 and 2022. Eight patients underwent plug-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration via different pathways. We evaluated the types of portosystemic shunts in these patients, the procedure technical and clinical success rates, and clinical outcomes. In these eight patients (6 males, 2 females; mean age = 60 ± 6years), the most common type of portosystemic shunt was a gastrocaval shunt (n = 7). Five patients had a gastrocaval shunt only; two had coexisting gastrocaval and gastrorenal shunts. One patient had a pericardiacophrenic shunt without a gastrorenal or gastrocaval shunt. The mean procedure time was 55min. For patients with a gastrocaval shunt alone (n = 5), the mean procedure time was 40.8min. The technical and clinical success rates were 100%. No major complication related to the procedure occurred. An initial follow-up computed tomography was performed within 2-3weeks in all patients and revealed complete thrombosis of the gastric varices. Subsequent follow-up computed tomography (interval: 2-6months) was performed in seven patients and showed complete disappearance of the gastric varices in all patients. During the follow-up period (range: 42days-6.25years), no patients experienced rebleeding or recurrence of gastric varices. Plug-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration via alternative portosystemic shunts is effective and technically feasible in the treatment of gastric varices.

EUS-guided therapies for primary and secondary prophylaxis in gastric varices-An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Gastric varices (GVs) are associated with a higher risk of uncontrolled bleeding and death when compared with esophageal varices. While endoscopic glue injection therapy has been traditionally used for secondary prophylaxis in GV, data regarding primary prophylaxis continue to emerge. Recently, EUS-guided therapies have been used in GV bleeding. We conducted a comprehensive search of several major databases from inception to June 2022. Our primary goals were to estimate the pooled rates of treatment efficacy, GV obliteration, GV recurrence, and rebleeding with EUS-guided therapy in primary and secondary prophylaxis. Overall adverse events and technical failures were assessed. Random-effects model was used for our meta-analysis, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 % statistics. Eighteen studies with 604 patients were included. In primary prophylaxis, pooled rate of GV obliteration was 90.2% (confidence interval [CI], 81.1-95.2; I2 = 0). With combination EUS-glue and coil therapy, the rate was 95.4% (CI, 86.7%-98.5%; I2 = 0). Pooled rate of posttherapy GV bleeding was 4.9% (CI, 1.8%-12.4%; I2 = 0). In secondary prophylaxis, pooled rate of treatment efficacy was 91.9% (CI, 86.8%-95.2%; I2 = 12). With EUS-glue, EUS-coil, and combination EUS-glue and coil, the rates were 94.3% (CI, 88.9%-97.1%; I2 = 0), 95.5% (CI, 80.3%-99.1%; I2 = 0), and 88.7% (CI, 76%-95.1%; I2 = 14), respectively. Pooled rate of GV obliteration was 83.6% (CI, 71.5%-91.2%; I2 = 74). With EUS-glue, EUS-coil, and combination EUS-glue and coil, the rates were 84.6% (CI, 75.9%-90.6%; I2 = 31), 92.3% (CI, 81.1%-97.1%; I2 = 0), and 84.5% (CI, 50.8%-96.7%; I2 = 75), respectively. Pooled rates of GV rebleeding and recurrence were 18.1% (CI, 13.1%-24.3%; I2 = 16) and 20.6% (CI, 9.3%-39.5%; I2 = 66), respectively. Our analysis shows that EUS-guided therapy for GVs is technically feasible and clinically successful in both primary and secondary prophylaxis of GV.

S1045 EUS-Guided Primary, Secondary Prophylaxis Treatment of Gastric Varices: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Gastric varices (GV) increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and carry a significant mortality risk, especially in the setting of portal hypertension. A major treatment modality for GV includes endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided glue and/ or coil injection. In this meta-analysis study, we aim to address the efficacy of EUS guided glue and/ or coil injection in the treatment of GV in primary and secondary prophylaxis. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of several databases including Medline, Scopus, Embase to identify studies from 2000-2019 that evaluated EUS guided therapy in the treatment of GV for primary and/or secondary prophylaxis. Our primary goals were to estimate the pooled rates of treatment efficacy, GV obliteration, GV recurrence, early re-bleeding, and late re-bleeding with EUS guided therapy of GV in primary and secondary prophylaxis. Calculation was done by standard meta-analysis methodology using the random-effects model and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2% statistics. Results: A total of 13 studies were included in the final analysis. The EUS guided treatment efficacy of primary prophylaxis was 95% (95% CI [85.7-98.4%]) and secondary prophylaxis was 94.3% [83.6-98.1]. GV obliteration was 68.3% [43.4-85.8] for primary prophylaxis and 65.8% [38.8-85.4] for secondary prophylaxis. GV recurrence was 10% [2.5-32.8] in primary prophylaxis and 4.3% [1.7-10.5] in secondary prophylaxis. Early re-bleeding was seen in 6.7% [1.7-23.1] of primary prophylaxis cases and 5.5% [2.3-12.6] of secondary prophylaxis. Late re-bleeding was seen in 6% [2.3-14.9] of primary prophylaxis cases and 12.6% [9.3-16.8] of secondary prophylaxis cases. We conducted sub-group analysis with respect to studies published as abstracts and full manuscripts, and by sample-size. The results summarized in Table 1. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis study illustrates that EUS-guided therapy of GV may demonstrate excellent short and long-term clinical outcomes in both primary and secondary prophylaxis. This was shown by high EUS guided treatment efficacy of 95% and 94.3% in primary and secondary prophylaxis respectively. In addition, a low GV recurrence of 4.5% in secondary prophylaxis is a key positive finding; however, the late re-bleeding rate of 12.6% in secondary prophylaxis needs further evaluation and future study. Nevertheless, our study highlights that early EUS-guided therapy should be considered in the treatment of GV regardless of primary or secondary prophylaxis.Table 1.: Summary of pooled results

Conventional versus selective balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration of gastric varices

BackgroundBalloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) is a well-established interventional radiological technique for treatment of isolated gastric varices (GV). The aim of this study is to compare outcome after different BRTO techniques, i.e., conventional, selective and superselective techniques.Fifty-nine consecutive patients underwent BRTO as a primary prophylactic treatment for GV were retrospectively categorized into group A (38 patients underwent conventional BRTO) and group B (21 patients underwent selective or superselective BRTO). Group B was sub-grouped into group B1 (11 patients underwent selective BRTO) and group B2 (10 patients underwent superselective BRTO).ResultsMedian volume of ethanol amine oleate iopamidol (EOI) was significantly higher in group A than in group B2 (14.8 Vs 7.4 ml, p = 0.03). Complete GV thrombosis was significantly lower in group B2 (50%) than in A (89.5%, p = 0.01) and B1 (100%, p = 0.01). GV bleeding rate after BRTO was significantly higher in group B2 than in group A (20% vs 0%, p = 0.04). GV recurrence rate was not significantly different between group A and B (p = 0.5) or between group A, B1 and B2 (p = 0.1). Cumulative ascites exacerbation rate was significantly higher in group A than B (p = 0.005), B1 (p = 0.03), and B2 (p = 0.03). Cumulative esophageal varices (Es.V) aggravation rate was significantly higher in group A than B (p = 0.001), B1 (p = 0.01), and B2 (p = 0.03). Volume of EOI was a significant risk factor for ascites exacerbation (p = 0.008) while shunt occlusion and pre-existing partial portal vein thrombosis were significant risk factors for Es.V aggravation (p = 0.01 and 0.03, respectively).ConclusionSelective and super-selective techniques had a lower ascites exacerbation, and Es.V aggravation rates than conventional technique. However, superselective BRTO had a lower GV complete thrombosis and higher GV bleeding rates after BRTO than other techniques.

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic ultrasound-guided therapy versus direct endoscopic glue injection therapy for gastric varices: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Gastric variceal bleeding carries significant mortality in the setting of portal hypertension. Among the endoscopic treatment options, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided glue and/or coil injection is a novel approach, but its role in the treatment of gastric varices is not established due to a lack of robust data. We conducted a comprehensive search of several databases (inception to June 2019) to identify studies evaluating EUS in the treatment of gastric varices. Our primary goals were to estimate the pooled rates of treatment efficacy, obliteration and recurrence of gastric varices, early and late rebleeding, and adverse events with EUS-guided therapy in gastric varices. We also searched for studies that evaluated direct endoscopic glue (END-glue) injection for treatment of gastric varices, and used the pooled rates as comparators. 23 studies (851 patients) evaluating EUS-guided therapy were included. The pooled treatment efficacy was 93.7 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 89.5 - 96.3, I 2 = 53.7), gastric varices obliteration was 84.4 % (95 %CI 74.8 - 90.9, I 2 = 77), gastric varices recurrence was 9.1 % (95 %CI 5.2 - 15.7, I 2 = 32), early rebleeding was 7.0 % (95 %CI 4.6 - 10.7, I 2 = 0), and late rebleeding was 11.6 % (95 %CI 8.8 - 15.1, I 2 = 22). The rates were comparable to END-glue therapy (28 studies, 3467 patients) except for obliteration, which was significantly better with EUS-guided therapy. On subgroup analysis, EUS-coil/glue combination showed superior outcomes. EUS-guided therapy demonstrated clinical efficacy for treatment of gastric varices in terms of obliteration, recurrence, and long-term rebleeding, and may be superior to END-glue.

Utility of Coil-Assisted Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration II (CARTO-II) for the Treatment of Gastric Varices.

PurposeTo investigate the technical feasibility, safety and clinical outcomes of coil-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration II (CARTO-II) for gastric varices (GV).Materials and MethodsThirty-six consecutive patients who had undergone CARTO-II between June 2016 and April 2018 were included in the study. In the CARTO procedure, coil embolization of the drainage vein is performed “before” injection of the sclerosant to replace the use of balloon catheter. In the CARTO-II procedure, coil embolization of the drainage vein was performed “after” injection of the sclerosant to prevent migration of the sclerosant. CARTO-II was performed with ethanolamine oleate iopamidol, and the balloon catheter was immediately removed after coil placement. Technical and clinical success rates, number of coils used, presence or absence of severe complications, timing of the procedure, and rate of GV recurrence after the procedure were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsIn all patients, GV sclerosis, coil placement and removal of the balloon catheter were successfully completed. The technical success rate was 100%. No patients experienced severe complications such as coil migration or pulmonary embolization. The mean number of metallic coils used per procedure was 3.36. Mean length of the procedure was 132.8 min. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography after CARTO-II confirmed complete variceal thrombosis in all cases. The recurrence rate of GV during follow-up was 2.8% (mean follow-up, 207 days).ConclusionCARTO-II was feasible and safe and could be performed relatively quickly. The number of coils used and the rate of GV recurrence were both low. CARTO-II may have an important role to play in the management of GV.

Clinical efficacy of pericardial devascularization combined with splenectomy and partial gastric fundus resection in the treatment of portal hypertension-induced severe gastric varices complicated with gastrorenal shunt

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of pericardial devascularization (PCDV) combined with splenectomy and partial gastric fundus resection (PGFR) in the treatment of portal hypertension-induced severe gastric varices complicated with gastrorenal shunt (GRS). Methods The retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 18 patients with portal hypertension-induced severe gastric varices complicated with GRS who were admitted to the Fujian Provincial Hospital from January 2010 to December 2015 were collected. According to the stage of technical development, open surgery or laparoscopic surgery was selected based on patients′ and their family's wishes. Observation indicators: (1) surgical and postoperative recovery situations; (2) postoperative pathological examination; (3) follow-up and survival. The follow-up using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed once every 3 months within 1 year postoperatively and once every 6 months after 1 year to detect long-term complications and survival up to June 2017. The reexaminations of gastroscopy, enhanced scan of X-ray computed tomography (CT) on the epigastric region or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were done at 1 month postoperatively for detecting resection of fundus ventriculi varicosity. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as ±s. Measurement data with skewed distribution were described as M (range). The survival rate was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results (1) Surgical and postoperative recovery situations: 18 patients underwent successful PCDV combined with splenectomy and PGFR, including 12 with open surgery and 6 with laparoscopic surgery (1 with conversion to open surgery due to intraoperatively uncontrollable bleeding). There was no perioperative death. The operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, recovery time of gastrointestinal function, time of postoperative drainage-tube removal and duration of hospital stay were (192±20)minutes, (280±30)mL, (33±6)hours, 8 days (range, 5-9 days), 8 days (range, 5-12 days) in 12 patients with open surgery and (208±40)minutes, (210±10)mL, (28±5)hours, 7 days (range, 5-26 days), 7 days (range, 5-10 days) in 6 patients with laparoscopic surgery, respectively. One patient with laparoscopic surgery had intraoperative condensed erythrocyte infusion with 2 U. Seven, 1, 0 patients with open surgery and 4, 1, 1 patients with laparoscopic surgery were respectively complicated with pleural effusion, delayed gastric emptying and pancreatic leakage in level A, and they were cured by conservative treatment. (2) Postoperative pathological examination: results of postoperative pathological examination in 18 patients showed that a large number of varicose veins in the mucous and serosal layers of gastric fundus and moderate or severe hepatic cirrhosis. (3) Follow-up and survival: 18 patients were followed up for 8-78 months with a median time of 39 months. The gastroscopy and enhanced scan of X-ray CT at 1 month postoperatively showed that no varicose veins in the gastric fundus. During the follow-up, there was no recurrence of gastric varices with GRS and esophageal stenosis. Of 4 patients with portal vein thrombosis, 1 died of portal hypertensive gastropathy-induced upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to stop taking warfarin, and other 3 patients had portal vein patency by warfarin therapy. One patient was complicated with liver cancer at 32 months postoperatively and received radiofrequency ablation therapy. Two patients died, including 1 dying of hepatic failure at 35 months postoperatively and 1 dying of advanced liver cancer at 54 months postoperatively. The 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates of 18 patients were respectively 93.8%, 84.4% and 70.3%. Conclusion The PCDV combined with splenectomy and PGFR is safe and effective in the treatment of portal hypertension-induced severe gastric varices with GRS, with a dissemination value for appropriate patients. Key words: Liver cirrhosis; Portal hypertension; Gastric varices; Gastrorenal shunt; Partial gastrectomy; Pericardial devascularization; Splenectomy; Laparoscopy

Endoscopic Cyanoacrylate Glue Injection in Management of Gastric Variceal Bleeding: US Tertiary Care Center Experience

Although endoscopic cyanoacrylate glue injection (ECGI) is recommended as first-line treatment for bleeding gastric varices (GV) there is still limited experience with this method in the US. Our aim was to analyze our 10-year experience of ECGI for treatment and prophylaxis of gastric variceal bleeding. Records of patients undergoing ECGI of GV at our US tertiary care center between 6/2005 and 5/2015 were reviewed. Assessed outcomes were primary hemostasis, early rebleeding during hospitalization, recurrent bleeding during follow-up, eradication and recurrence of GV. Prophylactic ECGI was performed in 16 patients with large GV. Eradication was achieved in 15 (94%). During the median follow-up of 27 (IQR 7-47) months, 4 patients (26.6%) had variceal bleeding; all were treated successfully with ECGI. Fifty-seven patients underwent ECGI for GV bleeding. Primary hemostasis was achieved in all. Early rebleeding occurred in 2 (3.5%) and durable hemostasis could not be achieved. Follow-up beyond initial hospitalization was available in 41 patients. Bleeding recurred in 8 (19.5%) patients during a median follow-up of 12 (IQR, 3-51) months. Eradication of GV was achieved in 92% of patients but recurrent varices were found in 44% during a median follow up period of 33 months. ECGI is effective in achieving hemostasis of bleeding GV and their eradication. Recurrent bleeding and recurrence of varices after complete obliteration however are not infrequent and continued surveillance is advisable.

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic prophylactic treatment with undiluted cyanoacrylate for gastric varices.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of undiluted N-butyl-2 cyanoacrylate plus methacryloxysulfolane (NBCM) as a prophylactic treatment for gastric varices (GV) bleeding. This prospective study was conducted at a single tertiary-care teaching hospital between October 2009 and March 2013. Patients with portal hypertension (PH) and GV, with no active gastrointestinal bleeding, were enrolled in primary prophylactic treatment with NBCM injection without lipiodol dilution. Initial diagnosis of GV was based on endoscopy and confirmed with endosonography (EUS); the same procedure was used after treatment to confirm eradication of GV. After puncturing the GV with a regular injection needle, 1 mL of undiluted NBCM was injected intranasally into GV. The injection was repeated as necessary to achieve eradication or until a maximum total volume of 3 mL of NBCM had been injected. Patients were followed clinically and evaluated with endoscopy at 3, 6 and 12 mo. Later follow-ups were performed yearly. The main outcome measures were efficacy (GV eradication), safety (adverse events related to cyanoacrylate injection), recurrence, bleeding from GV and mortality related to GV treatment. A total of 20 patients (15 male) with PH and GV were enrolled in the study and treated with undiluted NBCM injection. Only 2 (10%) patients had no esophageal varices (EV); 18 (90%) patients were treated with endoscopic band ligation to eradicate EV before inclusion in the study. The patients were followed clinically and endoscopically for a median of 31 mo (range: 6-40 mo). Eradication of GV was observed in all patients (13 patients were treated with 1 session and 7 patients with 2 sessions), with a maximum injected volume of 2 mL NBCM. One patient had GV recurrence, confirmed by EUS, at 6-mo follow-up, and another had late recurrence with GV bleeding after 35 mo of follow-up; overall, GV recurrence was observed in 2 patients (10%), after 6 and 35 mo of follow-up, and GV bleeding rate was 5% (1 patient). Mild epigastric pain was reported by 3 patients (15%). No mortality or major complications, including embolism, or damage to equipment were observed. Endoscopic injection with NBCM, without lipiodol, may be a safe and effective treatment for primary prophylaxis of gastric variceal bleeding.

Therapeutic efficacy of endoscopic variceal ligation to treat gastric varices: a study of 63 consecutive cases

To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) for treating various types of gastric varices (GV) by reviewing patient cases in order to identify the influencing factors of EVL-related recurrence and rebleeding. The medical records of 101 GV cases treated by EVL in our department between January 2008 and October 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. The cases were grouped according to GV type: type 1 (GOV1, n = 63), type 2 (GOV2, n = 18), GOV1 coexisting with GOV2 (n = 11), isolated GOV1 (IGV1, n = 9), and GOV2 (IGV2, n = 0). Data from follow-up examinations (range: 1.5 - 48.0 months, average: 14.9 +/- 9.1 months) were extracted for analysis and included early (less than 72 h after EVL) and late (72 h to 6 weeks after EVL) rebleeding and recurrence. In addition, data from computed tomography (CT) or CT angiography (CTA), performed in 32 of the patients, were extracted to determine the influence of supplying veins, gastrorenal or splenorenal shunts, and portal vein and/or splenic vein diameters on GV recurrence. Data analysis was carried out by ANOVA, Chi-square, Fisher's exact or rank-sum tests, as appropriate. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate the time of first recurrent bleeding, and the log-rank test was used to compare between-group differences. GOV2 and IGV1 varices were more severe than the varices of GOV1 (GOV2 and GOV1: u = -2.960; IGV1 and GOV1: u = -2.871; both P less than 0.05). GOV1 had a significantly lower recurrence rate than all other GV types (x2 = 7.054, P less than 0.05). The CT and CTA data indicated that all GV were supplied by left gastric veins, while 83.3% of IGV1 had blood supplementation by left gastric veins and short gastric or posterior gastric veins, and 100% of IGV1 had gastrorenal or splenorenal shunts. Approximately one-half of the total GV cases (56.3%, 18/32) had gastrorenal or splenorenal shunts, and this parameter was correlated with portal vein diameter (t = -2.766, P less than 0.05). The presence of gastrorenal or splenorenal shunts was correlated with both recurrence and rebleeding (P less than 0.05). EVL can effectively control bleeding and prevent rebleeding for GV; although, the best therapeutic efficacy and lowest rate of recurrence was achieved in GOV1 cases. The presence of gastrorenal or splenorenal shunts increases the risk of GV recurrence.

Laparoendoscopic Transgastric Histoacryl Injection of Gastric Varices: A New Surgical Approach

Gastric varices (GVs) are a common finding in Egyptian patients with portal hypertension due to cirrhosis or schistosomal hepatic fibrosis. These patients present with an acute attack or history of hematemesis. Endoscopic histoacryl injection is the standard treatment in Egypt; however, because of technical difficulties it is possible to inject only a little amount of this material, as it may endanger the channels of the flexible endoscope. We thought of a new surgical laparoendoscopic technique to obviate the need for repeated endoscopies and complete obliteration of GVs. This study was conducted on 20 patients with portal hypertension and GVs. After the patient was placed under general anesthesia, a small gastrostomy was done in the anterior gastric wall through which a 10-mm trocar was inserted for the laparoscopic camera. Injection of GVs was done via a spinal needle or a central venous line needle inserted directly. Injection of an adequate amount of histoacryl was done under direct vision. This study was conducted from July 2009 to August 2011 on 20 patients with GVs. The age range was from 22 to 56 years, with a mean age of 39.8±7.85 years. There were 14 men (70%) and 6 women (30%). Fourteen patients (70%) showed complete obliteration of GVs after one session of treatment, whereas 6 patients (30%) had unsatisfactory results and were subjected to another session. GVs were completely obliterated after the second session in 4 patients. Two cases of recurrence of GVs were operated on. This new technique enabled us to inject GVs with a suitable amount of glue material under direct vision without harming the endoscope. Use of this procedure is recommended in patients fit for surgery and those who had failed endoscopic injection sclerotherapy.

Percutaneous Transportal Sclerotherapy with N-Butyl-2-Cyanoacrylate for Gastric Varices: Technique and Clinical Efficacy

ObjectiveThis study was deigned to evaluate the technique and clinical efficacy of the use of percutaneous transportal sclerotherapy with N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) for patients with gastric varices.Materials and MethodsSeven patients were treated by transportal sclerotherapy with the use of NBCA. For transportal sclerotherapy, portal vein catheterization was performed with a 6-Fr sheath by the transhepatic approach. A 5-Fr catheter was introduced into the afferent gastric vein and a microcatheter was advanced through the 5-Fr catheter into the varices. NBCA was injected through the microcatheter in the varices by use of the continuous single-column injection technique. After the procedure, postcontrast computed tomography (CT) was performed on the next day and then every six months. Gastroendoscopy was performed at one week, three months, and then every six months after the procedure.ResultsThe technical success rate of the procedure was 88%. In six patients, gastric varices were successfully obliterated with 1-8 mL (mean, 5.4 mL) of a NBCA-Lipiodol mixture injected via a microcatheter. No complications related to the procedure were encountered. As seen on the follow-up endoscopy and CT imaging performed after six months, the presence of gastric varcies was not seen in any of the patients after treatment with the NBCA-Lipiodol mixture and the use of microcoils. Recurrence of gastric varices was not observed during the follow-up period. Worsening of esophageal varices occurred in four patients after transportal sclerotherapy. The serum albumin level increased, the ammonia level decreased and the prothrombin time increased at six months after the procedure (p < 0.05).ConclusionPercutaneous transportal sclerotherapy with NBCA is useful to obliterate gastric varices if it is not possible to perform balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration.

Efficacy of balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration, percutaneous transhepatic obliteration and combined techniques for the management of gastric fundal varices

To evaluate the effect of three interventional treatments involving transvenous obliteration for the treatment of gastric varices, and to compare the efficacy and adverse effects of these methods. From 1995 to 2004, 93 patients with gastric fundal varices underwent interventional radiologic embolotherapy at our hospital. Of the 93 patients, 75 were treated with the balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) procedure; 8 were with the percutaneous transhepatic obliteration (PTO) procedure; and 10 were with the combined BRTO and PTO therapy. A follow-up evaluation examined the rates of survival, recurrence and rebleeding of the gastric varices, worsening of esophageal varices and complications in each group. The BRTO, PTO, and combined therapy were technically successful in 81% (75/93), 44% (8/18), and 100% (10/10) patients, respectively. Recurrence of gastric varices was found in 3 patients in the BRTO group and in 3 patients in the PTO group. Rebleeding was observed in 1 patient in the BRTO group and in 1 patient in the PTO group. The 1- and 3-year survival rates were 98% and 87% in the patients without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the BRTO group, 100% and 100% in the PTO group, and 90% and 75% in the combined therapy group, respectively. Combined BRTO and PTO therapy may rescue cases with uncontrollable gastric fundal varices that remained even after treatment with BRTO and/or PTO, though there were limitations of our study, including retrospective nature and discrepancy in sample size between the BRTO, PTO and combined therapy groups.

Management of gastric variceal haemorrhage

From March 1979 to April 1988 nine patients with hepatic cirrhosis have presented with acute variceal haemorrhage from gastric varices. Of six patients who underwent emergency laparotomy those with modified Child's grade C (n = 3) died within 30 days of surgery. Six patients have been followed for 2 years or longer. In the three patients who underwent under-running of gastric varices alone, two patients developed oesophageal varices at 3 and 14 months, respectively, and in the third patient gastric varices recurred 3 years after surgery. In the remaining three patients, additional left gastric vein ligation was not associated with recurrence of gastric varices or the development of oesophageal varices.

A randomized controlled trial of cyanoacrylate versus alcohol injection in patients with isolated fundic varices

OBJECTIVE: Treatment of bleeding gastric varices (GVs) is still controversial, mainly because of anecdotal studies or inclusion of patients with GVs located at different sites that have variable incidences of bleeding. A prospective study was undertaken to compare the efficacy and safety of GV sclerotherapy using alcohol and GV obturation using cyanoacrylate glue. METHODS: Thirty-seven consecutive patients with portal hypertension and endoscopic evidence of isolated GVs, 17 presenting with histories of active bleeding, were randomized to receive endoscopic intervention either with alcohol (n = 17) or with cyanoacrylate glue (n = 20) injection. Variceal obliteration, rebleeding, or death was the endpoint. RESULTS: The glue was significantly more effective in achieving variceal obliteration than alcohol (100% vs 44%, p < 0.05). Furthermore, this could be achieved in a significantly shorter period (2.0 ± 1.6 vs 4.7 ± 3.2 wk, p < 0.05) and with a smaller volume of the agent. Cyanoacrylate glue injection could achieve arrest of acute GV bleeding more often than alcohol (89% vs 62%), and the need for rescue surgery was less; the difference was, however, not significant. Six patients died from uncontrolled GV bleeding, four being in the alcohol group. During a mean follow-up of 15.4 ± 3.7 months there was no recurrence of GVs in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that cyanoacrylate is more effective and achieves GV obliteration faster than injection sclerotherapy with alcohol. It also appears to be more useful in controlling acute GV bleeding, with less of a need for rescue surgery.

Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration for gastric varices with gastrorenal or gastrocaval collaterals.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration for gastric varices with gastrorenal or gastrocaval collaterals. Thirty patients who had gastric varices with gastrorenal or gastrocaval collaterals underwent balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration. A 5-French balloon catheter was inserted in the gastrorenal collateral, gastrocaval collateral, or both, and a 5% solution of ethanolamine oleate iopamidole that contained equal amounts of ethanolamine oleate and iopamidole 300 was injected into the gastric varices. One day, 1 week, and 1 month after balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration, hepatic and renal function tests (total bilirubin, transaminase, blood ammonia, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen) were done. To evaluate therapeutic efficacy, we observed the site with endoscopy every 2 weeks and obtained enhanced CT scans every month. The observation time ranged from 10 to 30 months. After balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration, gastric varices disappeared completely in all 30 cases in 4-16 weeks (mean, 10 weeks). Recurrence of gastric varices was observed in three cases (10%), which were treated with repeated balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration. Esophageal varices were aggravated in three patients (10%), who underwent successful endoscopic injection sclerotherapy. Complications of balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration were fever and hemoglobinuria, which disappeared in about 5 days. We observed no significant hepatic and renal functional damage. Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration offers good control of gastric varices with gastrorenal or gastrocaval collaterals, even if hepatic function is poor.

Laparoscopy-Assisted Devascularization of the Lower Esophagus and Upper Stomach in the Management of Gastric Varices

Devascularization of the lower esophagus and the upper stomach is one method of treating patients with clinically significant gastric varices. We describe a new method of laparoscopically-assisted devascularization which has been applied in seven patients with esophagogastric varices. Three of the seven patients had an episode of gastric variceal bleeding, and the remaining four had moderate to large gastric varices with red color signs. The operative procedure was carried out without pneumoperitoneum by using an ordinary forceps and laparoscopic instruments through a small skin incision (3-5 cm); the abdominal wall was elevated with a U-shaped retractor. The operative field was obtained by laparoscopic and direct vision illuminated by laparoscopic light. The procedure time ranged from 100 to 180 minutes with minimal blood loss (70-320 g). No complications were encountered. All patients could be discharged within one week; postoperative pain was minimal and all patients returned to work early. Follow-up (mean 11.4 months) showed no recurrence of gastric varices although, due to an incomplete procedure in two cases, two patients were treated additionally by endoscopic injection of histoacryl.