Korean J Gastroenterol.  2004 Mar;43(3):196-203.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration in the Treatment of Gastric Varices in Cirrhotic Patients with Gastrorenal Shunt

• Baik GH
• Kim DJ
• Lee HG
• Min SK
• Kong SJ
• Kim JB
• Lee JY
• Hahn TH
• Baek IH
• Kim JH
• Kim BS
• Hwang WC

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Rupture of gastric varices was one of the most dreadful complications of cirrhosis. Recently, a new interventional procedure, balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) was introduced for the treatment of gastric variceal bleeding. This study was performed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of B-RTO in the treatment of gastric varices with gastro-renal shunts. METHODS: From March 2000 to June 2003, we performed B-RTO in 17 patients with gastric varices and gastrorenal shunts. All patients had history or high risk factors of gastric variceal bleeding. For the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy, we performed esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and computed tomography (CT) at 1, 6 and 12 months after B-RTO. Successful B-RTO was judged by combined CT findings and EGD findings (disappearance of gastric varices or markedly reduced gastric variceal size or bleeding risk) during follow-up periods (1-14 months, mean:6.18). We analyzed the clinical factors related to clinical success of B-RTO. RESULTS: Technical success were achieved in all patients except one (94.1%). Gastric varices were disappeared or decreased after B-RTO in 13 patients (81.2%). Complications related to procedure included transient hematuria (n=5), puncture site oozing (n=1) and partial splenic infarction (n=1), and all were conservatively managed. During the follow up periods, neither significant hepatic nor renal functional damages occurred. Statistically, no significant factors related with B-RTO success. CONCLUSIONS: B-RTO is effective and safe in the management of gastric varices in cirrhotic patients with gastrorenal shunt.

Keyword

Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO); Gastric varices; Gastrorenal shunt; Liver cirrhosis

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
*Balloon Occlusion
Endoscopy, Digestive System
English Abstract
Esophageal and Gastric Varices/diagnosis/*therapy
Female
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology/*therapy
Humans
Liver Cirrhosis/*complications
Male
Middle Aged