title: Ectopic varices in the gastrointestinal tract: short- and long-term outcomes of percutaneous therapy.
abstract: To evaluate the results of percutaneous management of ectopic varices, a retrospective review was carried out of 14 patients (9 men, 5 women; mean age 58 years) who between 1992 and 2001 underwent interventional radiological techniques for management of bleeding ectopic varices. A history of prior abdominal surgery was present in 12 of 14 patients. The interval between the surgery and percutaneous intervention ranged from 2 to 38 years. Transhepatic portal venography confirmed ectopic varices to be the source of portal hypertension-related gastrointestinal bleeding. Embolization of the ectopic varices was performed by a transhepatic approach with coil embolization of the veins draining into the ectopic varices. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) was performed in the standard fashion. Eighteen procedures (12 primary coil embolizations, 1 primary TIPS, 2 re-embolizations, 3 secondary TIPS) were performed in 13 patients. One patient was not a candidate for percutaneous treatment. All interventions but one (re-embolization) were technically successful. In 2 of 18 interventions, re-bleeding occurred within 72 hr (both embolization patients). Recurrent bleeding (23 days to 27 months after initial intervention) was identified in 9 procedures (8 coil embolizations, 1 TIPS due to biliary fistula). One patient had TIPS revision because of ultrasound surveillance findings. New encephalopathy developed in 2 of 4 TIPS patients. Percutaneous coil embolization is a simple and safe treatment for bleeding ectopic varices; however, recurrent bleeding is frequent and reintervention often required. TIPS can offer good control of bleeding at the expense of a more complex procedure and associated risk of encephalopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. macedo.thanila@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Thanila A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: Patrick S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Kamath
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019168:Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D015642:Radiology, Interventional; D012008:Recurrence; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000628:therapy*