Splenic artery embolization in a woman with bleeding gastric varices and splenic vein thrombosis: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Gastric variceal bleeding due to splenic vein thrombosis is a life-threatening situation and is often difficult to manage by endoscopy. In the worst cases, an emergency splenectomy may be required to stop variceal bleeding.


METHODS
We report the case of a 60-year-old Caucasian woman with bleeding gastric varices secondary to splenic vein thrombosis treated by splenic artery embolization. Successful embolization was performed by depositing coils into the splenic artery resulting in cessation of variceal bleeding. After embolization there was no recurrence of bleeding.


CONCLUSIONS
Splenic artery embolization can be an effective and definite treatment for variceal bleeding secondary to splenic vein thrombosis.
Saugel
Bernd
B
II, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, München, Deutschland. bernd.saugel@lrz.tu-muenchen.de.
Gaa
Jochen
J
Phillip
Veit
V
Schmid
Roland M
RM
Huber
Wolfgang
W