Foam sclerotherapy using polidocanol for balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical safety and effectiveness of foam sclerotherapy using polidocanol for the treatment of gastric fundal varices by balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO).


METHODS
From November 2005 to June 2009, foam sclerotherapy using polidocanol for the treatment of gastric fundal varices by BRTO was performed in 16 patients (male/female 11:5; age range 46-84 years, median 67 years). Foam was made of 3% polidocanol (Aethoxysklerol; Kreussler Pharma, Wiesbaden, Germany), room air, and contrast media, with a ratio of 1:2:1, respectively. The amount of polidocanol (2-24 mL; median 7 mL) depended on the volume of varices.


RESULTS
Technical success was achieved in 15 of 16 patients (93.8%). Technical failure occurred in one patient. All patients were without pain during sclerotherapy. One patient experienced pulmonary edema after the procedure but completely recovered with medical treatment. There was no procedure-related mortality. Patients were followed by endoscopy, computed tomography, or both. Four patients were lost to follow-up. Clinical success was achieved in 10 of 11 patients (91%). Rebleeding occurred in one case during follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Foam sclerotherapy using polidocanol is clinically safe and effective for the treatment of gastric fundal varices during BRTO.
Choi
Sun Young
SY
Department of Radiology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, College of Medicine, 896, Pyongchon-dong, Dongan-gu, Anyang, Gyonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
Won
Jong Yun
JY
Kim
Kyung Ah
KA
Lee
Do Yun
DY
Lee
Kwang-Hun
KH
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D021721:Balloon Occlusion / Q000592:standards*; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012449:Safety; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000592:standards*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols