title: Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration for treatment of bleeding gastric varices: case report and review of literature.
abstract: Gastric variceal bleeding is a major complication of portal hypertension and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. While esophageal varices are more common, gastric varices are often more challenging to treat. Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration is an interventional procedure whereby the portosystemic gastrorenal shunt is accessed via the left renal vein and the gastric varix outflow tract obliterated using direct sclerotherapy. Herein, we present a case of a 68-year-old female patient with cirrhosis who presented with bleeding gastric varices and successfully treated. This case highlights the procedural steps and the importance of detailed knowledge of the patient's portosystemic anatomy for determining suitability for balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration of gastric varices.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basseri
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada; Department of Radiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
authors.forename: Christopher B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Lightfoot
keywords: BRTO; Gastric varix; Gastrorenal shunt