1. Treatment of gastric fundal varices by balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration
- Author
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Toshikazu Uchida, Hiroshi Kanagawa, Kunio Okuda, Satoaki Mima, Harukazu Kouyama, and Kenichiroh Gotoh
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Time Factors ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Oleic Acids ,Esophageal and Gastric Varices ,Balloon ,Catheterization ,Sclerotherapy ,medicine ,Humans ,Internal jugular vein ,Aged ,Hepatology ,business.industry ,Hemostasis, Endoscopic ,Gastroenterology ,Balloon catheter ,Middle Aged ,Gastric varices ,medicine.disease ,Sclerosing Solutions ,Surgery ,Radiography ,Portal hypertension ,Female ,Radiology ,Liver function ,Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ,Varices ,business ,Follow-Up Studies - Abstract
Although less common than oesophageal varices in portal hypertension, gastric fundal varices carry a higher mortality rate when they rupture. They are less amenable to sclerotherapy. We have developed a minimally invasive balloon-occluded retrograde transverse obliteration (B-RTO) procedure to treat gastric fundal varices. B-RTO involves inserting a balloon catheter into an outflow shunt (gastric-renal or gastric-vena caval inferior) via the femoral or internal jugular vein. Blood flow is then blocked by inflating the balloon, and 5% ethanolamine oleate iopamidol is injected in a retrograde manner. The embolized gastric varix subsequently disappears. B-RTO was performed in 32 patients with gastric varices. Follow-up endoscopies were performed at intervals of 2-4 months for an average observation period of 14 months. Eradication of the varices has been confirmed in 31 of 32 patients. No recurrence occurred in any patients in the follow-up period. There were no significant changes in liver function after the procedure. We conclude that B-RTO is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of gastric fundal varices.
- Published
- 1996
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