Outcomes of endoscopic sclerotherapy for jejunal varices at the site of choledochojejunostomy (with video): Three case reports

BACKGROUND Hemorrhage associated with varices at the site of choledochojejunostomy is an unusual,difficult to treat,and often fatal manifestation of portal hypertension.So far,no treatment guidelines have been established.CASE SUMMARY We reported three patients with jejunal varices at the site of choledochojejun-ostomy managed by endoscopic sclerotherapy with lauromacrogol/α-butyl cyanoacrylate injection at our institution between June 2021 and August 2023.We reviewed all patient records,clinical presentation,endoscopic findings and treatment,outcomes and follow-up.Three patients who underwent pancre-aticoduodenectomy with a Whipple anastomosis were examined using conven-tional upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for suspected hemorrhage from the afferent jejunal loop.Varices with stigmata of recent hemorrhage or active he-morrhage were observed around the choledochojejunostomy site in all three patients.Endoscopic injection of lauromacrogol/α-butyl cyanoacrylate was carried out at jejunal varices for all three patients.The bleeding ceased and patency was observed for 26 and 2 months in two patients.In one patient with multiorgan failure and internal environment disturbance,rebleeding occurred 1 month after endoscopic sclerotherapy,and despite a second endoscopic sclero-therapy,repeated episodes of bleeding and multiorgan failure resulted in eventual death.CONCLUSION We conclude that endoscopic sclerotherapy with lauromacrogol/α-butyl cyanoac-rylate injection can be an easy,effective,safe and low-cost treatment option for jejunal varicose bleeding at the site of choledochojejunostomy.

Successful endoscopic sclerotherapy for bleeding gastric varices with combined cyanoacrylate and aethoxysklerol

Two patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hyper-tension related to hepatitis infection were admitted to Shanghai Ruijin Hospital due to recurrent melena and hematemesis. Isolated gastric varices were observed in the gastric fundus during the retroflexion of gastroscope. We carried out endoscopic sclerotherapy successfully for bleeding gastric varices with combined cyanoacrylate and aethoxysklerol, which disappeared dramatically several months after two courses of sclerotherapy for each patient. No complication and clinical signs of gastrointestinal re-bleeding were observed during the 6-mo endoscopic follow-up. CT portal angiography (CTPA) has been widely used in the assessment of variceal treatment and improves the results of endoscopic injection therapy.

Natural history of a randomized trial comparing distal spleno-renal shunt with endoscopic sclerotherapy in the prevention of variceal rebleeding:A lesson from the past

AIM: To compare endoscopic sclerotherapy (ES) with distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS) in the prevention of recurrent variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients during a long-term follow-up period. METHODS: In 1984 we started a prospective, controlled study of patients with liver cirrhosis. Long-term follow-up presents a natural history of liver cirrhosis complicated by advanced portal hypertension. In this study the effects of 2 types of treatment, DSRS or ES, were evaluated. The study population included 80 patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension referred to our department from October 1984 to March 1991. These patients were drawn from a pool of 282 patients who underwent either elective surgery or ES during the same period of time. Patients were assigned to one of the 2 groups according to a random number table: 40 to DSRS and 40 to ES using polidocanol. RESULTS: During the postoperative period, no DSRS patient died, while one ES patient died of uncontrolled hemorrhage. One DSRS patient had mild recurrent variceal hemorrhage despite an angiographically patent DSRS and another patient suffered duodenal ulcer rebleeding. Eight ES patients suffered at least one episode of gastrointestinal bleeding: 4 from varices and 4 from esophageal ulcerations. Eight ES patients developed transitory dysphagia. Long-term follow- up was completed in all patients except for 5 cases (2 DSRS and 3 ES patients). Five-year survival rates for shunt (73%) and ES (56%) groups were statistically different: in this follow-up period and in subsequent follow-ups this difference decreased and ceased to be of statistical relevance. The primary cause of deathbecame hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Four DSRS patients rebled due to duodenal ulcer, while eleven ES patients had recurrent bleeding from esophago-gastric sources (seven from varices, three from hypertensive gastropathy, one from esophageal ulcerations) and two from unknown sources. Nine DSRS and 2 ES patients developed a chronic encephalopathy; 13 DSRS and 5 ES patients suffered at least one episode of acute encephalopathy. Five ES patients had esophageal stenoses, which were successfully dilated. CONCLUSION: In a subgroup of patients with good liver function, DSRS with a correct portal-azygos disconnection more effectively prevents variceal rebleeding than ES. However, this positive effect did not influence the long-term survival because other factors (e.g. HCC) were more important in deciding the fate of the cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension.

Long-term efficacy and safety of cap-assisted endoscopic sclerotherapy with long injection needle for internal hemorrhoids

BACKGROUND Hemorrhoids are a common anal condition and can afflict an individual at any age.Epidemiological survey results in China show that the prevalence of anorectal diseases is as high as 50.1%among which 98.08%of patients have hemorrhoid symptoms.AIM To assess long-term efficacy and safety of cap-assisted endoscopic sclerotherapy(CAES)with long injection needle for internal hemorrhoids.METHODS This study was retrospective.Data from patients with symptomatic internal hemorrhoids treated with CAES using endoscopic long injection needle from April 2016 to December 2019 were collected.Patients were telephoned and followed at two time points,December 2020 and 2021,to evaluate the improvements in symptoms,complications,recurrence,and satisfaction.RESULTS Two hundreds and one patients with internal hemorrhoids underwent CAES with the long needle.The first median follow-up was performed 33 mo postoperatively.Symptoms improved in 87.5%of patients after the first CAES.Efficacy did not decrease with treatment time extension.Fifty-four patients underwent colonoscopy after the first CAES treatment of which 21 underwent CAES again,and 4 underwent hemorrhoidectomy.At the first follow-up,62.7%of patients had both improved hemorrhoid grades and symptoms,and 27.4%had a significant improvement in both parameters.At the second follow-up,61.7%of the patients showed satisfactory improvement in their hemorrhoid grade and symptoms when compared with pre-surgery values.90%of patients reported CAES was painless,and 85%were satisfied/very satisfied with CAES treatment outcomes.CONCLUSION The present study based on the largest sample size reported the long-term follow-up of the treatment for internal hemorrhoid with the CAES using endoscopic long injection needle.Our findings demonstrate that CAES should be a micro-invasive endoscopic technology yields satisfactory long-term efficacy and safety.

Does endoscopic sclerotherapy in filarial chyluria affect renal function and morphology? A prospective study using dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scan

Objective:To look for change in relative renal function and document renal scarring following endoscopic renal pelvic instillation sclerotherapy(RPIS)in patients with chyluria by dimercaptosuccinic acid(DMSA)renal scan.Methods:A prospective study was performed between November 2015 and September 2016.All patients with biochemically documented chyluria who underwent RPIS using either 1%-silver nitrate or 0.1%-povidine iodine were included.Patients received either 3-,6-or 9-doses.DMSA renal scan was performed before and 2e3 months after sclerotherapy.Results:Of the 34 patients,22 were males.Mean age was 41.08±16.64 years(range,15-70 years).Thirty-two patients(94.1%)responded to therapy while two did not respond even after 9-doses.Average follow-up was 8.94±3.70 months.The mean relative renal function(preinstillation)of normal kidney was 50.76%±3.55%while that of affected renal unit(side of instillation)was 49.20%±3.44%(range,43.0%-61.0%).After instillation therapy,the mean relative renal function of normal side was 52.26%±3.57%while that of affected renal unit was 47.50%±3.56%(range,41.0%-54.0%).The relative renal function did not change>5%from the baseline value in any patient except one(in which the differential function increased paradoxically by 12%).Two patients developed renal scar in post-instillation renal scan.Conclusion:Endoscopic sclerotherapy in chyluria is safe and effective.The relative renal function does not deteriorate by more than 5%.There is a small risk of development of renal scar.More studies involving larger number of patients are needed to answer this dilemma.

Treatment of gastric varices by endoscopic sclerotherapy using butyl cyanoacrylate:10 years' experience of 635 cases

Background Gastric varices （GV） are life-threatening for patients with portal hypertension. Endoscopic injection with butyl cyanoacrylate （BC）, the mainstay of the therapy for GV, has been reported to be effective for hemostasis of bleeding varices, but its efficacy in the obliteration of GV and impact on the survival of patients still needs clarification. Here we summarized our experience of 10 years＇ practice to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic therapy using BC for GV patients. Methods From January 1997 to April 2006, GV cases treated with endoscopic injection using BC were collected. The ＂sandwich method＂ and the ＂modified sandwich method＂ were used to inject BC intravascularly. Retrograde analysis was made on the data of treatment and follow-up. Results A total of 635 GV cases treated with endoscopic injection using BC were collected, most of them （90.2%） suffered from post-hepatitis cirrhosis. Emergency hemostasis was achieved in 139 out of 146 sessions （95.2%）. Complications occurred in 32 cases （5.2%）, including hemorrhage due to early expulsion of tissue glue （3.1%）, septicemia （1%） and ectopic thrombosis （0.5%）, such as spleen infarction. Endoscopic follow-up in 503 patients showed complete disappearance （76.9%）, collapse （17.3%） or remnants （5.8%） of gastric varices. A total of 550 patients were followed up clinically for 3 to 115 months. Of these patients, 44 had recurrent bleeding （8.0%） and 44 died from hepatic failure, recurrent bleeding, hepatic carcinoma or other causes. The longest survival was 115 months, with a median survival of 25 months. Survival rates at 1,2, 3, 4 and 5 year were 95%, 92%, 90%, 83% and 81%, respectively. Conclusions Endoscopic sclerotherapy with BC is effective for the hemostasis of bleeding GV, as well as obliteration of GV which contributes to less rebleeding and better survival. The modified sandwich method may be useful to minimize ectopic embolism, which we speculated to result from excess iodized oil.