Efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts in treating cirrhotic esophageal-gastric variceal bleeding

BACKGROUND Esophageal-gastric variceal bleeding(EGVB)represents a severe complication among patients with cirrhosis and often culminates in fatal outcomes.Interven-tional therapy,a rapidly developing treatment modality over the past few years,has found widespread application in clinical practice due to its minimally inva-sive characteristics.However,whether transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)treatment has an impact on patient prognosis remains controversial.METHODS A retrospective study was conducted on ninety-two patients presenting with cirrhotic EGVB who were admitted to our hospital between September 2020 and September 2022.Based on the different modes of treatment,the patients were assigned to the study group(TIPS received,n=50)or the control group(per-cutaneous transhepatic varices embolization received,n=42).Comparative ana-lyses were performed between the two groups preoperatively and one month postoperatively for the following parameters:Varicosity status;hemodynamic parameters[portal vein flow velocity(PVV)and portal vein diameter(PVD);platelet count(PLT);red blood cell count;white blood cell count(WBC);and hepatic function[albumin(ALB),total bilirubin(TBIL),and aspartate transaminase(AST)].The Generic Quality of Life Inventory-74 was utilized to assess quality of life in the two groups,and the 1-year postoperative rebleeding and survival rates were compared.RESULTS Following surgical intervention,there was an improvement in the incidence of varicosity compared to the preoperative status in both cohorts.Notably,the study group exhibited more pronounced enhancements than did the control group(P<0.05).PVV increased,and PVD decreased compared to the preoperative values,with the study cohort achieving better outcomes(P<0.05).PLT and WBC counts were elevated postoperatively in the two groups,with the study cohort displaying higher PLT and WBC counts(P<0.05).No differences were detected between the two groups in terms of serum ALB,TBIL,or AST levels either preoperatively or postoperatively(P<0.05).Postoperative scores across all dimensions of life quality surpassed preoperative scores,with the study cohort achieving higher scores(P<0.05).At 22.00%,the one-year postoperative rebleeding rate in the study cohort was significantly lower than that in the control group(42.86%;P<0.05);conversely,no marked difference was obser-ved in the 1-year postoperative survival rate between the two cohorts(P>0.05).CONCLUSION TIPS,which has demonstrated robust efficacy in managing cirrhotic EGVB,remarkably alleviates varicosity and improves hemodynamics in patients.This intervention not only results in a safer profile but also contributes significantly to a more favorable prognosis.

Navigating the controversy regarding antibiotic prophylaxis in acute variceal bleeding

Antibiotic prophylaxis in patients with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding is part of the standard of care according to most clinical guidelines.However,with recent evidence arguing against antibiotic prophylaxis,the role of this intervention has become less clear.

Contemporary concepts of prevention and management of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding in liver cirrhosis patients

This editorial describes the contemporary concepts of prevention and management of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding in liver cirrhosis(LC)patients according to the current guidelines.Gastroesophageal variceal bleeding is the most dangerous complication of portal hypertension in LC patients.Risk stratification and determination of an individual approach to the choice of therapeutic measures aimed at their prevention and management has emerged as one of the top concerns in modern hepatology.According to the current guidelines,in the absence of clinically significant portal hypertension,etiological and nonetiological therapies of LC is advisable for the primary preventing gastroesophageal variceal bleeding,whereas its presence serves as an indication for the administration of non-selectiveβ-blockers,among which carvedilol is the drug of choice.Non-selectiveβ-blockers,as well as endoscopic variceal ligation and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt can be used to prevent recurrence of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding.Pharmacotherapy with vasoactive drugs(terlipressin,somatostatin,octreotide),endoscopic variceal ligation,endovascular techniques and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt are recommended for the treatment of acute gastroesophageal variceal bleeding.Objective and accurate risk stratification of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding will allow developing individual strategies for their prevention and management,avoiding the first and further decompensation in LC,which will improve the prognosis and survival of patients suffering from it.

Computed tomography for prediction of esophageal variceal bleeding

This letter to the editor relates to the study entitled“The role of computed tomography for the prediction of esophageal variceal bleeding:Current status and future perspectives”.Esophageal variceal bleeding(EVB)is one of the most common and severe complications related to portal hypertension(PH).Despite marked advances in its management during the last three decades,EVB is still associated with significant morbidity and mortality.The risk of first EVB is related to the severity of both PH and liver disease,and to the size and endoscopic appearance of esophageal varices.Indeed,hepatic venous pressure gradient(HVPG)and esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD)are currently recognized as the“gold standard”and the diagnostic reference standard for the prediction of EVB,respectively.However,HVPG is an invasive,expensive,and technically complex procedure,not widely available in clinical practice,whereas EGD is mainly limited by its invasive nature.In this scenario,computed tomography(CT)has been recently proposed as a promising modality for the non-invasive prediction of EVB.While CT serves solely as a diagnostic tool and cannot replace EGD or HVPG for delivering therapeutic and physiological information,it has the potential to enhance the prediction of EVB more effectively when combined with liver disease scores,HVPG,and EGD.However,to date,evidence concerning the role of CT in this setting is still lacking,therefore we aim to summarize and discuss the current evidence concerning the role of CT in predicting the risk of EVB.

Computed tomography for the prediction of oesophageal variceal bleeding:A surrogate or complementary to the gold standard?

In this editorial we comment on the in-press article in the World Journal of Gastrointestinal endoscopy about the role of computed tomography(CT)for the prediction of esophageal variceal bleeding.The mortality and morbidity are much increased in patients with chronic liver diseases when complicated with variceal bleeding.Predicting the patient at a risk of bleeding is extremely important and receives a great deal of attention,paving the way for primary prophylaxis either using medical treatment including carvedilol or propranolol,or endoscopic band ligation.Endoscopic examination and the hepatic venous pressure gradient are the gold standards in the diagnosis and prediction of variceal bleeding.Several non-invasive laboratory and radiological examinations are used for the prediction of variceal bleeding.The contrast-enhanced multislice CT is a widely used non-invasive,radiological examination that has many advantages.In this editorial we briefly comment on the current research regarding the use of CT as a non-invasive tool in predicting the variceal bleeding.

Future directions of noninvasive prediction of esophageal variceal bleeding:No worry about the present computed tomography inefficiency

In this editorial,we comment on the minireview by Martino A,published in the recent issue of World Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 2023;15(12):681-689.We focused mainly on the possibility of replacing the hepatic venous pressure gradient(HVPG)and endoscopy with noninvasive methods for predicting esophageal variceal bleeding.The risk factors for bleeding were the size of the varices,the red sign and the Child-Pugh score.The intrinsic core factor that drove these changes was the HVPG.Therefore,the present studies investigating noninvasive methods,including computed tomography,magnetic resonance imaging,elastography,and laboratory tests,are working on correlating imaging or serum marker data with intravenous pressure and clinical outcomes,such as bleeding.A single parameter is usually not enough to construct an efficient model.Therefore,multiple factors were used in most of the studies to construct predictive models.Encouraging results have been obtained,in which bleeding prediction was partly reached.However,these methods are not satisfactory enough to replace invasive methods,due to the many drawbacks of different studies.There is still plenty of room for future improvement.Prediction of the precise timing of bleeding using various models,and extracting the texture of variceal walls using high-definition imaging modalities to predict the red sign are interesting directions to lay investment on.

Clinical-radiomics nomogram for predicting esophagogastric variceal bleeding risk noninvasively in patients with cirrhosis

BACKGROUND Esophagogastric variceal bleeding(EGVB)is a serious complication of patients with decompensated cirrhosis and is associated with high mortality and morbidity.Early diagnosis and screening of cirrhotic patients at risk for EGVB is crucial.Currently,there is a lack of noninvasive predictive models widely available in clinical practice.AIM To develop a nomogram based on clinical variables and radiomics to facilitate the noninvasive prediction of EGVB in cirrhotic patients.METHODS A total of 211 cirrhotic patients hospitalized between September 2017 and December 2021 were included in this retrospective study.Patients were divided into training(n=149)and validation(n=62)groups at a 7:3 ratio.Participants underwent three-phase computed tomography(CT)scans before endoscopy,and radiomic features were extracted from portal venous phase CT images.The independent sample t-test and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression were used to screen out the best features and establish a radiomics signature(RadScore).Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the independent predictors of EGVB in clinical settings.A noninvasive predictive nomogram for the risk of EGVB was built using independent clinical predictors and RadScore.Receiver operating characteristic,calibration,clinical decision,and clinical impact curves were applied to evaluate the model’s performance.RESULTS Albumin(P=0.001),fibrinogen(P=0.001),portal vein thrombosis(P=0.002),aspartate aminotransferase(P=0.001),and spleen thickness(P=0.025)were selected as independent clinical predictors of EGVB.RadScore,constructed with five CT features of the liver region and three of the spleen regions,performed well in training(area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)=0.817)as well as in validation(AUC=0.741)cohorts.There was excellent predictive performance in both the training and validation cohorts for the clinical-radiomics model(AUC=0.925 and 0.912,respectively).Compared with the existing noninvasive models such as ratio of aspartate aminotransferase to platelets and Fibrosis-4 scores,our combined model had better predictive accuracy with the Delong's test less than 0.05.The Nomogram had a good fit in the calibration curve(P>0.05),and the clinical decision curve further supported its clinical utility.CONCLUSION We designed and validated a clinical-radiomics nomogram able to noninvasively predict whether cirrhotic patients will develop EGVB,thus facilitating early diagnosis and treatment.

The role of computed tomography for the prediction of esophageal variceal bleeding:Current status and future perspectives

Esophageal variceal bleeding(EVB)is one of the most common and severe complications related to portal hypertension(PH).Despite marked advances in its management during the last three decades,EVB is still associated with significant morbidity and mortality.The risk of first EVB is related to the severity of both PH and liver disease,and to the size and endoscopic appearance of esophageal varices.Indeed,hepatic venous pressure gradient(HVPG)and esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD)are currently recognized as the“gold standard”and the diagnostic reference standard for the prediction of EVB,respectively.However,HVPG is an invasive,expensive,and technically complex procedure,not widely available in clinical practice,whereas EGD is mainly limited by its invasive nature.In this scenario,computed tomography(CT)has been recently proposed as a promising modality for the non-invasive prediction of EVB.Although CT is only a diagnostic modality,thus being not capable of supplanting EGD or HVPG in providing therapeutic and physiological data,it could potentially assist liver disease scores,HVPG,and EGD in a more effective prediction of EVB.However,to date,evidence concerning the role of CT in this setting is still lacking.Our review aimed to summarize and discuss the current evidence concerning the role of CT in predicting the risk of EVB.

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to portal hypertension in a patient with primary myelofibrosis:A case report

BACKGROUND Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding is a common medical emergency that has a 10%hospital mortality rate.According to the etiology,this disease can be divided into acute varicose veins and nonvaricose veins.Bleeding from esophageal varices is a life-threatening complication of portal hypertension.Portal hypertension is a clinical syndrome defined as a portal venous pressure that exceeds 10 mmHg.Cirrhosis is the most common cause of portal hypertension,and thrombosis of the portal system not associated with liver cirrhosis is the second most common cause of portal hypertension in the Western world.Primary myeloproliferative disorders are the main cause of portal venous thrombosis,and somatic mutations in the Janus kinase 2 gene(JAK2 V617F)can be found in approximately 90% of polycythemia vera,50% of essential thrombocyrosis and 50% of primary myelofibrosis.CASE SUMMARY We present a rare case of primary myelofibrosis with gastrointestinal bleeding as the primary manifestation that presented as portal-superior-splenic mesenteric vein thrombosis.Peripheral blood tests revealed the presence of the JAK2 V617F mutation.Bone marrow biopsy ultimately confirmed the diagnosis of myelofibrosis(MF-2 grade).CONCLUSION In patients with acute esophageal variceal bleeding due to portal hypertension and vein thrombosis without cirrhosis,the possibility of myeloproliferative neoplasms should be considered,and the JAK2 mutation test should be performed.

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Bangladeshi children:Analysis of 100 cases

BACKGROUND Upper gastrointestinal bleeding(UGIB)is defined as bleeding that occurs proximal to the ligament of Treitz and can sometimes lead to potentially serious and life-threatening clinical situations in children.Globally,the cause of UGIB differs significantly depending on the geographic location,patient population and presence of comorbid conditions.AIM To observe endoscopic findings of UGIB in children at a tertiary care center of Bangladesh.METHODS This retrospective study was carried out in the department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition of Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujib Medical University,a tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh,between January 2017 and January 2019.Data collected from hospital records of 100 children who were 16 years of age or younger,came with hematemesis,melena or both hematemesis and melena.All patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy(Olympus CV 1000 upper gastrointestinal video endoscope)after initial stabilization.Necessary investigations to diagnose portal hypertension and chronic liver disease with underlying causes for management purposes were also done.RESULTS A total of 100 patients were studied.UGIB was common in the age group 5-10 years(42%),followed by above 10 years(37%).Hematemesis was the most common presenting symptom(75%)followed by both hematemesis and melena(25%).UGIB from ruptured esophageal varices was the most common cause(65%)on UGI endoscopy followed by gastric erosion(5%)and prolapsed gastropathy(2%).We observed that 23%of children were normal after endoscopic examination.CONCLUSION Ruptured esophageal varices were the most common cause of UGIB in children in Bangladesh.Other causes included gastric erosions and prolapsed gastropathy syndrome.

Aluminum phosphate gel reduces early rebleeding in cirrhotic patients with gastric variceal bleeding treated with histoacryl injection therapy

BACKGROUND Esophageal-gastro varices bleeding(EGVB)is the most widely known cause of mortality in individuals with cirrhosis,with an occurrence rate of 5%to 15%.Among them,gastric varices bleeding(GVB)is less frequent than esophageal varices bleeding(EVB),but the former is a more critical illness and has a higher mortality rate.At present,endoscopic variceal histoacryl injection therapy(EVHT)is safe and effective,and it has been recommended by relevant guidelines as the primary method for the treatment of GVB.However,gastric varices after endoscopic treatment still have a high rate of early rebleeding,which is mainly related to complications of its treatment,such as bleeding from drained ulcers,rebleeding of varices etc.Therefore,preventing early postoperative rebleeding is very important to improve the quality of patient survival and outcomes.AIM To assess the efficacy of aluminium phosphate gel(APG)combined with proton pump inhibitor(PPI)in preventing early rebleeding after EVHT in individuals with GVB.METHODS Medical history of 196 individuals with GVB was obtained who were diagnosed using endoscopy and treated with EVHT in Shenzhen People's Hospital from January 2016 to December 2021.Based on the selection criteria,101 patients were sorted into the PPI alone treatment group,and 95 patients were sorted into the PPI combined with the APG treatment group.The incidences of early rebleeding and corresponding complications within 6 wk after treatment were compared between both groups.Statistical methods were performed by two-sample t-test,Wilcoxon rank sum test andχ2 test.RESULTS No major variations were noted between the individuals of the two groups in terms of age,gender,Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score,coagulation function,serum albumin,hemoglobin,type of gastric varices,the dose of tissue glue injection and EV that needed to be treated simultaneously.The early rebleeding rate in PPI+APG group was 3.16%(3/95),which was much lower than that in the PPI group(12.87%,13/101)(P=0.013).Causes of early rebleeding:the incidence of gastric ulcer bleeding in the PPI+APG group was 2.11%(2/95),which was reduced in comparison to that in the PPI group(11.88%,12/101)(P=0.008);the incidence of venous bleeding in PPI+APG group and PPI group was 1.05%(1/95)and 0.99%(1/101),respectively,and there was no significant difference between them(0.999).The early mortality rate was 0 in both groups within 6 wk after the operation,and the low mortality rate was related to the timely hospitalization and active treatment of all patients with rebleeding.The overall incidence of complications in the PPI+APG group was 12.63%(12/95),which was not significantly different from 13.86%(14/101)in the PPI group(P=0.800).of abdominal pain in the PPI+APG group was 3.16%(3/95),which was lower than that in the PPI group(11.88%,12/101)(P=0.022).However,due to aluminum phosphate gel usage,the incidence of constipation in the PPI+APG group was 9.47%(9/95),which was higher than that in the PPI group(1.98%,2/101)(P=0.023),but the health of the patients could be improved by increasing drinking water or oral lactulose.No patients in either group developed spontaneous peritonitis after taking PPI,and none developed hepatic encephalopathy and ectopic embolism within 6 wk of EVHT treatment.CONCLUSION PPI combined with APG can significantly reduce the incidence of early rebleeding and postoperative abdominal pain in cirrhotic patients with GVB after taking EVHT.

Prognosis after splenectomy plus pericardial devascularization vs transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for esophagogastric variceal bleeding

BACKGROUND Portal hypertension combined with esophagogastric variceal bleeding(EGVB)is a serious complication in patients with hepatitis B virus(HBV)-related cirrhosis in China.Splenectomy plus pericardial devascularization(SPD)and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)are effective treatments for EGVB.However,a comparison of the effectiveness and safety of those methods is lacking.AIM To compare the prognosis after SPD vs TIPS for acute EGVB after failure of endoscopic therapy or secondary prophylaxis of variceal rebleeding(VRB)in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis combined with portal hypertension.METHODS This retrospective cohort study included 318 patients with HBV-related cirrhosis and EGVB who underwent SPD or TIPS at West China Hospital of Sichuan University during 2009-2013.Propensity score-matched analysis(PSM),the Kaplan-Meier method,and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to compare overall survival,VRB rate,liver function abnormality rate,and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)incidence between the two patient groups.RESULTS The median age was 45.0 years(n=318;226(71.1%)males).During a median follow-up duration of 43.0 mo,18(11.1%)and 33(21.2%)patients died in the SPD and TIPS groups,respectively.After PSM,SPD was significantly associated with better overall survival(OS)(P=0.01),lower rates of abnormal liver function(P<0.001),and a lower incidence of HCC(P=0.02)than TIPS.The VRB rate did not differ significantly between the two groups(P=0.09).CONCLUSION Compared with TIPS,SPD is associated with higher postoperative OS rates,lower rates of abnormal liver function and HCC,and better quality of survival as acute EGVB treatment after failed endoscopic therapy or as secondary prophylaxis of VRB in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis combined with portal hypertension.There is no significant between-group difference in VRB rates.

Effects of postoperative use of proton pump inhibitors on gastrointestinal bleeding after endoscopic variceal treatment during hospitalization

BACKGROUND Endoscopic variceal treatment(EVT)is recommended as the mainstay choice for the management of high-risk gastroesophageal varices and acute variceal bleeding in liver cirrhosis.Proton pump inhibitors(PPIs)are widely used for various gastric acid-related diseases.However,the effects of PPIs on the development of post-EVT complications,especially gastrointestinal bleeding(GIB),remain controversial.AIM To evaluate the effects of postoperative use of PPIs on post-EVT complications in patients with liver cirrhosis during hospitalization.METHODS Patients with a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis who were admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology of the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command,treated by an attending physician between January 2016 and June 2020 and underwent EVT during their hospitalization were included.Logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the effects of postoperative use of PPIs on the development of post-EVT complications during hospitalization.Odds ratios(ORs)with 95%confidence intervals(CIs)were calculated.RESULTS A total of 143 patients were included.The incidence of post-EVT GIB and other post-EVT complications was 4.90%and 46.85%,respectively.In the overall analyses,postoperative use of PPIs did not significantly reduce the risk of post-EVT GIB(OR=0.525,95%CI=0.113-2.438,P=0.411)or other post-EVT complications(OR=0.804,95%CI=0.413-1.565,P=0.522).In the subgroup analyses according to the enrollment period,type and route of PPIs after the index EVT,use of PPIs before the index EVT,use of vasoactive drugs after the index EVT,indication of EVT(prophylactic and therapeutic),and presence of portal venous system thrombosis,ascites,and hepatocellular carcinoma,the effects of postoperative use of PPIs on the risk of post-EVT GIB or other post-EVT complications remain not statistically significant.CONCLUSION Routine use of PPIs after EVT should not be recommended in patients with liver cirrhosis for the prevention of post-EVT complications during hospitalization.

Predictors of esophageal varices and first variceal bleeding in liver cirrhosis patients

To assess “predictors” of esophageal varices (EV) and variceal bleeding using non-invasive markers in Albanian patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. METHODSOne hundred thirty-nine newly diagnosed cirrhotic patients without variceal bleeding were included in this analysis. Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio (AST/ALT), AST to platelet ratio index (APRI), platelet count to spleen diameter (PC/SD), fibrosis-4-index (FIB-4), fibrosis index (FI) and King’s Score were measured for all participants. All patients underwent endoscopic assessment within two days of hospitalization. The major end point was the first esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) event. The diagnostic performance of “predictors” for the presence of EV and EVB were assessed by sensitivity and specificity values obtained from the receiver operating characteristics procedure. RESULTSFIB-4 was the only strong and significant “predictor” of esophageal varices (multivariable-adjusted OR = 1.57 for one unit increment; 95%CI: 1.15-2.14). Furthermore, a cut-off value of 3.23 for FIB-4 was a significant predictor of esophageal varices, with a sensitivity of 72%, a specificity of 58% and a proportion of area under the curve (AUC) of 66% (P = 0.01). During the follow-up (median: 31.5 mo; interquartile range: 11-59 mo), 34 patients (24%) experienced a first EVB. FIB-4 was a poor predictor of EVB (the AUC was only 51%) for a cut-off value of 5.02. Furthermore, the AUC of AST/ALT, APRI, PC/SD, FI, MELD and King’s Score ranged from 45% to 55%. None of the non-invasive markers turned out to be a useful predictor of EVB. CONCLUSIONDespite the low diagnostic accuracy, FIB-4 appears the most efficient non-invasive liver fibrosis marker which can be used as an initial screening tool for cirrhotic patients.

Prevalence of gastric varices and results of sclerotherapy with N-butyl 2 cyanoacrylate for controlling acute gastric variceal bleeding

AIM： To study the prevalence, predictors and control of bleeding following N-butyl 2 cyanoacrylate （NBC） sclerotherapy of gastric varix （GV）. METHODS： We analyzed case records of 1436 patients with portal hypertension, who underwent endoscopy during the past five years for variceal screening or upper gastrointestinal （GI） bleeding. Fifty patients with bleeding GV underwent sclerotherapy with a mean of 2 mL NBC for control of bleeding. Outcome parameters were primary hemostasis （bleeding control within the first 48 h）, recurrent bleeding （after 48 h of esophagogastro-duodenoscopy） and in-hospital mortality were analyzed. RESULTS： The prevalence of GV in patients with portal hypertension was 15% （220/1436） and the incidence of bleeding was 22.7% （50/220）. Out of the 50 bleeding GV patients, isolated gastric varices （IGV-Ⅰ） were seen in 22 （44%）, gastro-oesophageal varices （GOV） on lesser curvature （GOV-Ⅰ） in 16 （32%）, and GOV on greater curvature （GOV-Ⅱ） in 15 （30%）. IGV-Ⅰ was seen in 44% （22/50） patients who had bleeding as compared to 23% （39/170） who did not have bleeding （P 〈 0.003）. Primary hernostasis was achieved with NBC in all patients. Re-bleeding occurred in 7 （14%） patients after 48 h of initial sclerotherapy. Secondary hemostasis was achieved with repeat NBC sclerotherapy in 4/7 （57%）. Three patients died after repeat sclerotherapy, one during transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stem shunt （TIPSS）, one during surgery and one due to uncontrolled bleeding. Treatment failure-related mortality rate was 6% （3/50）. CONCLUSION： GV can be seen in 15% of patients with portal hypertension and the incidence of bleeding is 22.7%. NBC is highly effective in controlling GV bleeding. In hospital mortality of patients with bleeding GV is 6%.

Successful balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration for bleeding duodenal varices using cyanoacrylate

A 76-year-old woman with hepatitis C cirrhosis presented with tarry stools and hematemesis.An endoscopy demonstrated bleeding duodenal varices in the second portion of the duodenum.Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed markedly tortuous varices around the wall in the duodenum.Several afferent veins appeared to have developed,and the right ovarian vein draining into the inferior vena cava was detected as an efferent vein.Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) of the varices using cyanoacrylate was successfully performed in combination with the temporary occlusion of the portal vein.Although no previous publications have used cyanoacrylate as an embolic agent for BRTO to control bleeding duodenal varices,this strategy can be considered as an alternative procedure to conventional BRTO using ethanolamine oleate when numerous afferent vessels that cannot be embolized are present.

Bleeding gastric varices: Results of endoscopic injection with cyanoacrylate at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital

AIM： To evaluate the efficacy and safety of gastric varices injection with cyanoacrylate in patients with gastric variceal bleeding. METHODS： Twenty-four patients （15 males, 9 females） with gastric variceal bleeding underwent endoscopic treatment with cyanoacrylate injection. Successful hemostasis, rebleeding rate, and complications were retrospectively reviewed. Followed up endoscopy was performed and repeat cyanoacrylate injection was given until gastric varices were obliterated. RESULTS： Seventeen patients achieved definite hemostasis. Of these, 14 patients had primary success after initial endoscopic therapy. Ten patients developed recurrent bleeding. Repeated cyanoacrylate injection stopped rebleeding in three patients. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt （TIPS） was performed to control rebleeding in one patient which occured after repeat endoscopic therapy. Six patients died （three from uncontrolled bleeding, two from sepsis, and one from mesenteric vein thrombosis）. Minor complications occurred in 11 patients （six epigastric discomfort and five post injection ulcers）. Cyanoacrylate embolism developed in two patients. One of these patients died from mesenteric vein thrombosis. The other had pulmonary embolism which resolved spontaneously. Advanced drrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） were major risk factors for uncontrolled bleeding. CONCLUSION： Endoscopic treatment for bleeding gastric varices with cyanoacrylate injection is effective for immediate hemostasis. Repeat cyanoacrylate injection has a lower success rate than the initial injection. Cyanoacrylate embolism is not a common serious complication.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for repeated bleeding of hemorrhoids caused by severe portal hypertension with ectopic varices: A case report

Background:Severe portal hypertension is life-threatening and can bring adverse complications such as ascites,gastroesophageal varices,and edema.It can,even cause variceal hemorrhage,which may lead to a high risk of death.There is a rare incidence in bleeding of hemorrhoids caused by severe ectopic varices.Case presentation:We report the case of a female patient with a 20-year history of hepatitis B virus infection who presented with repeated bleeding of hemorrhoids caused by severe portal hypertension with ectopic varices that is connection between the superior mesenteric vein and rectal venous plexus.Laboratory results revealed a hemoglobin level of 74 g/L.Finally,the patient was successfully treated with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPSS)placement without variceal embolization after a multidisciplinary comprehensive opinion.In the two-month follow-up period,the patient had failed to develop hepatic encephalopathy or hematochezia,and computed tomography venography(CTV)indicated that the stent was unobstructed and ascites disappeared.Conclusions:TIPSS placement is effective for the case,and we hope this case can help improve clinicians’awareness of hemorrhoidal bleeding with severe portal hypertension.Portal hypertension should also be considered during the diagnosis and treatment,as opposed to hemorrhoidal bleeding alone.Moreover,abdominal CTV is recommended as an effective imaging examination method to determine the stent status after operation.

Comparison of modified percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization and endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection for gastric variceal rebleeding

AIM:To compare the efficacy of modified percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization(PTVE)with 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate(2-OCA)and endoscopic variceal obturation(EVO)with an injection of 2-OCA for prophylaxis of gastric variceal rebleeding. METHODS:In this retrospective study,the medical records of liver cirrhosis patients with gastric variceal bleeding who underwent either endoscopic 2-OCA(EVO) or modified PTVE using 2-OCA at Shandong Provincial Hospital from January 2006 to December 2008 were reviewed.Patient demographics,rebleeding rate,survival rate,and complications were compared between the two groups(PTVE and EVO).All results were expressed as mean±SD,or as a percentage.Quantitative variables were compared by two sample Student t tests, and qualitative variables were compared by the Fisher exact test or theχ 2 test(with Yates correction)where appropriate.A P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.Statistical computation was performed using SPSS 13.0 software. RESULTS:A total of 77 patients were included;45 patients who underwent EVO and 32 patients who received PTVE.During the follow-up(19.78±7.70 mo in the EVO group,vs 21.53±8.56 mo in the PTVE group) rebleeding occurred in 17 patients in the EVO group and in 4 patients in the PTVE group(37.78%vs 12.5%, P=0.028).The cumulative rebleeding-free rate was 75%,59%,and 49%in 1,2,and 3 years respectively for EVO,and 93%,84%,and 84%for PTVE(P=0.011). Cox analysis was used to identify independent factors that predicted rebleeding after treatment.Variables including age,gender,cause,Child-Pugh classification, size of gastric varices(GV),location of GV,and treatment methods were analyzed.It was revealed that Child-Pugh classification[risk ratio(RR)2.10,95%CI:1.03-4.28,P=0.040],choice of treatment(RR 0.25, 95%CI:0.08-0.80,P=0.019),and size of GV(RR 2.14, 95%CI:1.07-4.28,P=0.032)were the independent factors for predicting rebleeding.Follow-up computed tomography revealed that cyanoacrylate was retained in the varices and in the feeding veins of PTVE patients. During the follow-up,eight patients in the EVO group and four patients in the PTVE group died.The cumulative survival rates at 1,2,and 3 years were 93%,84%, and 67%respectively in the EVO group,and 97%, 88%,and 74%respectively in the PTVE group.The survival rates were not significantly different between the two groups(P=0.432).Cox analysis showed that the Child-Pugh classification was the most significant prognostic factor of survival(RR 2.77,95%CI:1.12-6.80,P=0.027).The incidence of complications was similar in both groups. CONCLUSION:With extensive and permanent obliteration of gastric varices and its feeding veins,PTVE with 2-OCA is superior to endoscopic 2-OCA injection for preventing gastric variceal rebleeding.

Acute esophageal variceal bleeding:Current strategies and new perspectives

Management of acute variceal bleeding has greatly improved over recent years. Available data indicates that general management of the bleeding cirrhotic patient by an experienced multidisciplinary team plays a major role in the f inal outcome of this complication. It is currently recommended to combine pharmacological and endoscopic therapies for the initial treatment of the acute bleeding. Vasoactive drugs (preferable somatostatin or terlipressin) should be started as soon as a variceal bleeding is suspected (ideally during transfer to hospital) and maintained afterwards for 2-5 d. After stabilizing the patient with cautious fluid and blood support, an emergency diagnostic endoscopy should be done and, as soon as a skilled endoscopist is available, an endoscopic variceal treatment (ligation as f irst choice, sclerotherapy if endoscopic variceal ligation not feasible) should be performed. Antibiotic prophylaxis must be regarded as an integral part of the treatment of acute variceal bleeding and should be started at admission and maintained for at least 7 d. In case of failure to control the acute bleeding, rescue therapies should be immediately started. Shunt therapies (especially tran sjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) are very effective at controlling treatment failures after an acute variceal bleeding. Therapeutic developments and increasing knowledge in the prognosis of this complication may allow optimization of the management strategy by adapting the different treatments to the expected risk of complications for each patient in the near future. Theoretically, this approach would allow the initiation of early aggressive treatments in high-risk patients and spare low-risk individuals unnecessary proce dures. Current research efforts will hopefully clarify this hypothesis and help to further improve the outcomes of the severe complication of cirrhosis.