Two Cases of Gastric Varices Treated by B-RTO Via the Pericardiophrenic Vein

Utility of Micro-balloon Catheter

Abstract

Two cases of gastric varices in which a pericardiophrenic vein was a major draining route were treated by balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) using a micro-balloon catheter.
In both cases, enhanced CT shows the pericardiophrenic vein was only approachable route for B-RTO. The varices were successfully treated by B-RTO via the pericardiophrenic vein with using the micro-balloon catheter in both cases. B-RTO with a conventional 5-Fr or 6-Fr balloon catheter seemed to be difficult due to the small and tortuous pericardiophrenic vein. The micro-balloon catheter allows highly selective treatment; this instrument can be advanced beyond the outlet of collateral vessels, and can minimize the amount of sclerosing agent. Using the micro-balloon catheter enhance successful procedure in B-RTO via the pericardiophrenic vein.