Abstract
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of endoscopic color Doppler ultrasonography (ECDUS) in the assessment of hemodynamics of gastric varices. In 77 patients examined, gastric varices were categorized as follows : as for form, 65 were of F2 type varices, 12 were of F3 type, and as for location, six were cardiac varices, 32 were fundic varices, and 39 were cardiofornical varices. ECDUS detected color flow image of intramural gastric varices in all 77 patients. The velocity of blood flow calculated by ECDUS was significantly higher in F3 varices than in F2 type. Gastric varices were further arbitrarily classified into three types. Type 1 : intramural gastric varices is greater than perigastric veins. Type 2 : intramural gastric varices is nearly equal to well developed perigastric veins, and the gastrorenal shunt is detected. Type 3 : perigastric veins is greater than intramural varices. Velocity of type 2 varices was significantly higher than other type varices. ECDUS can evaluate the hemodynamics of gastric varices and predict the possibility of bleeding, and determine the most effective treatment with ECDUS. In conclusion, ECDUS is useful to assess the hemodynamics of gastric varices.
