Outcomes of Varicoembolization via Intrahepatic Portal Vein Performed in Patients with Ruptured Gastro-Esophageal Varices

Abstract

We newly devised emergency varicoembolization for ruptured gastro-esophageal varices by modifying transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) treatment. We propose the term “varicoembolization via the intrahepatic portal vein root (VEIP)” for this procedure. We performed VEIP in patients with ruptured gastro-esophageal varices who were suspected of developing complications such as bleeding, hepatic coma, and renal and/or heart failure after conventional therapies. In the present study, we evaluated its advantages in comparison with conventional therapies. The results obtained demonstrated that our technique was effective in treating the patients who were unable to be treated with conventional therapies because of various reasons such as ascites, bleeding tendency. Moreover, it could treat endoscopically uncontrollable ruptured varices. It is suggested that this procedure is of valuable as a novel alternative in the treatment of gastro-esophageal varices.