Huge Varicose Inferior Mesenteric Vein: an Unanticipated 99m Tc-labeled Red Blood Cell Scintigraphy Finding

Ectopic varices (EcV) are enlarged portosystemic venous collaterals, which usually develop secondary to portal hypertension (PHT). Mesocaval collateral vessels are unusual pathways to decompress the portal system. Here we report the case of a huge varicose inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) that drained into perirectal collateral veins, demonstrated by ^99mTc-labeled red blood cell (RBC) scintigraphy performed for lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in a 14-year-old girl. This case illustrates the crucial role of ^99mTc-labeled RBC scintigraphy for the diagnosis of rare ectopic lower GI varices.     

经脾穿刺插管栓塞治疗门静脉高压上消化道出血

目的 评价经脾入路栓塞治疗门静脉高压上消化道出血的临床疗效及安全性.方法 20例乙型肝炎后肝硬化患者,均出现门静脉高压性食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血.8例为右叶巨大肝癌;10例为肝癌合并门静脉癌栓,门静脉主干闭塞;2例为肝硬化并发门静脉主干血栓性闭塞.所有患者采取经脾穿刺,脾静脉插管至胃冠状静脉,用液态栓塞剂加弹簧圈栓塞曲张的食管胃底静脉.结果 18例患者手术成功,2例失败;共栓塞35支胃冠状静脉,栓塞成功患者均获有效止血,未出现并发症.结论 经脾穿刺插管栓塞治疗门静脉高压上消化道出血的方法安全有效,适合于患有巨大肝癌及(或)门静脉主干闭塞等无法采用经皮经肝入路或TIPS栓塞食管胃底静脉曲张的患者.     

Hemodynamic significance of the paraumbilical vein in portal hypertension: assessment with duplex US

Hemodynamic evaluation of portal and umbilical venous flow with duplex ultrasound (US) was performed in 11 patients with cirrhosis of the liver and a large umbilical vein. Two of these patients had hepatofugal flow in the umbilical vein exceeding hepatopetal flow in the portal vein. These two patients had no evidence of esophageal varices and bleeding. The remaining nine patients had esophageal varices. In these patients, the hepatopetal flow in the portal vein exceeded the hepatofugal flow through the umbilical vein. The authors conclude that duplex US may help identify the massive hepatofugal flow through a large umbilical vein that may reduce the likelihood of esophageal varices and variceal bleeding.     

Trans-anastomotic porto-portal varices in patients with gastrointestinal haemorrhage

AIM: Porto-portal varices are commonly seen in patients with segmental extra-hepatic portal hypertension and develop to provide a collateral circulation around an area of portal venous obstruction. It is not well recognized that such communications may also develop across surgical anastomoses and be the source of gastrointestinal haemorrhage. The possible mode of development of such communications has not been previously discussed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over a 3-year period between 1995 and 1998, porto-portal varices were demonstrated across surgical anastomoses in four patients who were referred for the investigation of acute (two), acute-on-chronic (one) and chronic gastrointestinal bleeding (one). Their medical notes and the findings at angiography were reviewed. RESULTS: Three patients had segmental portal hypertension due to extra-hepatic portal vein (one) or superior mesenteric vein (two) stenosis/occlusion. One patient had mild portal hypertension due to hepatic fibrosis secondary to congenital biliary atresia. At angiography all patients were shown to have varices crossing previous surgical anastomoses. These varices were presumed to be the cause of bleeding in three of the four patients; the site of bleeding in the fourth individual was not determined. CONCLUSIONS: Trans-anastomotic porto-portal varices are rare. They develop in the presence of extra-hepatic portal hypertension and presumably arise within peri-anastomotic inflammatory tissue. Such varices may be difficult to manage and their prognosis is poor when bleeding occurs.     

Portal vein stenosis complicating liver transplantation in children: percutaneous transhepatic angioplasty.

Portal vein stenosis complicating orthotopic liver transplantation in children is uncommon. The authors report their early experience with transhepatic portal vein angioplasty in the treatment of portal vein stenosis in this setting. The technique was used in two children (aged 2 and 6 years) who had undergone liver transplantation for biliary atresia 15 and 42 months earlier, respectively. Both patients presented with chronic anemia and intermittent gastrointestinal bleeding. The diagnosis of portal vein stenosis was confirmed at fine-needle splenoportography. Access to the portal venous system was gained by means of a transhepatic approach. Low-profile angioplasty balloon catheters were used to dilate anastomotic strictures of the portal vein in both children. At the end of the procedure, the tract within the liver was occluded with gelatin sponge pledgets. Both procedures were technically successful and caused no complications, and in both patients gastrointestinal bleeding ceased.     

TIPS recubierto en niños. Estudio preliminar sobre su seguridad y permeabilidad

Objective

To retrospectively analyze the safety and efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting (TIPS) using covered stents in children.

Material and methods

We present 6 children (mean age, 10.6 years; mean weight, 33.5 kg) who underwent TIPS with 8 mm diameter Viatorr^® covered stents for acute (n=4) or recurrent (n=2) upper digestive bleeding that could not be controlled by endoscopic measures. Five of the children had cirrhosis and the other had portal vein thrombosis with cavernous transformation. We analyzed the relapse of upper digestive bleeding, the complications that appeared, and the patency of the TIPS shunt on sequential Doppler ultrasonography or until transplantation.

Results

A single stent was implanted in a single session in each child; none of the children died. The mean transhepatic gradient decreased from 16 mmHg (range: 12-21 mmHg) before the procedure to 9 mmHg (range: 1-15 mmHg) after TIPS.One patient developed mild encephalopathy, and the girl who had portal vein thrombosis with cavernous transformation developed an acute occlusion of the TIPS that resolved after the implantation of a coaxial stent.Three children received transplants (7, 9, and 10 months after the procedure, respectively), and the patency of the TIPS was confirmed at transplantation. In the three remaining children, patency was confirmed with Doppler ultrasonography 1, 3, and 5 months after implantation. None of the children had new episodes of upper digestive bleeding during follow-up after implantation (mean: 8.1 months).

Conclusion

Our results indicate that TIPS with 8 mm diameter Viatorr^® covered stents can be safe and efficacious for the treatment of upper digestive bleeding due to gastroesophageal varices in cirrhotic children; our findings need to be corroborated in larger series.     

Direct percutaneous approach for endoluminal glue embolization of stomal varices

The present report describes the authors' experience with direct endoluminal embolization for bleeding stomal varices. Between December 1998 and July 2006, seven patients with enterostomies, portal hypertension, and recurrent stomal variceal bleeding resistant to medical treatment were treated at a single institution. Ultrasonography was used to guide direct puncture of the varices. Direct endoluminal embolization with cyanoacrylate glue was performed under fluoroscopic control imaging. Embolization was successful in six of seven cases. One patient with hepatocellular carcinoma and complete portal thrombosis had three recurrences treated with the same technique, with clinical success. Three patients died at 3, 8, and 18 months without recurrence of bleeding. Although further evaluation is indicated, direct percutaneous embolization appears to be a potential alternative treatment for bleeding stomal varices.     

Correlation of duplex sonography findings and portal pressure in 375 patients with portal hypertension

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the potential usefulness of duplex sonography in the grading of portal hypertension. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Duplex sonography of the portal vein system and measurement of the portal pressure and portosystemic pressure gradient were performed in 375 patients before placement of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts. Subgroups included patients with recent variceal bleeding (n = 296) and patients with refractory ascites without previous variceal bleeding (n = 79). A matched cohort of 100 patients without portal hypertension was also examined. Differences between the groups in portal and splenic vein diameter, flow velocity, congestion index, and hepatic arterial resistive index were assessed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS: Compared with healthy individuals, our patients had an increased portal vein diameter (+30%, p < .001), decreased portal vein flow velocity (-44%, p < .001), and increased congestion index (+185%, p < .001). A portal vein diameter greater than 1.25 cm or a portal vein flow velocity less than 21 cm/sec indicated portal hypertension with a sensitivity and specificity of 80%. If the congestion index exceeded 0.1, portal hypertension was diagnosed with a 95% sensitivity and specificity. The portal pressure and gradient correlated only weakly (r < .2, p < .05) with sonographic variables. Using multivariate analysis, subgroups with variceal bleeding or refractory ascites did not show differences in hemodynamics, including pressures. CONCLUSION: Duplex sonography contributes to the diagnosis of portal hypertension but does not allow its grading. Similarity of portal hemodynamics between patients with variceal bleeding and patients with refractory ascites suggests that additional factors determine the respective clinical presentation.     

Direct Percutaneous Embolization of Bleeding Stomal Varices

Stomal variceal bleeding can develop in patients with underlying cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Most patients are best treated with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation because this addresses the underlying problem of portal hypertension. However, some patients are not good candidates for TIPS creation because they have end-stage liver disease or encephalopathy. We describe such a patient who presented with recurrent bleeding stomal varices, which was successfully treated with percutaneous coil embolization. The patient had bleeding-free survival for 1 month before death from unrelated causes.     

经颈静脉门腔分流术中Fluency覆膜支架应用的临床观察

目的 评价Fluency覆膜支架在经颈静脉门腔分流术(TIPS)中的临床效果.方法 搜集21例采用Fluency覆膜支架行TIPS治疗患者的临床病例资料进行回顾性分析.本组患者随访时间2.0～24.0个月,平均(10.1±4.6)个月;均为门静脉高压上消化道大出血,其中原发性肝癌门静脉主干癌栓伴大出血1例,布加综合征1例.分析患者术后支架开通情况,门静脉压力及肝功能变化情况.对手术前后门静脉压力及肝功能变化情况的比较采用配对t检验.结果21例患者共放支架25枚,均成功放置,支架直径10 mm 2枚、8 mm为23枚;覆膜支架长度6～8 cm.所有患者术后上消化道出血停止;门静脉压力由术前平均(25.4±3.5)mm Hg(1mm Hg=0.133 kPa)降为(15.4±2.8)mm Hg,手术前后差异有统计学意义(t=12.495,P<0.01).随访期间,1例原发性肝癌伴门静脉主干癌栓患者于术后4个月死亡,1例随访期间发现原发性肝癌的患者术后24个月死亡,1例门静脉高压上消化道大出血患者于术后2个月死于多器官功能衰竭,1例于术后15个月出现肝静脉端狭窄,行第2枚支架治疗效果良好,余17例随访7～17个月支架无狭窄.患者死亡前1周复查超声示支架均通畅.3例术后出现一过性肝性脑病前驱症状,经对症处理后好转.存活6个月以上的19例患者,术前Child肝功能评分(6.3±1.4)分,术后6个月评分(6.4±1.9)分,两者差异无统计学意义(t=0.645,P>0.05).结论采用Fluency覆膜支架行TIPS术,能明显提高TIPS术后开通率,但长期效果及肝性脑病的评价尚需验'证.     

Percutaneous transhepatic angioplasty and stent implantation for prehepatic portal vein obstruction

Twenty-nine months after a Whipple procedure for pancreatic carcinoma, a 47-year-old woman developed esophageal variceal bleeding. Percutaneous transhepatic portography revealed a severe stenosis of the portal vein with prehepatic portal hypertension and collateral circulation mainly to the gastric and esophageal veins. Percutaneous transhepatic balloon angioplasty was used to dilate the stenoses, but it did not remove the stenosis sufficiently. Therefore, an 8-mm, self-expandable stent was implanted, creating a nearly normal lumen without a pressure gradient. Portal hypertension was relieved, and the patient had no recurrent variceal bleeding for the 5 months up to her death.     

Detection of intestinal bleeding with multi-detector row CT in an experimental setup. How many acquisitions are necessary?

The purpose of the study was to evaluate multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) acquired in different acquisitions (unenhanced, and arterial and portal venous phase following intravenous contrast medium) for detection of intestinal bleeding using an experimental bowel model. The model consisted of an injector tube with a perforation placed in a 7-m-long small bowel of a pig. The bowel was filled with water/contrast medium solution of 30–40 HU and was incorporated in a phantom model. Intestinal bleeding in different locations and bleeding velocities varying from zero to 0.75 ml/min (0.05 ml/min increments) were simulated. Twenty-six datasets in simulated unenhanced, arterial and portal venous contrast phase using increasing bleeding velocities and ten negative controls were measured using 64-row MDCT. Two radiologists blinded to the experimental settings evaluated the datasets in a random order. The likelihood of intestinal bleeding was assessed using a 5-point scale with subsequent ROC analysis. The overall sensitivity for detecting bleeding was 0.44 for an arterial acquisition alone, 0.68 for a portal venous acquisition, 0.68 for the combination unenhanced/arterial, 0.72 for unenhanced/portal venous and 0.80 for arterial/portal. Bleeding velocities of above 0.25 ml/min were detected with a sensitivity of 0.59 for arterial, 0.88 for portal venous, 0.85 for unenhanced/arterial, 0.94 for unenhanced/portal venous and 0.97 for arterial/portal venous contrast phase protocols, respectively. The specificity was 1.00. MDCT provides the highest sensitivity and specificity in the detection of intestinal bleeding using arterial and portal venous acquisition in comparison to mono-phase protocols.     

Bleeding gastroesophageal varices: gastric vein embolization after partial portal decompression

Shunts that decompress the portal vein are effective in the treatment of bleeding esophageal varices. Use of large-caliber portacaval shunts, however, results in the complete decompression of the portal system and the risk of subsequent development of hepatic encephalopathy. Use of small-caliber portacaval shunts results in mild portal hypertension and less frequent hepatic encephalopathy but may increase the risk of recurrent bleeding. Thirty-three patients underwent angiography after partial decompression portacaval shunting (median trans-shunt pressures, 8 mm Hg). Embolization of residual varices, noted in 13 patients, was performed. Results included one complication with no sequelae and no bleeding a mean of 13 months after the procedure was performed. Trans-shunt embolization of esophageal varices effectively prevents bleeding varices after partial portal decompression.     

Acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage detected by selective scintigraphic angiography

Intra-arterial 99mTc colloid scintigraphy may have greater sensitivity than either standard intravenous scintigraphy or selective arteriography in detecting gastrointestinal bleeding. Ten millicuries of 99mTc colloid were administered directly into the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries (SMA and IMA) of patients who had undergone selective arterial catheterization for the evaluation of gastrointestinal bleeding. In one patient, 99mTc-albumin colloid was administered directly into the IMA and identified diverticular bleeding. The bleeding had been occult to prior contrast arteriography and refractory to selective intra-arterial Pitressin therapy. In a second patient who had undergone three negative provocative angiograms, selective SMA injection of 99mTc-sulfur colloid identified occult mesenteric varices secondary to portal hypertension. Selective intra-arterial scintigraphy should be valuable in detecting intestinal bleeding occult to conventional studies. This will help in directing further therapy and diagnostic evaluation.     

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in a child with Budd-Chiari syndrome: technical modification and extended followup

An 8-year-old girl with Budd-Chiari syndrome presented with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and ascites. TIPS to decompress the portal hypertension was performed by puncturing the portal vein directly from the inferior vena cava. The shunt remains patent after 3 years without requiring secondary intervention.     

Portal venous system after portosystemic shunts or endoscopic sclerotherapy: evaluation with Doppler sonography

We sought to determine the usefulness of duplex Doppler sonography in the assessment of blood flow and clot formation in the portal vein in 44 patients with portal hypertension and bleeding esophageal varices who had undergone either endoscopic sclerotherapy (28 cases) or portosystemic shunt procedures (16 cases). The main, left, and right portal veins (collectively referred to as intrahepatic portal veins), superior mesenteric vein, splenic vein, and shunt were assessed for flow direction, presence of thrombi, and collaterals. Patent shunts were visualized in 12 (75%) of the 16 cases. Clot was detected in 27 (69%) of 39 intrahepatic portal veins in patients with end-to-side shunts, in six (67%) of nine intrahepatic portal veins in patients with distal splenorenal shunts, and in five (5%) of 92 intrahepatic portal veins in patients who had had endoscopic sclerotherapy. Flow in the main portal vein was hepatopetal in two (15%) of 13 patients with patent shunts (one end-to-side portacaval shunt and one distal splenorenal shunt). Flow in the main portal vein was hepatopetal in 26 (93%) of 28 patients who had had endoscopic sclerotherapy. Our data suggest endoscopic sclerotherapy preserves antegrade portal flow and results in fewer portal vein clots than surgical portosystemic shunts do. Patterns of thrombosis and flow direction vary unpredictably from patient to patient. Shunt patency should not be inferred without direct visualization of the shunt.     

TIPSS技术在门脉癌栓性门脉高压中的应用

目的 探讨TIPSS技术在治疗门静脉癌栓合并门脉高压中的技术特点及禁忌证。方法 16例门静脉癌栓合并门脉高压症患者，9例门静脉主干完全堵塞，7例门静脉主干及分支有不同程度栓塞；6例合并门脉海绵样变；1例单纯上消化道大出血；4例单纯顽固性腹水；11例上消化道大出血合并顽固性腹水。结果 16例中11例患者成功行TIPSS治疗，技术成功率约68.8%，门脉压力从术前4.9kPa降至2.4kPa，平均降低2.5kPa，腹水减少或消失，症状缓解。平均生存136d。5例失败。结论 TIPSS是治疗门脉癌栓引起的上消化道大出血和顽固性腹水的有效方法，门脉海绵样变是该术的禁忌证。     

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPSS): early clinical experience.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPSS) is a new percutaneous technique for reducing portal venous pressure. We attempted TIPSS in six patients with recurrent bleeding for oesophageal or gastric varices between July 1991 and January 1992 with success in five. There have been no deaths. One patient re-bled after TIPSS. His portal pressure was found to be elevated persistently indicating an inadequate shunt. Following further dilatation of the shunt, portal pressure fell to a satisfactory level and bleeding has not recurred. No bleeding episodes have occurred in the other patients following successful TIPSS. Our series contributes to the growing body of experience which suggests that TIPSS is a safe and effective treatment for recurrent variceal bleeding.     

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in a patient with cavernomatous portal vein occlusion

A 23-year-old woman with liver cirrhosis secondary to primary sclerosing cholangitis was referred to us for the treatment of recurrent bleeding from esophageal varices that had been refractory to endoscopic sclerotherapy. Her portal vein was occluded, associated with cavernous transformation. A transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) was performed after a preprocedural three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography evaluation to determine feasibility. The portal vein system was recanalized and portal blood flow increased markedly after TIPS. Esophageal varices disappeared 3 weeks after TIPS. Re-bleeding and hepatic encephalopathy were absent for 3 years after the procedure. We conclude that with adequate preprocedural evaluation, TIPS can be performed safely even in patients with portal vein occlusion associated with cavernous transformation.     

Angiographic evaluation of gastrointestinal haemorrhage complicating pancreatic disease.

Seven patients with gastro-oesophageal varices due to splenic or portal vein obstruction from a diseased pancreas have been seen at the Mater Hospital during the past three years. Four of these patients had episodes of acute and massive gastrointestinal bleeding and this paper emphasises the role of angiography in the management of this complication. In three instances the bleeding was the result of the varices, but in one patient with carcinoma of the head of the pancreas the bleeding was shown to result from invasion of the tumour into the duodenum.