经皮经肝食管胃底静脉栓塞术治疗肝硬化静脉曲张的疗效评价

目的评价经皮经肝食管胃底静脉栓塞术(PTO)在治疗肝硬化静脉曲张的应用价值。方法对56例肝硬化合并食管胃底静脉曲张患者施行PTO治疗,其中35例因急性上消化道出血行急症止血治疗,10例为消化道出血停止后择期栓塞,11例肝硬化伴重度食管静脉曲张行预防性PTO治疗。结果56例患者食管胃底曲张静脉插管、栓塞成功率达100%。35例急性上消化道出血患者,急症栓塞术后均止血成功;11例行预防性PTO治疗病例,术后复查食管静脉曲张7例接近正常,4例静脉曲张程度由重度降为轻度。47例接受2～60个月随访,再出血5例,死亡4例,原因分别为再发消化道出血(1例),肝功能衰竭(1例),合并肝癌(2例)。结论对于肝硬化食管胃底静脉曲张患者,PTD是一种安全、有效的治疗方法,值得推广应用。     

Emergent Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt as a First-Line Therapy in Patients with Cirrhosis with Acute Gastroesophageal Variceal Hemorrhage

PurposeTo investigate the safety and effectiveness of emergent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) as first-line therapy in patients with advanced cirrhosis with acute variceal hemorrhage.Materials and MethodsFrom July 2016 to June 2019, 76 patients with advanced cirrhosis and acute variceal hemorrhage were included in this retrospective study. All patients underwent emergent TIPS as first-line therapy within 24 hours. Gastroesophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis were diagnosed with contrast-enhanced computed tomography because emergent endoscopy has not been routinely performed in this center. The primary outcomes were the control rate of bleeding and the rate of rebleeding. Secondary outcomes were the technical success rate of procedure, transplantation-free survival, the mean hospitalization time, the time of stay in the intensive care unit, and adverse events.ResultsAll patients underwent TIPS creation successfully and were transferred to general wards. The median follow-up time was 21.7 months (interquartile range, 12.6–28.1 months). The control rate of bleeding (≤5 days) was 100%. The rates of early (>5 days to 6 weeks) and late (>6 weeks to 2 years) rebleeding were 6.6% and 1.3%, respectively. The 6-week, 1-year, and 2-year transplantation-free survival rates were 94.7%, 93.4%, and 84.6%, respectively. The incidences of acute liver failure, hepatic encephalopathy, and shunt dysfunction were 5.3%, 25%, and 5.3%, respectively.ConclusionsEmergent TIPS as a first-line therapy in patients with advanced cirrhosis with acute variceal hemorrhage is safe and effective. This study provides an alternative approach for medical centers without emergent endoscopy facility to manage the condition.     

肝硬化套扎联合硬化序贯治疗的疗效评价

  目的 探讨套扎联合硬化序贯治疗对肝硬化食管静脉曲张的疗效。方法 选取医院2014-04至2017-04诊断为肝硬化并食管静脉曲张出血经过2次食管静脉曲张套扎治疗,食管静脉曲张内镜分级仍在中(G₂)、重(G₃)度的57例患者为研究对象,根据随机数字表法将受试者随机分为对照组(28例)和研究组(29例),研究组行套扎联合硬化序贯治疗,对照组继续行套扎序贯治疗。两组均在治疗后随访1年并复查胃镜,比较两组的序贯治疗次数、食管静脉曲张消除率、再出血发生率、并发症发生率。结果 研究组食管静脉硬化术序贯治疗次数(2.24±0.95)少于对照组食管静脉套扎术序贯治疗次数(3.29±1.27),两组比较有统计学差异(P＜0.05)。研究组静脉曲张消除率(89.66%)显著高于对照组(46.43%),再出血率(2.45%)低于对照组(14.29%),两组比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。两组并发症发生率比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05)。结论 套扎联合硬化序贯治疗可减少内镜下治疗次数,显著减少套扎术后残留的食管曲张静脉、延缓静脉曲张的复发,并发症风险无增加。     

Control of variceal bleeding by superior mesenteric artery vasopressin infusion.

Liver function and clotting tests were evaluated in 39 patients with variceal bleeding prior to superior mesenteric artery vasopressin infusion. In six patients with mild hepatic dysfunction (Child's class A), permanent control of hemorrhage was achieved in all six and all survived the hospitalization. In 21 patients with moderate dysfunction (Child's class B), permanent control of hemorrhage was achieved in 13 (62%) and temporary control for 24 hr or longer in the remaining eight (38%). Survival in class B was 67% (14 of 21). In only four of 12 patients with severe hepatic dysfunction (Child's class C) was control of hemorrhage achieved (33 percent). None of these patients survived. Therapeutic failure also was associated with clotting derangements and the initial bleeding rate. It is concluded that the effectiveness of vasopressin in variceal hemorrhage is a function of the underlying liver disease and derangements in clotting function.     

Ethanol thrombotherapy of esophageal varices: further experience

Fifty patients with liver cirrhosis (13 Child class B, 37 class C) were treated for variceal hemorrhage during a 3-year period using the transhepatic selective catheterization and injection of absolute ethanol. Technical failure of the procedure was encountered in 13 instances. The causes were the presence of massive ascites and rigidly contracted liver, cavernous transformation of the main portal vein, and severe coagulopathy. Of the 13 failures, 12 were in Child class C and one in class B. Of 37 initially successfully treated patients, 13 rebled subsequently. Nine of these were Child class C and four were class B. Rebleeding was fatal in five of nine class C patients. Rebleeding was due to recanalization of previously thrombosed access channel in two of 13 patients. Nine patients died, despite successful thrombosis of varices, due to underlying medical conditions. Fifteen patients survived 6 months or more after initial thrombosis without rebleeding. Child class B patients are better candidates for this treatment technique because more favorable treatment results are expected in them. Child class C patients with massive ascites and severely contracted and rigid liver pose a significant technical challenge, but in about one-third, successful control of variceal bleeding can be achieved. Most of those who survived more than 6 months showed varying degrees of improvement in clinical signs and symptoms.     

Endovascular obliteration of bleeding duodenal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis

The purpose of this paper is to describe our experience with endovascular obliteration of duodenal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Balloon-occluded transvenous retrograde and percutaneous transhepatic anterograde embolizations were performed for duodenal varices in five patients with liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and decreased liver function. All patients had undergone previous endoscopic treatments that failed to stop bleeding and were poor surgical candidates. Temporary balloon occlusion catheters were used to achieve accumulation of an ethanolamine oleate–iopamidol mixture inside the varices. Elimination of the varices was successful in all patients. Retrograde transvenous obliteration via efferent veins to the inferior vena cava was enough to achieve adequate sclerosant accumulation in three patients. A combined anterograde–retrograde embolization was used in one patient with balloon occlusion of afferent and efferent veins. Transhepatic embolization through the afferent vein was performed in one patient under balloon occlusion of both efferent and afferent veins. There was complete variceal thrombosis and no bleeding was observed at follow-up. No major complications were recorded. Endovascular obliteration of duodenal varices is a feasible and safe alternative procedure for managing patients with portal hypertension and hemorrhage from this source.     

内镜下套扎治疗食管静脉曲张破裂出血（附43例）

目的：探讨内镜下套扎治疗食管静脉曲张破裂出血的临床疗效。方法：对我院86例食管静脉曲张破裂出血患者分别给予内镜下套扎治疗与内科药物治疗,比较两组治疗疗效。结果：治疗组：止血成功率达90.7%,死亡率达4.7%,再出血率达11.6%。对照组则依次为69.8%、23.3%、32.6%。两组止血成功率、死亡率、再出血率的比较,均（P〈0.05）。结论：内镜套扎治疗食管静脉曲张破裂出血具有创伤小、止血迅速、临床疗效好,值得推广使用。     

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.     

Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Creation for the Prevention of Gastric Variceal Rebleeding in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

PurposeTo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation for the prevention of gastric variceal rebleeding in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Materials and MethodsThis multicenter retrospective study included 126 cirrhotic patients (mean age, 54.1 ± 10.2 years; 110 men) with HCC who underwent TIPS creation for the prevention of gastric variceal rebleeding. Of these, 110 (87.3%) patients had gastroesophageal varices and 16 (12.7%) patients had isolated gastric varices. Thirty-five (27.8%) patients had portal vein tumor thrombus.ResultsTIPS creation was technically successful in 124 (98.4%) patients. Rebleeding occurred in 26 (20.6%) patients during the follow-up period. The 6-week and 1-year actuarial probabilities of patients remaining free of rebleeding were 98.3% ± 1.2% and 81.2% ± 3.9%, respectively. Forty-nine (38.8%) patients died during the follow-up period. The 6-week and 1-year actuarial probabilities of survival were 98.4 ± 1.1% and 65.6 ± 4.4%, respectively. Two (1.6%) patients had major procedure-related complications, including acute liver failure (n = 1) and intra-abdominal bleeding (n = 1). Thirty-three (26.2%) patients had at least 1 episode of overt hepatic encephalopathy during the follow-up period. Shunt dysfunction occurred in 15 (11.9%) patients after a median follow-up time of 11.4 months (range, 1.4–41.3 months). Lung metastasis occurred in 3 (2.4%) patients, 3.9–32.9 months after TIPS creation.ConclusionsTIPS creation may be effective and safe for the prevention of gastric variceal rebleeding in patients with HCC.     

急诊经皮经肝食管胃底静脉栓塞治疗重度肝硬化消化道出血

目的　评价经皮经肝食管胃底静脉栓塞术在重度肝硬化患者急性食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血中的应用价值。方法　 19例食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血肝硬化患者 ,肝功能评价均为ChildC级 ,行急诊经皮经肝食管胃底静脉栓塞治疗。结果　 19例门脉穿刺及曲张静脉栓塞手术均获成功。 18例即刻止血成功 ;1例无效 ,行TIPSS治疗。 1～ 12个月随访期内 ,再出血 14例 ;死亡 15例 ;4例存活。严重合并症 1例 ,为腹腔内出血 ,行开腹探查。结论　对于ChildC级肝硬化食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血患者 ,急诊条件下经皮经肝食管胃底静脉栓塞术止血效果肯定 ,当TIPSS禁忌时 ,可为首选治疗方法     

影响内镜下食管静脉曲张套扎术疗效的危险因素分析

目的 研究影响内镜下食管静脉曲张套扎术内镜下套扎术(EVL)疗效的危险因素.方法 回顾性分析140例行EVL患者的临床资料,寻找影响EVL疗效的危险因素.结果 早期再出血组与未出血组的出血次数、Grade分级、Child-Pugh分级、门静脉宽度、曲张静脉根数、结扎静脉根数、丙氨酸转移酶、天门冬氨酸转移酶、总胆红素、凝血酶原活动度等观察指标具有统计学差异(P＜0.05),以上各项指标均为EVL术后早期再出血的危险因素.结论 对于食管静脉曲张出血的患者,在行EVL前,应该仔细评价患者的各项临床指标,对患者进行危险分层,做好充分的术前准备,筛除高危患者,尽可能地减少术后早期再出血的发生率,延长患者寿命.     

Emergent treatment of variceal bleeding in two infants

Two infants with portal hypertension were treated on an emergency basis for life-threatening uncontrollable variceal bleeding. One 9-month-old girl had portal vein thrombosis, and the other 28-months-old girl had liver cirrhosis secondary to biliary atresia. Following percutaneous transhepatic embolization of the varices, successful bleeding control was achieved in both patients.     

经皮脾穿刺门静脉插管技术及临床应用

目的 探讨经皮脾穿刺门静脉插管(PTSPC)技术的可行性.方法 30例门静脉高压症患者接受经PTSPC行食管胃底曲张静脉栓塞术,其中2例同时接受门静脉支架植入术.病例纳入标准:门静脉主干阻塞(癌栓或血栓)和肝硬化严重肝萎缩患者;排除标准:凝血酶原时间(PT)＞20 s的严重凝血功能不良患者.17例患者为原发性肝癌合并门静脉主干癌栓、13例为肝硬化合并严重肝萎缩和(或)小至中量腹水.30例患者术前均有食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血病史;术前凝血功能正常(PT＜14 s)16例,轻度降低(PT 14～17 s)10例,中度降低(PT 18～20 s)4例;均接受上腹部CT增强检查,并依据CT结果确定脾静脉分支的穿刺位置、方向及深度.术后回顾性分析PTSPC要点、并发症及临床应用价值.结果 30例患者,28例成功应用PTSPC进行门静脉插管;2例插管未成功者均为脾静脉脾内分支细小.发生与PTSPC相关并发症6例(20.0%),均为不同程度血红蛋白浓度下降(15～50 g/L);其中4例需要输血治疗,包括1例腹腔大出血,在术后2 h出现血压严重下降,经输入4个单位红细胞和补充血容量后好转.PTSPC成功的28例均行食管胃底曲张静脉栓塞术,其中2例在栓塞曲张静脉的基础上放置门静脉覆膜支架.28例患者术后中位随访时间6个月(1～42个月),死亡16例,其中14例为肝癌患者在术后1～12个月死亡,2例肝硬化患者分别在术后14、23个月死于肝功能衰竭.随访期间,发生静脉曲张再出血4例,累积再出血率为14.3%.结论 PTSPC是可行的,为经导管门静脉腔内治疗提供了一条新路径,但穿刺部位出血应引起足够重视.     

Successful Management of Neobladder Variceal Bleeding

Hematuria from a neobladder can occur due to a variety of pathologies including tumors, stones, and fistulas. Variceal bleeding in a neobladder is a very rare condition with only one case reported in literature. We present a case of a patient with cirrhosis and portal hypertension and an ileocolic orthotopic neobladder presenting with hematuria. Computed tomographic angiography showed dilated varices around the neobladder which were successfully embolized. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report case of variceal bleeding in a neobladder successfully managed with the combination of TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) procedure and embolization.     

Transhepatic obliteration of gastroesophageal varices: results in acute and nonacute bleeders.

Seventy-three patients with hepatic cirrhosis and bleeding gastroesophageal varices underwent transhepatic portal vein catheterization and variceal obliteration. Gastroesophageal varices were successfully obliterated in 32 patients actively bleeding and in 35 patients with stabilized bleeding gastroesophageal varices. The remaining six were technical failures. Follow-up examinations in 10 patients from 1 month to 3 years later showed persistent obliteration of embolized veins. Recurrence of variceal bleeding occurred in nine patients. This method should be considered as a palliative, effective adjuvant to the medical treatment of patients with bleeding gastroesophageal varices.     

Usefulness of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt in the Management of Bleeding Ectopic Varices in Cirrhotic Patients

Purpose To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in the control of bleeding from ectopic varices. Methods From 1995 to 2004, 24 cirrhotic patients, bleeding from ectopic varices, mean age 54.5 years (range 15–76 years), were treated by TIPS. The etiology of cirrhosis was alcoholic in 13 patients and nonalcoholic in 11 patients. The location of the varices was duodenal (n = 5), stomal (n = 8), ileocolic (n = 6), anorectal (n = 3), umbilical (n = 1), and peritoneal (n = 1). Results TIPS controlled the bleeding in all patients and induced a decrease in the portacaval gradient from 19.7 ± 5.4 to 6.4 ± 3.1 mmHg. Postoperative complications included self-limited intra-abdominal bleeding (n = 2), self-limited hemobilia (n = 1), acute thrombosis of the shunt (n = 1), and bile leak treated by a covered stent (n = 1). Median follow-up was 592 days (range 28–2482 days). Rebleeding occurred in 6 patients. In 2 cases rebleeding was observed despite a post-TIPS portacaval gradient lower than 12 mmHg and was controlled by variceal embolization; 1 patient underwent surgical portacaval shunt and never rebled; in 3 patients rebleeding was related to TIPS stenosis and treated with shunt dilatation with addition of a new stent. The cumulative rate of rebleeding was 23% and 31% at 1 and 2 years, respectively. One- and 2-year survival rates were 80% and 76%, respectively. Conclusion The present series demonstrates that bleeding from ectopic varices, a challenging clinical problem, can be managed safely by TIPS placement with low rebleeding and good survival rates.     

Transhepatic embolization of varices

Percutaneous transhepatic embolization of varices (PTEV) has proved to be effective in the control variceal bleeding, particularly in Child's Class C Category patients whose bleeding was not adequately controlled by pitressin perfusions. PTEV, using Gelfoam soaked in sodium tetradecyl sulfate, controlled acute variceal bleeding in 71–95% of patients and appears to be more effective as an embolizing agent than bucrylate, which controlled 43–57%. Considering the poor condition of the patients particularly during acute bleeding episodes, PTEV is a relatively safe therapeutic procedure that buys time for the surgeons to perform a decompressive shunt electively as definitive surgery. A one-year recurrent bleeding rate of 30% and a two year recurrence of 37.5% was noted. Thus, for long term control of variceal bleeding, a surgical decompressive shunt is recommended in addition to PTEV.     

Assessment of the presence and severity of esophagogastric varices by splenic index in patients with liver cirrhosis

PURPOSE: To determine whether spleen size is related to the severity of esophageal varices or associated gastric varices and liver functions in patients with cirrhosis. METHOD: The authors retrospectively studied spleen size on CT (splenic index [SI] = length x width x height of the spleen), liver functions, and the results of esophagogastric endoscopy in 110 patients with cirrhosis. They also analyzed SI in 112 controls. RESULTS: In controls, body weight, height, and age affected the SI. The SI in patients with uncompensated cirrhosis was greater compared with the SI in those with well-compensated disease (p = 0.0363). The SI in patients with esophageal varices was greater than in patients without esophageal varices (p<0.0001), but patients with and without gastric varices had similar SI values. The SI in patients with the red color signs (red wale marking, cherry red spot, and hematocystic spot) on esophageal varices or with risky varices (enlarged tortuous varices with beady, nodular, or tumor shape associated with red color signs) was greater than in patients without these signs (p = 0.0029 and p = 0.0030, respectively). CONCLUSION: The SI is a good indicator of the severity of esophageal varices and hepatic functional reserve in patients with cirrhosis.     

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for acute variceal bleeding in patients with viral liver cirrhosis: predictors of early mortality

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to assess the predictors of early mortality after the creation of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) for acute variceal bleeding in patients with viral liver cirrhosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-three patients (56 men and 17 women; mean age, 51.3 years) with viral liver cirrhosis who underwent TIPS placement for acute variceal bleeding were studied. Multiple covariates, including demographic, clinical, and biochemical parameters, were included in univariate and multivariate analyses to determine their association with early (30-day) mortality. RESULTS: During the follow-up period (mean, 35 months 3 days), shunt dysfunction occurred in 33 patients (45.2%). Forty-three patients (58.9%) died, and 23 patients (31.5%) died within 30 days of TIPS. Early death was predicted independently by hyperbilirubinemia (> 3 mg/dL; p = 0.004; odds ratio, 10.6) and elevated serum creatinine level (> 1.7 mg/dL; p =0.018; odds ratio, 12.0). CONCLUSION: Hyperbilirubinemia and elevated serum creatinine level are predictive of early mortality after TIPS creation for acute variceal bleeding in patients with viral liver cirrhosis.     

Balloon-occluded antegrade transvenous obliteration of rectal varices: A case report

Patients with liver cirrhosis frequently experience rectal variceal bleeding subsequent to portal hypertension. Unlike gastroesophageal variceal bleeding, a well-established guideline does not exist in terms of management of bleeding rectal varices. A 75-year-old male with non-alcoholic-steatohepatitis induced cirrhosis presented with a 3-day history of severe rectorrhagia. Considering patient''s clinical history, TIPS was not performed and thus, a novel endovascular technique termed balloon-occluded antegrade transvenous obliteration was considered. Under conscious sedation, an occlusion was made through balloon catheter by sclerotic agents including air/sodium tetradecyl sulfate/Lipiodol. After the procedure, and in the 6 months follow up period the patient''s hemodynamic status was stable and he recovered without any serious complications. Balloon-occluded antegrade transvenous obliteration is a feasible and safe modality for treating rectal varices bleeding and could be used as an alternative approach in patients with contraindications to traditional treatments.