Hemodynamic effect through a novel endoscopic intervention in management of varices and hypersplenism (with video)

Background and Aims

We previously reported a new and combined EUS-guided intervention in a patient with portal hypertension, consisting of obliteration of varices and partial splenic embolization (PSE). Performing PSE is known to diminish the increase in portal venous pressure after endoscopic intervention for varices. The aim of this study was to use multidetector CT portal venography to evaluate the anatomy of esophagogastric varices (EGV) and the impact on hemodynamics of portosystemic collaterals shortly after the concomitant procedures.

Methods

From October 2019 to December 2020, 5 patients with cirrhosis and with clinically significant portal hypertension who had variceal bleeding history and hypersplenism were treated with combined endoscopic obliteration for varices and EUS-guided PSE. Multidetector CT portal venography was applied to assess the anatomic drainage patterns of the EGV, diameters of feeders and drainage vessels, and splenic embolization rate.

Results

Within 5 days after concomitant endoscopic interventions, we observed decreased mean diameters of the left gastric vein, short gastric vein, and azygos vein as .3 mm, 1.0 mm, and 5.2 mm compared with 3.11 mm, 7.1 mm, and 5.4 mm before the procedures, respectively. Patients showed increased white blood cells (mean count of 2.7 × 10⁹/L before vs 5.8 × 10⁹/L after) and platelets (mean count of 52.8 × 10⁹/L before vs 95.8 × 10⁹/L after). The mean splenic embolization rate was 64.5% (range, 28.8%-84.6%).

Conclusions

Our experience may illustrate an alternative technique of combining EUS-guided PSE with endoscopic therapy of varices to treat patients with portal hypertension.