Gastric varices with gastrorenal shunt: combined therapy using transjugular retrograde obliteration and partial...

This study was prospectively conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the combination of transjugular retrograde obliteration and partial splenic embolization in the treatment of gastric varices with gastrorenal shunt.

Between November 2002 and December 2006, 14 patients with gastric varices and gastrorenal shunt were treated by combining transjugular retrograde obliteration and partial splenic embolization (group 1). These patients were compared with 19 patients with gastric varices and gastrorenal shunt treated by only transjugular retrograde obliteration (group 2) for the disappearance rate of gastric varices, the cumulative survival rate, and the occurrence rate of esophageal varices after transjugular retrograde obliteration. Partial splenic embolization was performed 7-14 days before transjugular retrograde obliteration. No significant differences were seen between the two groups in terms of demographic data, including age, sex, and Child-Pugh classification.

The disappearance rate of gastric varices after transjugular retrograde obliteration was 100% in both groups. The 3-year cumulative survival rate after transjugular retrograde obliteration was 92% in group 1 and 95% in group 2. The 3-year cumulative occurrence rate of esophageal varices after transjugular retrograde obliteration was 9% in group 1 and 45% in group 2, a significant difference (p < 0.05).

The findings of this study indicate that partial splenic embolization contributed to preventing portal congestion after transjugular retrograde obliteration. We conclude that the combination of transjugular retrograde obliteration and partial splenic embolization for gastric varices is more effective than transjugular retrograde obliteration only in the long-term prevention of esophageal varices after transjugular retrograde obliteration.