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Updated: May 31, 2026

Rodent Inferior Vena Cava Venoplasty Balloon Model
Published on: May 24, 2024
Balloon occlusion retrograde transvenous obliteration for inferior mesenteric vein-systemic shunt
Hiroki Minamiguchi1, Nobuyuki Kawai, Morio Sato
1Department of Radiology, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayamashi, Wakayama 641-8510, Japan.
Two cases of portosystemic encephalopathy caused by an inferior mesenteric vein (IMV)-internal iliac vein shunt and an IMV-renal vein shunt are presented. IMV and systemic varicosity consisted of a first functional segment, a stagnant segment, and a second functional segment. Both patients underwent balloon occlusion retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO), using a microcatheter, to occlude the stagnant segment selectively. Although transient portal vein thrombosis was observed in case 1 and aggravation of esophageal varices was observed in case 2, these complications were tolerable. Following BRTO, the portosystemic encephalopathy in both cases resolved, and serum ammonia levels, although elevated, remained within the normal range.
Two cases of portosystemic encephalopathy caused by an inferior mesenteric vein (IMV)-internal iliac vein shunt and an IMV-renal vein shunt are presented. IMV and systemic varicosity consisted of a first functional segment, a stagnant segment, and a second functional segment. Both patients underwent balloon occlusion retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO), using a microcatheter, to occlude the stagnant segment selectively. Although transient portal vein thrombosis was observed in case 1 and aggravation of esophageal varices was observed in case 2, these complications were tolerable. Following BRTO, the portosystemic encephalopathy in both cases resolved, and serum ammonia levels, although elevated, remained within the normal range.
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