Stomal varices: management with decompression tips and transvenous obliteration or sclerosis

Stomal or parastomal varices are extraperitoneal ectopic mesenteric varices. Parastomal varices are not common but can be a source of considerable bleeding. They usually occur in the setting of portal hypertension, although, in theory, they can occur because of vascular thrombosis of the mesentery. An obstructive element (not necessarily venous thrombosis, but a constrictive effect) most likely exists and thus localizes the bleeding to the stomal mesenteric varices. This obstruction can be due to postsurgical changes associated with the stoma creation itself. Bleeding is the main presentation of stomal varices. Bleeding can be life threatening; however, most of it can be controlled by manual compression by patients who are consciously aware. Anecdotally, there are 2 pathologic bleeding presentations. Certain stomas are diffusely congested and ooze blood diffusely, and others bleed focally from a particular site (from a particular mesenteric varix). The focal bleeders are the ones that respond favorably to manual compression by the patient. The stomas that are diffusely congested or engorged with diffuse venous oozing do better with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) decompression. Bleeding from focal varices in the stoma (with the rest of the stomal mucosa looking normal and not engorged) can be treated with TIPS (if the portal or mesenteric vein or both are patent) or with transvenous obliteration utilizing 1% sodium tetradecyl sulfate (not 3% sodium tetradecyl sulfate). Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration, percutaneous transhepatic obliteration, trans-TIPS balloon-occluded antegrade transvenous obliteration can all be adequate approaches to transvenous obliteration. However, the least invasive (in the authors' opinion) and simplest is the direct mesenteric venous stick (balloon-occluded antegrade transvenous obliteration-type) approach with ultrasound-guided compression of the systemic outflow vein.