Background: Bleeding gastric varices (BGV) are a severe complication of portal hypertension. Although the obliteration of gastric varices using cyanoacrylate has been shown effective to eradicate gastric varices, there are still few data available on its effectiveness for acutely BGV, cyanoacrylate-related complications and follow-up. Aims: To report on the feasibility, efficacy and outcomes of N-buytl-2-cyanoacrylate sclerotherapy in patients with BGV. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients who were evaluated for BGV at University of Magdeburg Medical Center. Data abstracted for analysis from the prospectively collected database included patient’s demographics, etiology of gastric varices, Child-Pugh score, effectiveness of endoscopic treatment, clinical and endoscopic follow-up. Immediate hemostasis was defined as visible and clinical arrest of bleeding. The following were considered as potential complications of the procedure: aspiration, fever, worsening hemorrhage due to the sclerotherapy and systemic embolization of cyanoacrylate. Results: 33 patients (17 F, 16 M; mean age 54 years, range 18–81) with BGV (29 had active bleeding and 4 had stigmata of recent bleeding) underwent endoscopic injections of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate for hemostasis over a 5-year period. Mean follow-up: 9 months (range: 1 month to 5 years). Initial hemostasis was achieved in 88%. Treatment-related complications occurred in 5 (15.1%), the most common being deep ulcerations, which also resulted in recurrent bleeding. One patient presented with distal cyanoacrylate embolization. During long-term follow-up, 6 patients died, 5 as a consequence of the underlying liver disease and 1 as a consequence of complications due to systemic cyanoacrylate embolization. Conclusions: N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate sclerotherapy is highly effective for the treatment of BGV, with rare complications occurring both acutely and in the long term.

Keywords:
Gastric varices, Cyanoacrylate, Tissue adhesives, Portal hypertension, Cirrhosis
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel
2009
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.