Sonomura T, Ono W, Sato M, Sahara S, Nakata K, Sanda H, Kawai N, Minamiguchi H, Nakai M, Kishi K. Three benefits of microcatheters for retrograde transvenous obliteration of gastric varices. World J Gastroenterol 2012; 18(12): 1373-1378 [PMID: 22493551 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i12.1373]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Tetsuo Sonomura, MD, PhD, Department of Radiology, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama 641-8510, Japan. sonomura@wakayama-med.ac.jp
Article-Type of This Article
Brief Article
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Tetsuo Sonomura, Morio Sato, Shinya Sahara, Kouhei Nakata, Hiroki Sanda, Nobuyuki Kawai, Hiroki Minamiguchi, Motoki Nakai, Kazushi Kishi, Department of Radiology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama 641-8510, Japan
Wataru Ono, Department of Gastroenterology, Kishiwada Tokushukai Hospital, Kishiwada 596-8522, Japan
ORCID number: $[AuthorORCIDs]
Author contributions: Sonumura T designed the research; Sonomura T, Ono W, Sahara S, Nakata K and Sanda H performed the clinical study; Sonomura T, Kawai N, Minamiguchi H and Nakai M acquired data and researched literatures; Sonomura T, Kishi K and Sato M drafted the manuscript and edited it.
Correspondence to: Tetsuo Sonomura, MD, PhD, Department of Radiology, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama 641-8510, Japan. sonomura@wakayama-med.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-73-4410605 Fax: +81-73-4443110
Received: October 9, 2011 Revised: February 20, 2012 Accepted: February 26, 2012 Published online: March 28, 2012
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate the usefulness of the microcatheter techniques in balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) of gastric varices.
METHODS: Fifty-six patients with gastric varices underwent BRTOs using microcatheters. A balloon catheter was inserted into gastrorenal or gastrocaval shunts. A microcatheter was navigated close to the varices, and sclerosant was injected into the varices through the microcatheter during balloon occlusion. The next morning, thrombosis of the varices was evaluated by contrast enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT). In patients with incomplete thrombosis of the varices, a second BRTO was performed the following day. Patients were followed up with CE-CT and endoscopy.
RESULTS: In all 56 patients, sclerosant was selectively injected through the microcatheter close to the varices. In 9 patients, microcoil embolization of collateral veins was performed using a microcatheter. In 12 patients with incomplete thrombosis of the varices, additional injection of sclerosant was performed through the microcatheter that remained inserted overnight. Complete thrombosis of the varices was achieved in 51 of 56 patients, and the remaining 5 patients showed incomplete thrombosis of the varices. No recurrence of the varices was found in the successful 51 patients after a median follow up time of 10.5 mo. We experienced one case of liver necrosis, and the other complications were transient.
CONCLUSION: The microcatheter techniques are very effective methods for achieving a higher success rate of BRTO procedures.
Citation: Sonomura T, Ono W, Sato M, Sahara S, Nakata K, Sanda H, Kawai N, Minamiguchi H, Nakai M, Kishi K. Three benefits of microcatheters for retrograde transvenous obliteration of gastric varices. World J Gastroenterol 2012; 18(12): 1373-1378
Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) is a treatment for gastric varices that has a high success rate[1-5]. However, there are three major problems with BRTO procedures such as overdose of the sclerosant, leakage of the sclerosant into the systemic circulation, and incomplete thrombosis of large gastric varices[6-10]. We introduced the microcatheter techniques[11-15] in 1999 to solve these problems, and we have been using three major beneficial techniques for BRTO procedures such as selective injection of the sclerosant, microcoil embolization of collateral veins and additional injection of the sclerosant. Since 1999 we have collected a great deal of data and are now able to accurately report on the long-term results of these techniques in a large number of cases.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
BRTO using 2.9Fr microcatheters was performed in 56 patients with liver cirrhosis-related gastric varices between August 1999 and December 2008. The subjects consisted of 35 males and 21 females, with a mean age of 65.3 years (range: 33-83 years). Liver cirrhosis was associated with hepatitis B in 3 patients, hepatitis C in 29 patients, alcohol in 15 patients, and unknown factors in 9 patients. Acording to the Child-Pugh classification, liver function was evaluated as A in 19 patients, B in 31 patients, and C in 6 patients. Prophylactic BRTO was performed in 31 patients with large tumor-like gastric varices or growing varices in danger of rupture. Elective BRTO was perfomed in 12 patients with a history of hemorrhage related to gastric varices. Emergency BRTO[16,17] was performed in 13 patients within 24 h after hematemesis or tarry stool. Informed consent for BRTO was obtained from all patients.
Gastric varices were confirmed by endoscopy. The presence and diameter of gastrorenal shunt or gastrocaval shunt were evaluated by contrast enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT). An 8Fr sheath(Cobra type; Medikit, Tokyo, Japan) was inserted into the left renal vein or inferior vena cava through the right internal jugular vein or right femoral vein, and a 6Fr balloon catheter(Cobra type; Clinical Supply, Gifu, Japan) was inserted into the gastrorenal shunt or gastrocaval shunt. The balloon diameter was 13 or 20 mm. In patients with a shunt diameter of 13 mm or more, a balloon measuring 20 mm in diameter was used. A 2.9Fr microcatheter was navigated close to the gastric varices. A sclerosant, 5% ethanolamine oleate iopamidol (EOI), was infused slowly and intermittently through a microcatheter during balloon occlusion. 5% EOI was prepared by making a 20 mL solution consisting of 10 mL contrast medium and 10 mL of 10% ethanolamine oleate (Oldamin; Grelan Pharmaceutical, Tokyo, Japan). The infusion of 5% EOI was continued until the entire gastric varices and feeding veins were opacified. The mean volume of sclerosant (5% EOI) was 22.9 mL per one procedure (range: 1.5-47 mL). The balloon occlusion time ranged from 12 to 48 h. To fix the sheath and catheters, sterilized tape (Hogy Medical, Tokyo, Japan) was used. The next morning after the BRTO procedure, thrombosis of gastric varices was evaluated by CE-CT. In patients with incomplete thrombosis after the first BRTO, a second BRTO was performed the following day. After complete thrombosis of gastric varices was confirmed on CE-CT, all catheters were removed. To prevent renal damage due to EOI-induced hemolysis, 4000 units of haptoglobin (Mitsubishi Pharma, Osaka, Japan) was administered intravenously during and after the infusion of EOI in all patients[18,19]. Patients were followed up with endoscopy and CE-CT 1 d, 1 wk and 1, 3, 6 mo after the procedure and every 6 mo thereafter.
RESULTS
In all (100%) of 56 patients, the sclerosant was selectively injected through the microcatheter close to the gastric varices (Figures 1 and 2). In 9 (16%) of 56 patients, microcoil embolization of dilated collateral veins was performed using the microcatheter (Figure 3). In 12 (21%) of 56 patients, CE-CT the next day after the first BRTO showed incomplete thrombosis of the varices, and additional injection of the sclerosant was performed in the second BRTO through the microcatheter which remained inserted overnight (Figure 4). Complete thrombosis of the varices was achieved in 51 of 56 patients after all BRTO procedures, and the remaining 5 patients showed incomplete thrombosis of the varices. Endoscopic treatments were performed in 4 of the 5 patients[20-24], and a surgical treatment was performed in the other patient. No cases of recurrence or variceal bleeding of the gastric varices were found in the successful 51 patients after a median follow up time of 10.5 mo (range one day-7 years). Esophageal varices with red color sign appeared in 5 of the 51 patients[25-28]. Red color sign indicates a high risk of variceal bleeding[29]. These patients’ varices were treated by endoscopic treatment.
Figure 1 Selective injection of the sclerosant.
A: A microcatheter is navigated close to the gastric varices, and the sclerosant is selectively injected through the microcatheter (arrow); B: The gastric varices and gastrorenal shunt are fully filled with the sclerosant with contrast medium, and the afferent vein (arrow) is opacified; C: Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) before balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) shows gastric varices (asterisk); D: CE-CT one week after BRTO shows complete thrombosis of the varices (asterisk); E: Endoscopy before BRTO shows tumor-like varices (asterisk) in the fornix of the stomach; F: Endoscopy 3 mo after BRTO shows complete disappearance of the varices.
Figure 2 Selective injection of the sclerosant.
A: A balloon catheter is inserted into the gastrocaval shunt. Balloon-occluded venography shows no gastric varices; B: The balloon catheter is advanced further into the shunt, and the sclerosant is selectively injected through the microcatheter which is navigated close to the gastric varices. The varices (asterisk) are opacified sufficiently; C: Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) shows the varices (asterisk) and a large amount of hematomas in the stomach; D: The gastrocaval shunt (arrow) flows into the inferior vena cava; E: CE-CT next day shows complete thrombosis of the gastric varices (asterisk) and the tip of the microcatheter (arrow) close to the varices; F: CE-CT shows the balloon catheter in the shunt (arrow); G: Endoscopy before balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) shows large gastric varices (asterisk) with a bleeding site (arrow); H: Endoscopy 3 mo after BRTO shows complete disappearance of the varices.
Figure 3 Microcoil embolization of collateral veins.
A: Pericardiophrenic veins (arrows) develop as collateral draining veins; B: A microcatheter (arrow) is navigated into the pericardiophrenic vein and microcoil embolization is performed; C: The sclerosant is selectively injected through the microcatheter which is withdrawn a little, and the gastric varices are opacified sufficiently. Microcoils (arrow) from embolization and surgical clips from previous operation of gastric cancer. (arrowhead) are seen; D: Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) before balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) shows gastric varices (asterisk); E: CE-CT next day after BRTO shows complete thrombosis of the varices (asterisk) and microcoils close to the varices (arrow).
Figure 4 Additional injection of the sclerosant.
A: Fluoroscopic image obtained during the first balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) shows full opacification of the gastric varices and gastrorenal shunt; B: Fluoroscopic image obtained during the second BRTO (next day) shows partial opacification of the varices and shunt, suggesting residual varices (arrow) and thrombosis of the varices and shunt (arrowheads); C: Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) before BRTO shows large varices (asterisk); D: CE-CT after the first BRTO shows residual varices (arrow) in the lateral portion of the stomach. The microcatheter tip (circle) is in the gastrorenal shunt close to the varices; E: CE-CT after the second BRTO shows complete thrombosis of the varices (asterisk). The sclerosant with contrast medium (circle) is detected in the gastrorenal shunt; F: CE-CT 3 mo after BRTO shows complete disappearance of the varices; G: Endoscopy before BRTO shows bulky varices (asterisk); H: Endoscopy 3 mo after BRTO shows complete disappearance of the varices.
Most complications were transient and minor. These include: hematuria due to the sclerosant (8 of 56 patients), high fever (8 of 56), abdominal pain (5 of 56), elevation of blood pressure during infusion of the sclerosant (3 of 56), pleural effusion (35 of 56), ascites (33 of 56)[30], and extravasation of the sclerosant during the procedure (3 of 56). In the three patients with extravasation, BRTO was continued, and complete thrombosis of the varices was achieved in 2 patients. We experienced one case of liver necrosis after the BRTO procedure[31]. No other major complications such as renal failure, pulmonary embolism, or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) were experienced.
DISCUSSION
Microcatheters have three major benefits in BRTO for gastric varices. The first benefit is a selective injection of the sclerosant through a microcatheter[11-13]. Infusion of the sclerosant with a microcatheter, which is inserted close to the gastric varices, enables a decrease in the dose of the sclerosant, preventing sclerosant-related complications. We consider that the optimal volume of the sclerosant used for one BRTO procedure is 40 mL or less. To decrease the sclerosant volume of 5% EOI, 50% glucose solution may be infused before injection of 5% EOI during BRTO[32].
The second benefit is a microcoil embolization of dilated collateral veins[33] using a microcatheter[11,12,14]. Obliteration of collateral veins prevents renal failure, pulmonary embolism, and ARDS induced by leakage of the sclerosant into the systemic circulation. Haptoglobin was intravenously administered as a counteragent of ethanolamine oleate, which is a sclerosant that damages the endothelial cell of the vessel and induces thrombus formation in the vessel.
The third benefit is an additional injection of the sclerosant through the microcatheter that remained inserted overnight[15]. To achieve complete thrombosis of gastric varices, the balloon occlusion time was prolonged from 30 min (original BRTO) to 12 h or more[1]. After a complete thrombosis of gastric varices was confirmed on CE-CT done the next morning after the first BRTO, all catheters were removed. When complete thrombosis of gastric varices was not achieved, a second BRTO was performed, and additional sclerosant was injected through the microcatheter. Insertion of a microcatheter close to the gastric varices until the next day allows for an additional injection of the sclerosant into the varices through the microcatheter, even when occlusion of a shunt occurs.
Another minor benefit is that microcatheters can be a safer and more accurate guidance tool for balloon catheters than the 0.035 inch guidewires. The stiff guidewires sometimes induce venous damage. On the other hand, it’s easy to insert a soft microcatheter into the shunts and advance a balloon catheter into the shunts over the micorocatheter and microguidewire, because we can check the position of the microcatheter tip by test injection of the contrast material.
In the Kanagawa et al[1] on use of BRTO without the microcatheter technique, complete eradication of gastric varices was not achieved after a single BRTO procedure in 7 (22%) of 32 patients. This is compatible with our results that show 21% of patients with incomplete thrombosis of the varices and 16% of patients having microcoil embolization.
BRTO procedures for gastric varices may be difficult to conduct when varices lack a gastrorenal shunt[34-37]. However, gastric varices without the gastrorenal shunt are rare.
We experienced one case of liver necrosis. It is supposed that the liver necrosis was due to leakage of the sclerosant into the portal vein through afferent veins. So we must be careful in order to prevent leakage of the sclerosant into the portal vein.
Esophageal varices with red color sign appeared in 5 patiets[25-28]. Occlusion of a gastrorenal shunt and/or gastrocaval shunt may have induced esophageal varices as another collateral route. Esophageal varices can be readily treated by endoscopic treatment. Therefore, the status of esophageal varices should be endoscopically checked at 6-month intervals after BRTO.
Three major beneficial techniques of microcatheters for BRTO of gastric varices are selective injection of the sclerosant, microcoil embolization of collateral veins and additional injection of the sclerosant. Microcatheters are useful for achieving a higher success rate of BRTO procedures.
COMMENTS
Background
Gastric varices have a larger blood flow compared with esophageal varices, so when they are ruptured, there is a high mortality rate. Therefore, prophylactic treatment is necessary in patients with gastric varices in danger of rupture. Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO), is a treatment for gastric varices that is minimally invasive and has a high success rate. However, there are three major problems with BRTO procedures such as overdose of the sclerosant, leakage of the sclerosant into the systemic circulation, and incomplete thrombosis of large gastric varices. We introduced the microcatheter techniques to solve these problems
Innovations and breakthroughs
Microcatheters have three major benefits in BRTO for gastric varices. The first benefit is a selective injection of the sclerosant through a microcatheter. The second benefit is a microcoil embolization of dilated collateral veins using a microcatheter. The third benefit is additional injection of the sclerosant through the microcatheter that remained inserted overnight. When complete thrombosis of gastric varices was not achieved, a second BRTO was performed, and additional sclerosant was injected through the microcatheter.
Applications
Patients with large gastric varices and/or dilated collateral veins can be treated with BRTO procedures using the microcatheter techniques.
Peer review
In this study, the authors described three major beneficial techniques of microcatheters for BRTO of gastric varices. Microcatheters are useful for achieving a higher success rate of BRTO procedures.
Footnotes
Peer reviewer: Ashwani K Singal, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester 55905, United States
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