Outcomes of endoscopic sclerotherapy for jejunal varices at the site of choledochojejunostomy (with video): Three case reports

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Hemorrhage associated with varices at the site of choledochojejunostomy is an unusual, difficult to treat, and often fatal manifestation of portal hypertension. So far, no treatment guidelines have been established.

CASE SUMMARY

We reported three patients with jejunal varices at the site of choledochojejunostomy managed by endoscopic sclerotherapy with lauromacrogol/α-butyl cyanoacrylate injection at our institution between June 2021 and August 2023. We reviewed all patient records, clinical presentation, endoscopic findings and treatment, outcomes and follow-up. Three patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy with a Whipple anastomosis were examined using conventional upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for suspected hemorrhage from the afferent jejunal loop. Varices with stigmata of recent hemorrhage or active hemorrhage were observed around the choledochojejunostomy site in all three patients. Endoscopic injection of lauromacrogol/α-butyl cyanoacrylate was carried out at jejunal varices for all three patients. The bleeding ceased and patency was observed for 26 and 2 months in two patients. In one patient with multiorgan failure and internal environment disturbance, rebleeding occurred 1 month after endoscopic sclerotherapy, and despite a second endoscopic sclerotherapy, repeated episodes of bleeding and multiorgan failure resulted in eventual death.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that endoscopic sclerotherapy with lauromacrogol/α-butyl cyanoacrylate injection can be an easy, effective, safe and low-cost treatment option for jejunal varicose bleeding at the site of choledochojejunostomy.

Key Words: Endoscopic sclerotherapy, Jejunal varices, Choledochojejunostomy, Portal vein hypertension, Case report

Core Tip: This is the first series of case reports on endoscopic sclerotherapy for venous varices at the choledochojejunostomy, including videos. From the experiences of our center, endoscopic sclerotherapy with lauromacrogol/α-butyl cyanoacrylate injection may be considered as an easy, cost-effective and efficient treatment option for hemorrhage from venous varices at the choledochojejunostomy site. For patients without complications, underlying diseases, and significant organ dysfunction, as well as those who have undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy for benign diseases, endoscopic sclerotherapy tends to have better outcomes.

INTRODUCTION

The prevalence of gastrointestinal hemorrhage from ectopic varices is relatively low, ranging from 1% to 5%[1,2]. Bilioenteric anastomosis is an uncommonly affected site of ectopic variceal bleeding[3]. Hemorrhage associated with varices at the site of choledochojejunostomy is an unusual, difficult to treat, and often fatal manifestation of portal hypertension (PHT). The possible cause of hemorrhage from ruptured jejunal varices could be extrahepatic portal vein obstruction or stenosis at the site where choledochojejunostomy was previously carried out, which leads to the development of hepatopetal portal collaterals through the anastomosis and PHT[4,5].

Diagnosis of ectopic variceal hemorrhage at a bilioenteric anastomosis can be difficult because varices are located deep within the jejunal loop and factors such as postsurgical adhesions make early detection of the bleeding source more difficult[6]. Treatment of ectopic variceal hemorrhage at bilioenteric anastomoses can be challenging because of their hemodynamic complexity. So far, no treatment guidelines have been established, so it may require a multidisciplinary approach and depend on the patient’s conditions[7]. There are two treatment choices: Portal decompression and obliteration of the varices[8-11]. Endoscopic sclerotherapy has been reported as a minimally invasive therapeutic method for jejunal varices[12-14].

We report three patients with jejunal varices at the site of choledochojejunostomy managed by endoscopic sclerotherapy with lauromacrogol/α-butyl cyanoacrylate injection. We highlight the outcomes of endoscopic sclerotherapy for such rare causes of bleeding, and analyze the possible factors affecting treatment effectiveness.

CASE PRESENTATION

Chief complaints

Case 1: A 25-year-old woman was admitted to hospital because of hematemesis, melena and hematochezia for 1 wk (Table 1).

Table 1 The patients' basic information and clinical data.

Patient No.	Age (yr)	Sex	Primary disease	Duration from operation to admission	Injection mixture composition	Pre-Clipping	Carvedilol intake	Rebleeding
1	25	Female	Solid pseudopapillary tumor of pancreas	29 months	Auromacrogol/α-butyl cyanoacrylate (5.0/0.5 mL)	No	No	No
2	55	Male	Cholangio; carcinoma	14 months	Lauromacrogol/α-butyl cyanoacrylate (12/1 mL)	Yes	No	Yes
3	68	Male	Cholangio; carcinoma	47 months	Lauromacrogol/α-butyl cyanoacrylate (30/3 mL)	No	Yes	No

Case 2: A 55-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with hematochezia for 1 month and hematemesis for 12 d (Table 1).

Case 3: A 68-year-old man presented to our hospital with intermittent melena, dizziness and fatigue for 1 month (Table 1).

History of present illness

Case 1: Local laboratory tests showed a minimum hemoglobin level of 45 g/L, which necessitated blood transfusions for 8 months. The location of the bleeding could not be definitively identified by repeated gastroscopy and colonoscopy.

Case 2: Gastroscopy and angiography at the local hospital did not definitively identify the site of bleeding.

Case 3: Gastroscopy at the local hospital revealed esophageal and gastric varices, no signs of bleeding.

History of past illness

Case 1: The patient had undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy with a Whipple anastomosis for a solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas 29 months prior to the current visit. Eighteen days after surgery, follow-up computed tomography (CT) revealed formation of thrombosis in the portal vein and superior mesenteric vein, and anticoagulation therapy was administered.

Case 2: He had undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy 14 months previously with a Whipple anastomosis for moderately to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the bile duct. The portal vein and the right wall of the superior mesenteric vein were affected by tumor invasion and were partially resected during the operation.

Case 3: He had undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy with a Whipple-Braun anastomosis for moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the bile duct (pathological staging pT2N0) 47 months previously.

Personal and family history

All the three patients denied any family history of genetic disease and malignant tumours.

Physical examination

Case 1: The vital sign were as follows: Blood pressure, 104/72 mmHg; heart rate, 104 beats per min.

Case 2: On physical examination, the vital sign were as follows: Blood pressure, 121/63 mmHg; heart rate, 83 beats per min. Furthermore, anemic appearance and right abdominal tenderness were detected.

Case 3: On physical examination, the vital sign were as follows: Blood pressure, 121/74 mmHg; heart rate, 75 beats per min.

Laboratory examinations

Case 1: Hemoglobin: 77.0 g/L; white blood counts (WBC): 19.94 × 10⁹/L; platelet (PLT): 97 × 10⁹/L.

Case 2: After admission, laboratory assessments revealed that the patient had heart failure, kidney failure and severe internal environment disorder. Hemoglobin: 73.0 g/L; PLT: 98 × 10⁹/L; blood urea nitrogen: 42.70 mmol/L; serum creatinine: 367 μmol/L; carbon dioxide combining power: 6.5 mmol/L; carbohydrate antigen 19-9: 42.85 U/mL.

Case 3: Hemoglobin: 84.0 g/L; WBC: 3.46 × 10⁹/L; PLT: 104 × 10⁹/L.

Imaging examinations

Case 1: After another episode of hematochezia, emergency gastroscopic examination the afferent loop revealed tortuous dilated blood vessels around the choledochojejunostomy site (Figure 1A), along with mucosal rupture (Figure 1B). Endoscopic ultrasonography confirmed the presence of numerous varicose veins near the choledochojejunostomy site, with abundant blood flow (Figure 1C).

Figure 1 Emergency endoscopy confirmed the presence of numerous varicose veins before endoscopic sclerotherapy and was validated by endoscopic ultrasonography. A: Emergency gastroscopy revealed tortuous dilated blood vessels around the choledochojejunostomy site (Case 1); B: A mucosal rupture was detected with spontaneous bleeding (Case 1); C: Endoscopic ultrasonography confirmed the presence of numerous varicose veins with abundant blood flow (Case 1); D: Emergency gastroscopy revealed a significant number of tortuous dilated varicose veins near the choledochojejunostomy site, along with several active bleedings. Hemostatic clips were used before endoscopic sclerotherapy (Case 2); E: Computed tomography showed prehepatic portal hypertension, suspicious tumor recurrence in the hepatic hilum area and the formation of varices around the choledochojejunostomy site (Case 3); F: Colonoscopy revealed three varicose veins visible with signs of erythema (Case 3); G: Thrombus head (arrow) was detected (Case 3); H: Spontaneous bleeding was observed at the site of varicose veins (Case 3).

Case 2: A nonenhanced abdominal CT scan revealed liver cirrhosis and PHT. With adequate adjustment of the internal environment and continuous renal replacement therapy, we performed emergency endoscopy on the afferent loop, which revealed a significant number of tortuous dilated varicose veins near the choledochojejunostomy site, along with several sites of active bleedings (Figure 1D).

Case 3: CT showed prehepatic PHT, suspicious tumor recurrence in the hepatic hilum area, and varices around the choledochojejunostomy site (Figure 1E). Gastroscopy and colonoscopy detected no particular bleeding point, and only detected nonbleeding signs of esophageal and gastric fundus varices. From these findings, his condition was suspected to be due to repeated rupturing of jejunal varices of the afferent loop, which had developed because of extrahepatic portal venous obstruction at the hepatic hilum area. Colonoscopy was undertaken to assess the possible varices around the choledochojejunostomy site at the afferent loop. There were three varicose veins visible with signs of erythema (Figure 1F) and thrombus head (Figure 1G), along with spontaneous bleeding (Figure 1H).

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

The final diagnosis of the three patients were jejunal varices at the site of choledochojejunostomy.

TREATMENT

Case 1

Injection sclerotherapy with lauromacrogol/α-butyl cyanoacrylate (5.0/0.5 mL) was carried out at the mucosal rupture (Figure 2A). Vascular angiography showed a patent portal vein and segmental occlusion of the superior mesenteric vein with old mural thrombus (arrow, Figure 2B). Therefore, balloon angioplasty of the superior mesenteric vein was not feasible. Considering the risk of bleeding, anticoagulant medication was not administered.

Figure 2 Hemostatic clips were used to close off the bleeding points. A: Injection sclerotherapy mixture of lauromacrogol/α-butyl cyanoacrylate (5.0/0.5 mL) (Case 1); B: Vascular angiography showed a patent portal vein, but a segment occlusion of the superior mesenteric vein with old mural thrombus (arrow) (Case 1); C: A combined injection of lauromacrogol/α-butyl cyanoacrylate (12/1 mL) was administered at the varicose veins (Case 2); D: Endoscopic sclerotherapy with lauromacrogol/α-butyl cyanoacrylate (30/3 mL) injection for jejunal varices were carried out immediately (Case 3).

Case 2

Hemostatic clips were used to close off the bleeding points. Subsequently, combined injection of lauromacrogol/α-butyl cyanoacrylate (12/1 mL) was administered to the varicose veins (Figure 2C).

Case 3

A sandwich method was used to inject a mixture of lauromacrogol/α-butyl cyanoacrylatepoly (30/3 mL) at multiple points for endoscopic sclerotherapy (Figure 2D and Video).

OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP

Case 1

Hemorrhage has remained stable for 27 months of follow-up.

Case 2

Rebleeding occurred 1 month after endoscopic sclerotherapy, and despite two further endoscopic sclerotherapy procedures, repeated episodes of bleeding and multi-organ failure resulted in eventual death.

Case 3

The patient developed moderate abdominal discomfort that disappeared within 2 d. He declined further examinations regarding tumor recurrence and was discharged with 6.25 mg carvedilol orally once daily after sclerotherapy to reduce portal vein pressure. One month later, the patient returned to the hospital for a follow-up examination. Enhanced CT revealed increased soft tissue density in the hepatic hilum, suggesting metastasis. There was also localized narrowing of the portal vein, with increased pressure on the right side of the narrowed segment. The peritoneum was thickened, and abdominal lymph nodes were enlarged (Figure 3A). The endoscopic follow-up revealed adhesive clumps and exudative ulcers near the choledochojejunostomy site, with no signs of bleeding (Figure 3B). The patient underwent endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) of the hepatic hilum mass, which was confirmed to be high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, suggesting metastasis. However, the patient declined portal vein stenting intervention and was subsequently discharged. Two months after undergoing endoscopic sclerotherapy, a follow-up call revealed the patient had no further gastrointestinal bleeding and continued to take carvedilol consistently.

Figure 3 Endoscopic re-examination confirmed no signs of bleeding after endoscopic sclerotherapy (Case 3). A: Follow-up enhanced computed tomography revealed increased soft tissue density in the hepatic hilum, suggesting metastasis; B: Follow-up endoscopy revealed adhesive clumps and exudative ulcers near the choledochojejunostomy site, with no signs of bleeding observed.

DISCUSSION

Anastomotic jejunal varices are a rare and often easily ignored cause of bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract and are typically diagnosed in patients with portal vein hypertension due to cirrhotic or extrahepatic PHT[15,16]. In some patients who have previously undergone cholangiojejunostomy, portal vein hypertension may occur as a result of extrahepatic portal venous stenosis or obstruction, leading to the development of hepatopetal portal collaterals through the anastomosis in the afferent loop[17]. Extrahepatic portal venous stenosis or obstruction can result from thrombophlebitis of the portal or superior mesenteric vein associated with an infection, compression or invasion of the portal vein by benign and malignant tumor, radiation-induced portal vein stenosis, thrombosis caused by portal stasis associated with hepatic cirrhosis, or surgical adhesions[18,19]. The most likely causes in our patients were as follows. Case 1 was considered to have a long-segment occlusion in the superior mesenteric vein due to an obsolete thrombus associated with potential infection. Case 2 had a tumor invading the right wall of the portal vein and superior mesenteric vein, leading to an intraoperative vascular wall resection. In case 3, it was believed to have resulted from local stenosis of the portal vein caused by recurrence of a tumor at the hepatic portal region, leading to portal vein hypertension on the right side of the stenotic segment.

Although the number of long-term survival cases after cholangiojejunostomy has increased, only a few have so far been reported. Despite the low incidence, jejunal varices should be considered in the differential diagnosis of digestive bleeding in patients with a history of pancreaticoduodenectomy. Clinical features for variceal bleeding are similar to those of typical varices. Depending on the bleeding rate, venous varices at the site of cholangiojejunostomy can present with hematemesis, melena or hematochezia. Based on previous reports, venous varices at the site of cholangiojejunostomy can lead to hemorrhagic shock, often requiring multiple blood transfusions during the treatment process. All three patients we reported received multiple blood transfusions during treatment.

Ectopic varices at the site of cholangiojejunostomy, which can trigger life-threatening bleeding, are usually overlooked in the differential diagnosis when hemorrhage occurs, owing to the length of small bowel, tortuosity and the intermittent nature of bleeding[3]. Enteroscopy can serve as an effective interventional diagnostic tool with therapeutic capabilities[14]. For patients who have undergone the Whipple procedure, experienced endoscopists can also reach the site of choledochojejunostomy using conventional gastroscopy and colonoscopy, and endoscopic treatment can also be performed. Capsule endoscopy cannot show the anastomosis because it is in the afferent limb[20].

Treatment of jejunal loop varices is difficult and has no definitive conclusion because of their hemodynamic complexity. Two treatment options are available: Obliteration of the varices (by endoscopic sclerotherapy or ligation, embolization using interventional radiology, surgery for re-anastomosis); and portal decompression (by portal venous dilatation and stent placement, splenectomy, and shunt operation)[9,21-26]. A multidisciplinary approach with the cooperation of endoscopists, interventional radiologists, and surgeons is critical for timely treatment of these patients[27]. The choice of treatment strategy depends on the patient’s overall condition, and the physician’s skill and equipment available at the institution. Norton et al[12]. used an algorithmic approach for treatment, and endoscopic therapy was recommended as the primary option. Embolization, surgical shunt or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt should be taken into consideration if the hemorrhage cannot be successfully controlled by endoscopic therapy and the portal vein is patent. Surgical ligation should be selected if the portal vein is obstructed. In summary, endoscopic therapy should be the first-choice management for ectopic variceal bleeding. Additionally, second or third rounds of treatment should be taken into consideration, because control of ectopic bleeding is sometimes difficult[5].

In case 1, vascular angiography showed patent portal vein blood flow, but the superior mesenteric vein was occluded due to chronic thrombosis, making balloon angioplasty with stent placement impossible. For case 2, the previous surgical records indicated that the primary tumor had a wide-ranging involvement, affecting the portal vein and superior mesenteric vein. The patient’s poor general physical condition and cardiac and renal functions led him ultimately to decide upon repeated endoscopic sclerotherapy as the treatment option. For case 3, CT confirmed the presence of a soft tissue mass in the hepatic hilum area, which encased and compressed the portal vein, resulting in significant narrowing. EUS-FNA was inclined towards a possible recurrence. However, the patient ultimately refused the placement of a portal vein stent.

Some factors may affect the clinical outcomes of endoscopic sclerotherapy for variceal bleeding at the site of cholangiojejunostomy. The severity of varices can affect the difficulty and success rate of treatment. More severe varices may require more treatment sessions or a greater amount of sclerosant, increasing the risk and complexity of the treatment. The overall condition of the patient can influence the risk and recovery of the procedure. Some patients may have failure of other organs that could increase the risk of treatment. The endoscopist’s expertise and skill can directly affect the success rate of treatment and the incidence of complications. Post-treatment follow-up and strategies to prevent recurrence are also crucial factors. From the prospective of pathophysiology, beta-blockers make sense in patients with ectopic varices[28]. Case 3 has been regularly taking carvedilol after sclerotherapy to reduce portal vein pressure; however, large-scale clinical data are still needed to evaluate the benefits of using carvedilol in patients with varices at the biliary-enteric anastomosis.

There were some limitations to the current study. First, the results were obtained retrospectively, and the number of cases was small. However, due to the short survival period caused by the underlying neoplastic disease and post-pancreaticoduodenectomy, as well as the low incidence of venous varices at the choledochojejunostomy site, there are a small number of reports of these patients. Further studies with larger sample size or prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm the safety and effectiveness. Second, all endoscopic sclerotherapeutic procedures were performed by an endoscopist at a single center. Therefore, it is difficult to generalize the current results. Despite these limitations, to our knowledge, this is the first series of case reports on endoscopic sclerotherapy for venous varices at the choledochojejunostomy site, including videos.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic sclerotherapy with lauromacrogol/α-butyl cyanoacrylate injection may be considered as an easy, cost-effective and efficient treatment option for hemorrhage from venous varices at the choledochojejunostomy site in patients who have undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy. For patients without complications, underlying diseases, and significant organ dysfunction, as well as those who have undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy for benign diseases, endoscopic sclerotherapy tends to have better outcomes. The treatment of this rare cause of bleeding will increasingly require a multidisciplinary approach and personalized treatment choices in the future.