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Abstract Details
Management of Refractory Esophageal Variceal Bleeding when TIPSS Is Not Possible: Review of a Challenging Case.
INTRODUCTION: Esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) is a common complication of portal hypertension. Guidelines recommend initiation of vasoactive agents in combination with antimicrobial therapy prior to endoscopic variceal ligation. In cases of refractory EVB, trans-jugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPSS) is recommended; however, it is contraindicated in up to 35% of cases.
CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 61-year-old male newly diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and extensive portal vein thrombosis. The patient developed a refractory EVB failing medical and endoscopic therapies which was successfully treated with transcutaneous left gastric vein embolization (LGVE).
CONCLUSION: LGVE could be contemplated in instances where anatomical complexities or contraindications to TIPSS arise.