Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration of gastric varix draining to the IVC via the circumaortic renal vein

Hepatol Res. 2005 Jun;32(2):117-20. doi: 10.1016/j.hepres.2005.03.011. Epub 2005 Jun 3.

Abstract

The authors encountered a patient with gastric varices draining to the IVC not only via the usual route of the left renal vein but also via a circumaortic renal vein. Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) of the gastric varix was performed with balloon occlusion of the circumaortic renal vein and retrograde injection of sclerosing agent (5% of ethanolamine oleate) into the varix. Eradication of the gastric varix was confirmed on endoscopic examination 2 months later. We document the first case of B-RTO performed for gastric varix via the circumaortic renal vein. Details of this rare occurrence and implications for treatment are presented herein.