Enteroscopic Cyanoacrylate Sclerotherapy of Jejunal and Gallbladder Varices in a Patient with Portal Hypertension

Abstract

Bleeding from varices outside the gastroesophageal region is a rare, but regularly reported complication of portal hypertension. The treatment differs from the management of esophageal and gastric varices. We present here a report on the diagnosis and treatment of bleeding jejunal and gallbladder varices in a man with portal hypertension caused by chronic calcifying pancreatitis. The patient was suffering from recurrent, frequent, and massive gastrointestinal bleeding from varices at the anastomotic area of a cholecystojejunostomy. For diagnostic purposes, we carried out percutaneous Duplex ultrasonography and push enteroscopy with the Doppler technique. The treatment of varices in this area is traditionally surgical. This is the first report of enteroscopic sclerotherapy being successfully carried out using cyanoacrylate to treat hemorrhage from jejunal and gallbladder varices. No clinical signs of gastrointestinal bleeding were observed during a follow-up period of seven months.