ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effect of embolization of gastric coronary and short veins on the control of hemorrhage from gastric fundal varices. Methods Thirty-two patients with liver cirrhosis and hemorrhage from esophagus and fundal varices, who still had variceal bleeding after endoscopic banding or sclerosing of esophageal varices were included in the study. Gastric coronary and short veins were (embolized) by percutaneous, transhepatic embolization with absolute alcohol, steel ring, or gelfoam. The follow-up of 3 to 11 months was carried out after embolization. Results The follow-up endoscopy showed that the varices of gastric fundus disappeared completely in 21 of 29 patients (72.4%), and (eleminated) partially in 8 patients (27.6%). Only one patient (3.1%) had re-bleeding due to portal (hypertensive) gastropathy in the follow-up period. No obvious complication was found in these patients. Conclusions The varices of gastric fundus could be obliterated by percutaneous, transhepatic embolization of gastric coronary and short veins.