Splenic Infarction, and Common Hepatic Artery and Pulmonary Emboli after Histoacryl(R)(N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate) Injection for Control of Variceal Bleeding

Bleeding from esophageal and gastric varices is a life-threatening complication for patients with liver cirrhosis. Endoscopic injection of Histoacryl(R)(N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate) has been reported to be an effective therapy for variceal bleeding; however, distal embolization of unwanted areas has been described in some cases with a fatal outcome. A change in the rationale of treatment of variceal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis was not advocated because of the infrequency of such cases. We report two cases of splenic infarction with celiac trunk and pulmonary emboli as serious complications of Histoacryl(R) injection.