The Value of Renal Artery Resistive Indices: Association with Esophageal Variceal Bleeding in Patients with Alcoholic Cirrhosis

PURPOSE: To determine whether resistive indices of the renal artery (RIR) or the splenic artery (RIS) can be used as predictors of bleeding in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: According to esophageal variceal bleeding episodes, 33 patients with cirrhosis were divided into two groups, a bleeder group (n=17) and a non-bleeder group (n=16). These two groups were compared with respect to five variables (age, spleen size, Child's score, RIS, and RIR). Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the detection of bleeders were calculated using a cutoff value of 0.7 for RIR. RESULTS: The mean values of variables were higher for bleeders than for non-bleeders. With the exception of age, four variables were significantly correlated with bleeding (r=0.43 for spleen size; r=0.36 for Child's score; r=0.37 for RIS; p<0.05, respectively; r=0.63 for RIR, p<0.01). Only RIR was found to be significantly a predictive variable for bleeders (adjusted Odds ratio=19.9; 95% confidence interval: 1.3-306, p<0.05) when the RIR was more than 0.7. RIR had a sensitivity of 88.3% and a specificity of 75% with an accuracy of 81.8% at a cutoff value of 0.7 for identifying bleeders. CONCLUSION: A high RIR value will be useful in predicating esophageal variceal bleeding in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

The Change of Portal Hemodynamics before and after Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt according to Variceal Type: Gastric and Esophageal varix

PURPOSE: To investigate the changes occurring in portal hemodynamics in patients with esophageal and gastric varices, according to variceal type, before and after TIPS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1994 and June 1999, we evaluated 22 of 44 patients who had undergone TIPS and endoscopy on admission. In these 22, hepatic venous and main portal venous pressure were measured. On the basis of endoscpic findings, the esophageal and gastric varices were classified as one of three types. Changes in portal hemodynamics in relation to the diameter of the portal vein, mean portosystemic gradient before and after TIPS, delta MPSG, and the presence of hepatic encephalopathy and gastrorenal shunt were all evaluated. RESULTS: Endoscopy indicated that there were ten Type-I cases, nine Type-II, and three Type-III. The diameter of the main portal vein was 14.95 +/-1.79 mm in Type I cases, and 13.35 +/-1.59 mm in Type II. Before TIPS, main portal venous pressure was 31.40 +/-6.79 mmHg (Type I) and 22.80 +/-4.26 mmHg (Type II), and the mean portosystemic gradient was 16.10 +/-7.0 mmHg (Type I), and 11.20 +/-5.36 mmHg (Type II). After TIPS, the pressure readings were 25.70 +/-7.60 mmHg (Type I) and 17.80 +/-6.52 mmHg (Type II), while those relating to were 10.80 +/-4.94 mmHg (Type I) and 5.25 +/-3.67 mmHg (Type II). delta MPSG was 6.04 +/-2.98 mmHg (Type I) and 5.91 +/-3.98 mmHg (Type II). Angiography revealed that the gastrorenal shunt was Type I in 10% of cases, Type II in 77%, and Type III in 33%. Hepatic encephalopathy after TIPS occured in three Type-I cases, three-Type- II, and two Type-III. CONCLUSION: The diameter of the main portal vein was significantly smaller, and portal venous pressure and mean portosystemic gradient before and after TIPS significantly lower in patients with dominant gastric varices than in those with dominant esophageal varices (p<0.05). Gastrorenal shunt was more frequent among patients with dominant gastric varices. No difference in the incidence of hepatic encephalopathy after TIPS was noted between those with dominant gastric varices and those with the esophageal variety.

Post-TIPS Change of Esophagogastric Variceal Size on Endoscopy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between endoscopic change in esophagogastric varices and post transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) portal pressure reduction, and to study any difference in post-TIPS endoscopic change between esophageal and gastric varices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty four patients who had undergone pre- and post- TIPS endoscopic examination were analysed. They were divided into two groups, Group 1 (n = 40) and Group 2 (n = 24), according to whether they had not or had, respectively, undergone post-TIPS residual variceal embolization. The varices were classified as either esophageal (n = 54) or gastric (n = 60). Post TIPS endoscopic change was evaluated as Grade 1 (complete disappearance), Grade 2 (partial disappearance), or Grade 3 (no change). Mean pressure reduction between the pre and post TIPS portosystemic pressure gradient was checked, and statistical correlation between mean portal pressure reduction and endoscopic change in Group 1 and Group 2 was evaluated using the ANOVA test. By means of the x2 test, post-TIPS endoscopic change between esophageal and gastric varices was also evaluated. RESULTS: In Group I, a significant statistical relationship was found between endoscopic change and mean portal pressure reduction (p0.05). No significant statistical difference was found between endoscopic change in esophageal and in gastric varices (p> 0 . 0 5 ). CONCLUSION: In patients who had not undergone post-TIPS residual variceal embolization, endoscopicf change in gastroesophageal varices correlated significantly with post-TIPS portal pressure reduction. With regard to post-TIPS endoscopic change, these was no significant difference between esophageal and gastric varices.

Efficiency of Variceal Embolization during Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) with StainlessSteel Coil

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficiency of variceal embolization using a stainless steel coil during TIPS forrecurrent variceal bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 53 of a total of 141 patients who underwent TIPS forgastric or esophageal variceal bleeding between August 1991 and Jan 1998 we performed variceal embolization usinga stainless steel coil during the procedure. To compare embolized and non-embolized cases the cumulativerebleeding rate was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and statistical significance was analyzed using theLog-rank test. RESULTS: Of the 33 patients who suffered recurrent variceal bleeding, 14 had undergone varicealembolization and 19 had not. One-year, two-year and three-year rebleeding rate in embolized and non-embolizedcases were 23%/12%, 31%/25%, and 53.7%/42%, respectively. Cumulative rebleeding rates are highest within two yearsin embolized cases and highest after two years in non-embolized cases, however there is no statisticalsignificance between the two groups(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Variceal embolization with stainless steel coil duringTIPS does not effectively prevent recurrent variceal bleeding.

The Usefulness of CO2 Indirect Portography in Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt(TIPS)

PURPOSE: To determine the usefulness of carbon dioxide(CO2) indirect portography during TIPS procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evalvated eight patients who had undergone TIPS due to variceal hemorrhage or ascites caused by portal hypertension. All patients but one with complete situs inversus underwent wedged right hepatic venography for visualization of the portal vein using CO2. For CO2 indirect portal venography, 50cc of CO2 was injected by hand without prior injection of a small amount of CO2. In three patients a 5-F angiographic catheter was wedged into the right hepatic vein, and in the other five a 9-F sheath from a Ring 's transjugular access set was adjunctively wedged into the right hepatic vein over the 5-F catheter. The time required for portal vein puncture was defined as the time between the indirect portal venography procedure and the first procedure after successful portal vein puncture. RESULTS: All patients successfully underwent TIPS without any immediate complication. The portal vein was visualized by CO2 in 7 of 8 patients (87.5 %). Two of three patients who underwent indirect portography with only a 5-F catheter wedging demonstrated opacification of the right portal vein; in the remaining patient the portal venous system was not visualized. Of the five patients who underwent indirect portography with an adjunctive 9-F sheath wedged in the right hepatic vein, four showed opacification from the peripheral to the main portal vein, and in the other, the only right peripheral portal vein was opacified. The mean time for portal vein puncture was 20.5 minutes. CONCLUSION: For visualization of the portal venous system during TIPS procedure, the use of CO2 indirect portography is feasible.

Combined Therapy of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt(TIPS) and Transcatheter Hepatic ArteryChemoembolization (TACE) in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Gastroesophageal Variceal Bleeding

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of combined TIPS and superselective TACE therapy in patients withhepatocellular carcinoma and variceal bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of a total of 132 patients who underwentTIPS, 14 had hepatocellular carcinoma ; of these six with a patent main portal vein who had undergone TACE wereincluded this study. One underwent TIPS 13 months after TACE, and five underwent TACE at various points during theTIPS follow-up period. TIPS followed the standard procedure, while TACE involved superselective segmental orsubsegmental embolization in four patients, lobar artery embolization in one, and non-selective chemoembolizationin one with on advanced tumor. RESULTS: Except for mild hepatic encephalopathy in two patients, no clinicallysignificant immediate complication was seen after TIPS or TACE. Three patients died due to hepatic failure ; theysurvived for one to three months after combined therapy, a mean of 2.3 months. After combined therapy, otherpatients survived for between five and 49 (mean, 22) months. CONCLUSION: Combined TIPS and TACE therapy iseffective for the threatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and esophagogastric variceal bleeding.

The Difference of Variceal Distribution in the Portal Hypertension on CT between Hemorrhagic and Nonhemorrhagic Groups

PURPOSE: To determine whether there is any difference in variceal distribution between patients with and without a history of esophageal variceal bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To compare the distribution of varices, abdominal CT scans of 24 patients with a history of esophageal variceal bleeding (hemorrhagic group) and 90 patients without a history of bleeding (non-hemorrhagic group) were retrospectively assessed. RESULTS: The most common varices in both the hemorrhagic (n = 21, 87.5 %) and nonhemorrhagic group (n = 53, 58.9 %) were coronary varices, with a statistically significant frequency (p < .01). Esophageal varices were also more common in the hemorrhagic than the nonhemorrhagic group (n=19, 79.2 % vs n = 36, 40.0 % : P < .005). Splenorenal shunts were more common in the nonhemorrhagic (n = 8, 8.9 %) than in the hemorrhagic group(n = 0, 0 %) (P < .05). Other types of varice such as paraumbilical (n = 10, 41.7 % vs n = 21, 23.3 %), perisplenic (n = 6, 25 % vs n = 15, 16.7 %) and retroperitoneal-paravertebral (n = 11, 45.8 % vs n = 24, 26. 7 %) were more common in the hemorrhagic group, but without a statistically significant frequency. CONCLUSION: The frequency of coronary and esophageal varices was significant in patients with a history of esophageal variceal bleeding. In patients without such a history, splenorenal shunts were seen.

Comparison of Computed Tomography and Endoscopy in the Diagnosis and Grading of Esophageal Varices: Value of Computed Tomography for Predict Prognosis of Chronic Liver Disease

PURPOSE: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of conventional CT of abdomen in the detection of esophageal varices, and to correlate CT grade of esophageal varices with prognosis and risk for bleeding. MATERIALS & METHODS: Both CT and endoscopy were performed in 100 patients. Endoscopy revealed that while 54 patients had varices, 46 did not. CT criteria of variceal grading were follows : (1) wall thickening of more than 5mm or irregular wall contour(grade I) ; (2) intraluminal protruding tubular structures with contrast enhancement(grade II) ; (3) confluent varices in the wall of esophagus or multiplied paraesophageal collaterals(grade III). CT were reviewed by three radiologists without reference to clinical and endoscopic data. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity of CT in the detection of esophageal varices were 80%, retrospectively. CT and endoscopic grades agreed with each other in 68% of patients, and there was high correlation between CT and endoscopy.(Gamma statistics, p=0.828). No history or endoscopic evidence of variceal bleeding was present on gradeI, but there was a high incidence on grade II(35%) and on grade III(50%)(MH Chi-Square, Ridit scores=50.561,p=0.000). CONCLUSION: Abdominal CT is useful in the detection of esophageal varices, and can predict the risk factors of bleeding in patients with chronic liver diseases.