Splenic Artery Embolization and Balloon Occlusion Retrograde Alcohol Embolization in a Patient with Bleeding Gastric Varices

ABSTRACT

We present a patient with a large spontaneous splenorenal shunt secondary to isolated splenic vein thrombosis who developed severe bleeding from fundal gastric varices. The patient was managed emergently with splenic artery embolization and balloon occlusion retrograde embolization of the varices with alcohol. We discuss the clinical presentation, embolization techniques, and a potential complication of the use of alcohol for this purpose.

KEYWORDS

Balloon occlusion retrograde embolization - splenic vein thrombosis - splenorenal shunt - portosystemic communications - gastric varices - splenic artery embolization - postembolization cardiovascular collapse

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