Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration of gastric varices from unconventional systemic veins in the absence of gastrorenal shunts

Abstract

Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration of gastric varices in the absence of a gastrorenal shunts can still be performed through unconventional venous routes, such as the left inferior phrenic (ascending portion or transverse portion), pericardial, and azygous-hemiazygous veins. This requires detailed knowledge of venous anatomy, impeccable preprocedural imaging for planning, and high-skill set techniques with smaller balloon-occlusion catheters. The technical results appear to be high (67%-83% depending on the access venous system available), but are lower than conventional balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration via the gastrorenal shunt.