Transjugular retrograde obliteration for gastric varices.

We evaluated the transjugular retrograde obliteration (TJO) in treatment of gastric varices with gastrorenal shunt. Twenty patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis were included in this study. A cobra-shaped 5 French occlusive balloon catheter was inserted into the gastric varices or gastrorenal shunt through the internal jugular vein. As the sclerosants, absolute ethanol and 5% ethanolamine oleate with iopamidol were injected into the varices to make thrombi. In all cases, gastric varices were obliterated successfully. Endoscopic examination 3 months after treatment revealed the complete eradication of gastric varices in all cases. No major complications during or after therapy were observed. We think that TJO can be an effective method for the treatment of gastric varices with gastrorenal shunt.