Duodenal variceal bleed: an unusual cause of upper gastrointestinal bleed and a difficult diagnosis to make

New sights in ectopic varices in portal hypertension

Ectopic varices and associated bleeding, although rare, pose a significant risk to patients with portal hypertension, carrying a relatively high mortality rate. These varices can occur in various anatomical regions, excluding the gastroesophageal region, which is typically associated with portal vein drainage. The limited data available in the literature, derived mostly from case reports and series, make the diagnosis and treatment of ectopic variceal bleeding particularly challenging. Furthermore, it is crucial to recognize that ectopic varices in different sites can exhibit variations in key decision-making factors such as aetiology and vascular anatomy, severity and bleeding risk and hepatic reserve. These factors significantly influence treatment strategies and underscore the importance of adopting individualized management approaches. Therefore, the objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the fundamental knowledge surrounding ectopic varices and to propose site-oriented, stepwise diagnosis and treatment algorithms for this complex clinical issue. A multidisciplinary treatment approach is strongly recommended in managing ectopic varices. In addition, to enhance clinical reference, we have included typical case reports of ectopic varices in various sites in our review, while being mindful of potential publication bias.

Outcomes of endoscopic treatment for acute duodenal ectopic variceal bleeding: a single-center retrospective case series

Duodenal ectopic variceal hemorrhage is a rare portal hypertension complication that can easily be clinically missed. Once hemorrhage occurs, the rebleeding and fatality rates are high. There is no unified standard for its treatment, we reported the endoscopic treatment of eight patients admitted to our department between January 2014 and May 2021, Endoscopic band ligation and endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection were performed in five and three cases, respectively. The hemostasis success rate was 100%, no postoperative bleeding occurred, and there were no serious complications. Duodenal varices disappeared in four cases after 2-12 months. In conclusion, Endoscopic therapy is an ideal treatment method for acute duodenal ectopic variceal hemorrhage.

Diagnosis and management of ectopic varices in portal hypertension

Ectopic variceal bleeding is a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding that can occur in settings of cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic portal hypertension and is characterised by its development at locations remote from the oesophagus and stomach. Ectopic varices can be difficult to identify and access, and, although a relatively uncommon cause of portal hypertensive bleeding, can represent a difficult diagnostic and therapeutic challenge associated with considerable mortality. Low incidence and variance in variceal anatomy preclude large randomised controlled trials, and clinical practice is based on experience from case reports, case series, and specialist centre expertise. Optimisation of survival outcomes relies on understanding a patient's portal venous anatomy and functional hepatic reserve to guide timely and targeted endoscopic and endovascular interventions to facilitate the rapid control of ectopic variceal bleeding.

An Unusual Case of Isolated Duodenal Varices With Superior Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis

Duodenal varices usually occur due to portal hypertension and are rare causes of gastrointestinal tract bleeding. We report a unique case of a previously fit patient who presented with melena and was found to have isolated duodenal varices (DV) in the third part on esophagogastroduodenoscopy. No esophageal or gastric varices were noticed. The duodenal varices were successfully managed by endoscopic banding. A computerized tomography scan of the abdomen to further investigate the cause confirmed duodenal varices and revealed superior mesenteric vein thrombosis. The liver was normal with patent hepatic and portal veins. No evidence of thrombophilia was found. Apixaban was prescribed for superior mesenteric vein thrombosis and on follow-up. no further bleeding was reported.

Fluoroscopic Evaluation of Duodenal Diseases

The duodenum can be affected by a variety of abnormalities because of its development during embryogenesis and its dual intra- and retroperitoneal location. If small bowel embryogenesis is disturbed, congenital errors occur. Although some congenital variants may be asymptomatic and inconsequential to the patient, other anomalies can result in life-threatening emergencies such as malrotation, leading to midgut volvulus. Many infectious processes affect the duodenum, including duodenal ulcers and opportunistic infection in patients with HIV/AIDS or Crohn disease. Small bowel malignancies are uncommon but important to recognize, because the duodenum can be involved in polyposis syndromes or the development of primary adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors, lymphoma, and metastasis. Although endoscopy is currently the most used diagnostic method to assess the lumen of the upper gastrointestinal tract, fluoroscopy is a valuable adjunct technique and the study of choice for many diseases, specifically those for which anatomic and functional information is required. Fluoroscopy is also commonly used postoperatively to assess for complications such as obstruction and extraluminal leaks. Compared with endoscopy, fluoroscopy is an inexpensive and noninvasive technique that provides salient anatomic information and allows delineation of the duodenal mucosa and assessment of real-time duodenal motility. The authors examine the broad spectrum of conditions that can involve the duodenum, including congenital, infectious, inflammatory, and neoplastic abnormalities, and review their typical appearances at fluoroscopy. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ^©RSNA, 2022.

[Ectopic duodenal varices as a cause of difficult diagnosis of bleeding in extrahepatic portal hypertension]

Bleeding from ectopic varicose veins is a rare life-threatening cause of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Alberti first described duodenal varices in 1931. According to the literature, incidence of duodenal varicose veins in patients with portal hypertension is 1-3% of all varicose veins. Bleeding from duodenal varices makes up 17% of all bleedings from other ectopic varices. Mortality in these patients may be up to 40%. The causes are delayed diagnosis, technical difficulties in endoscopic therapeutic procedures (sclerotherapy, endoscopic ligation), as well as ineffective Blackmore tube for hemorrhage in distal stomach and bowel. We report a rare case of upper gastrointestinal bleeding from ectopic duodenal varices.

Collaterals in portal hypertension: anatomy and clinical relevance

Portal hypertension is a key pathophysiology of chronic liver diseases typified with cirrhosis or noncirrhotic portal hypertension. The development of collateral vessels is a characteristic feature of impaired portal hemodynamics. The paraumbilical vein (PUV), left gastric vein (LGV), posterior gastric vein (PGV), short gastric vein (SGV), splenorenal shunt (SRS), and inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) are major collaterals, and there are some rare collaterals. The degree and hemodynamics of collateral may affect the portal venous circulation and may compensate for the balance between inflow and outflow volume of the liver. Additionally, the development of collateral shows a relation with the liver function reserve and clinical manifestations such as esophageal varices (EV), gastric varices, rectal varices and the other ectopic varices, hepatic encephalopathy, and prognosis. Furthermore, there may be an interrelationship in the development between different collaterals, showing additional influences on the clinical presentations. Thus, the assessment of collaterals may enhance the understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of the condition of patients with portal hypertension. This review article concluded that each collateral has a specific function depending on the anatomy and hemodynamics and is linked with the relative clinical presentation in patients with portal hypertension. Imaging modalities may be essential for the detection, grading and evaluation of the role of collaterals and may help to understand the pathophysiology of the patient condition. Further investigation in a large-scale study would elucidate the basic and clinical significance of collaterals in patients with portal hypertension and may provide information on how to manage them to improve the prognosis as well as quality of life.

Small Intestine Varices in Cirrhosis at a High-Volume Liver Transplant Center: A Retrospective Database Study and Literature Review

INTRODUCTION

Esophageal varices are a well-characterized sequela of portal hypertension; however, less is known about varices arising in ectopic locations. We aimed to describe bleeding small intestine varices (SIV) in patients with cirrhosis and compare characteristics and outcomes to published case reports.

METHODS

We performed an institutional chart review using billing codes and natural language processing between 2008 and 2019. Inclusion criteria were adult patients with cirrhosis and SIV verified by endoscopy, video capsule, or imaging. Patients with noncirrhotic portal hypertension and stomal varices were excluded. We examined demographic and clinical factors, characteristics of SIV, bleeding, intervention, and outcomes in our series and collated data from published cases identified during a literature review.

RESULTS

We identified 71 patients with cirrhosis and SIV (18 bled). The literature search yielded 76 cases with bleeding SIV. Our series and published cases were matched for age, sex, liver disease etiology, and SIV location. Length of stay and transfusion requirements were similar. Aggregate initial treatments (number, hemostasis rate) included medical (n = 7, 57%), endoscopic (n = 48, 56%), interventional radiology (n = 31, 77%), and surgery (n = 8, 87%). Hospital and overall mortality rates were higher in our series (22% and 38%) compared with the published cases (5.3% and 18.4%), respectively (P = 0.02 and P = 0.07).

DISCUSSION

A quarter of patients with cirrhosis and SIV experience bleeding, with high transfusion requirements, frequent need for secondary interventions, and high mortality. These findings highlight the need for a multidisciplinary approach and second-line therapeutic modalities in the timely management of bleeding SIV in cirrhosis.

Effectiveness and safety of endoscopic treatment for duodenal variceal bleeding: a systematic review

Duodenal varix is a rare condition that involves massive bleeding, diagnostic difficulties, and a high rate of rebleeding and mortality. The purpose of this study was to systematically review endoscopic treatment for duodenal variceal bleeding to evaluate its effectiveness and safety. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library up to 21 November 2019. Ninety-two studies containing 156 patients were finally included, and individual data from 101 patients (mean age: 52.67 ± 13.82 years, male: 64.4%) were collected and further analyzed. We used an analysis of variance and χ2 or Fisher's exact tests to analyze individual data from 101 patients. The cause of duodenal variceal bleeding was cirrhosis-related intrahepatic portal hypertension (IPH) in 76.2% of patients. The overall rates of initial hemostasis and treatment success of endoscopic treatment for duodenal variceal bleeding were 89.1 and 81.2%, respectively. The median duration of follow-up was 4.5 (1.0, 12.0) months. The overall rates of rebleeding and mortality were 8.9 and 13.9%, respectively. Among a variety of endoscopic treatments available, only the initial hemostasis rate was significantly different between the endoscopic injection sclerotherapy and endoscopic tissue adhesive (ETA) groups (72.7 vs. 94.7%, P = 0.023); differences in treatment success, rebleeding, mortality, and adverse events were not statistically significant among the four groups. Endoscopic intervention is a feasible, well tolerated, and effective modality for the treatment of duodenal variceal bleeding. Among the variety of endoscopic treatments available, ETA with cyanoacrylate may be preferable for duodenal variceal bleeding.

Emergency Gastrectomy for Oesophageal and Gastric Polyps With Massive Bleeding Induced by Anticoagulation

We report the management dilemma of a patient with known gastric polyposis requiring anticoagulation for a submassive pulmonary embolism and haemodynamic compromise. This occurred in a comorbid patient with iron deficiency anaemia and previous venous thromboembolism. The patient had repeated episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding post-thrombolysis for which the cause was not seen on gastroscopy and required an emergency gastrectomy to control the bleeding. A keyword search was done across Scopus, PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase; in the case of gastric polyposis causing significant bleeding, current practice is to identify and treat such cases with endoscopy. This case report delineates the first case in literature of haemorrhagic bleeding in gastric polyposis secondary to therapeutic anticoagulation which has gone on to require definitive surgical management.

A case of percutaneous transhepatic portal vein stent placement and endoscopic injection sclerotherapy for duodenal variceal rupture occurring during chemotherapy for unresectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma

Duodenal varices are ectopic varices that are rare but can involve any site along the digestive tract outside the gastroesophageal region. Ectopic variceal bleeding is generally massive and life threatening; the mortality rate is approximately 40%. Up to 17% of ectopic varices occur in the duodenum. However, duodenal varices pose a significant therapeutic challenge due to the lack of standard treatment guidelines. We report a case of duodenal variceal bleeding secondary to portal vein stenosis in a 77-year-old woman receiving chemotherapy for unresectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. The patient presented with melena, nausea, vomiting and unstable vital signs suggestive of hemorrhagic shock. Emergency esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed large nodular varices with a ruptured erosion on top in the superior duodenal angle, and variceal bleeding had stopped by the time of the procedure. Subsequent computed tomography showed the development of portosystemic collaterals; therefore, we performed percutaneous portal vein stent placement to reduce portal vein pressure. Since persistent bleeding was suspected, we also performed endoscopic injection sclerotherapy and achieved successful hemostasis with an improvement in liver function. This case revealed that a combination of portal vein stent placement and endoscopic injection sclerotherapy might be an effective therapy for duodenal variceal bleeding caused by portal vein stenosis.

Duodenal Varix Rupture - A Rare Cause of Fatal Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Duodenal varices are a rare complication of portal hypertension; with cirrhosis being the most common cause. Reports regarding the disease prognosis and natural history are limited. In addition to the diagnostic difficulty, ectopic duodenal varices pose a significant therapeutic challenge owing to the lack of specific management guidelines. Given the high risk of rupture, they can have devastating clinical outcomes. Rupture typically presents as a gastrointestinal hemorrhage and requires emergent interventions. We present a case of duodenal varix seen on upper endoscopy in a patient with portal hypertension and cirrhosis, together with review of the literature outlining the current understanding of this disease entity. We also highlight the pathogenetic mechanisms as well as the current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for this potentially fatal disease.

A case report of bleeding from a duodenal varix: Rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding

INTRODUCTION

Ectopic variceal bleeding is uncommon, accounts for 2-5% of variceal bleeding, of which 17% is in duodenum.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

62-year-old lady with newly diagnosed liver cirrhosis on admission, presented with severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), was ultimately diagnosed with bleeding duodenal varices with single-balloon enteroscopy, after multiple oesophagogastroduodenoscopies (OGDs) and CT scans which failed to identify the varices. She was treated successfully with duodenectomy.

DISCUSSION

Endoscopy and CT angiography remain the diagnostic modalities of choice. However, diagnosis can be difficult as evidenced by three OGDs and two CTMAs yielding negative findings in this case. Endoscopic diagnosis is challenging and often delayed due to its rarity and unusual location.

CONCLUSION

Ectopic variceal bleeding is a rare but important cause of UGIB. Diagnosis is challenging and management of this condition should take a multidisciplinary approach, involving experienced gastroenterologists, interventional radiologists and surgeons. Endoscopic ligation or sclerotherapy is the first-line of treatment.

Periampullary Variceal Bleeding: An Atypical Complication of Portal Hypertension

Variceal bleeding remains a fatal complication of portal hypertension. Periampullary varices are rare and, due to their location, are difficult to diagnose and treat. Similar to esophagogastric varices, they are the result of high portosystemic pressures secondary to intrahepatic causes such as cirrhosis and extrahepatic causes such as portal or splenic vein thrombosis. We report a case of a periampullary varix resulting in hemobilia during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).