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ABSTRACT Background: In natural history of cirrhosis, variceal bleeding is one of the earliest decompensations to happen, and, if adequately managed, survival is improved. Gastric varices have challenges in management due to their location, size and propensity to bleed. The N-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate (NBC) glue application has emerged as definitive therapy in bleeding gastric varices. Here we present our experience with use of NBC in management of gastric and difficult cases of esophageal varices. Methods: A total of 75 patients underwent NBC glue application for varices which included 69 patients with gastric varices and six patients with esophageal varices. All the procedures were done with flexible endoscope and sclerotherapy needle after due precautionary measures. Results: Hemostasis was varices in all patients after endotherapy. The average quantity of glue used was 2.75±0.95 mL. Complete obliteration with single session of NBC application was achieved in 55 patients. Re-bleeding occurred in five patients within 5 days of index event. 20 patients had in-hospital mortality but none was related to gastrointestinal bleeding. 6-week all-cause mortality was 26 (35%). Conclusion: Glue therapy with NBC is a life saving therapy in patients with bleeding gastric varices and esophageal varices not amenable to endoscopic variceal ligation or sclerotherapy.

RESUMO Contexto: Na história natural da cirrose, o sangramento de varizes é uma das primeiras descompensações a acontecer e, se adequadamente controlada, a sobrevivência é melhorada. Varizes gástricas têm desafios na sua gestão devido à sua localização, tamanho e propensão a sangrar. A aplicação de cola N butil 2-cianoacrilato (NBC) surgiu como terapia definitiva em varizes gástricas sangrantes. Apresentamos nossa experiência com o uso da NBC na gestão de casos gástricos e difíceis de varizes esofágicas. Métodos: Um total de 75 pacientes foram submetidos à aplicação de cola NBC para varizes que incluiu 69 pacientes com varizes gástricas e seis pacientes com varizes de esôfago. Todos os procedimentos foram feitos com endoscópio flexível e agulha de escleroterapia após as devidas medidas de precaução. Resultados: A hemostasia foi alcançada em todos os pacientes após a endoterapia. A quantidade média de cola utilizada foi de 2,75+0,95 mL. A obliteração completa com sessão única de aplicação da NBC foi alcançada em 55 pacientes. O reexame ocorreu em cinco pacientes dentro de 5 dias após o evento de índice. 20 pacientes tiveram mortalidade hospitalar, mas nenhum foi relacionado com o sangramento gastrointestinal. A mortalidade após 6 semanas foi de 26 (35%). Conclusão: A terapia de cola com a NBC é uma terapia que salva vidas em pacientes com varizes gástricas hemorrágicas e varizes esofágicas não condizíveis à ligadura endoscópica ou escleroterapia.

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Las várices gástricas están presentes en cerca de un tercio de los pacientes con hipertensión portal y el sangrado de las mismas representa una causa significativa de mortalidad. El tratamiento de primera línea es la obturación con N-butil-2-cianoacrilato, que si bien es seguro no está libre de complicaciones. Presentamos el caso de un paciente de 61 años de edad con antecedente de cirrosis criptogénica que se presentó a la consulta febril, taquicárdico e hipoxémico después de la obturación endoscópica con N-butil-2-cianoacrilato. Las imágenes mostraron embolia pulmonar bilateral del material obturante. El objetivo de este trabajo es destacar las manifestaciones clínicas y las imágenes de esta situación para ayudar a su diagnóstico precoz y diferenciarla de otras entidades que requieren un tratamiento específico.

Gastric varices occur in one-third of patients with portal hypertension. Bleeding from gastric varices remains a significant cause of death. Currently the first-line of treatment for gastric varices is endoscopic obliteration with N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate. Though relatively safe, this option has several well-known complications. We report the case of a 61-year-old male patient with cryptogenic cirrhosis, who presented with fever, tachycardia and hypoxemia after endoscopic obliteration with N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate. Radiographic findings were consistent with pulmonary embolism of the sclerosing substance. The aim of this case report is to emphasize the clinical and radiological findings of this complication in order to distinguish it from other similar medical conditions and prevent a delay in diagnosis.

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OBJETIVO: Evaluar el éxito terapéutico de la inyección de N-butil-2-cianoacrilato en el tratamiento de las várices gástricas. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal que incluyó 33 pacientes con várices gástricas que sólo recibieron terapia endoscópica con cianoacrilato entre el 2006 al 2010. El cianoacrilato fue inyectado intravaricealmente en una dilución 1:1 con lipiodol hasta obtener la obturación de las várices. La situación terapéutica fue: Hemorragia activa, várices con estigmas de sangrado reciente y profilaxis secundaria. El éxito del tratamiento se evaluó según la hemostasia, recurrencia de sangrado y obturación. RESULTADOS: De los 33 pacientes, 3 (9.1%) fueron por hemorragia activa, 20 (60.6%) con estigmas de sangrado reciente y 10 (30.3%) como profilaxis secundaria. Las várices fueron GOV2, 17 (51.5%); IGV1, 14 (42.4%) y GOV1, 2 (6.1%). Se logró hemostasia total en 21 (91.3%) pacientes con sangrado agudo o reciente y en 2 (66.7%) de 3 sujetos con sangrado activo. En 5 (15.6%) pacientes hubo recurrencia de sangrado y 2 de ellos recibieron cianoacrilato con éxito de hemostasia. Se logró obturación en 25 (75.8%) del total de pacientes. Cuatro pacientes fallecieron, uno por fracaso del control de sangrado. La mayor severidad de clasificación Child-Pugh se relacionó con falla terapéutica (p=0.034). La complicación principal fue el sangrado post-inyección del cianoacrilato. CONCLUSIONES: Nuestros resultados favorecen el uso de cianoacrilato en el tratamiento de várices gástricas, con raras complicaciones mayores.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic success of the injection of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate in the treatment of gastric varices. METHODS: Cross-sectional study included 33 patients with gastric varices who only received cyanoacrylate endoscopic therapy between 2006 and 2010. Intravariceally, cyanoacrylate was injected in a 1:1 dilution with lipiodol until the obliteration of varices. The therapeutic situation was: active bleeding, varices with stigmata of recent bleeding and secondary prophylaxis. Treatment success was evaluated according to hemostasis, recurrent bleeding and obliteration. RESULTS: Of the 33 patients, 3 (9.1%) were for active bleeding, 20 (60.6%) with stigmata of recent bleeding and 10 (30.3%) as secondary prophylaxis. Gastric varices were GOV2, 17 (51.5%); IGV1, 14 (42.4%); GOV1, 2 (6.1%). Hemostasis was achieved in 21 (91.3%) and in 2 (66.7%) of 3 patients with active bleeding. Five (15.6%) patients had recurrent bleeding and 2 of them used cyanoacrylate with successful hemostasis. Obliteration was achieved in 25 (75.8%). Four patients died and one for failure of control bleeding. A high severity of Child-Pugh classification was related to treatment endoscopic failure (p=0.034). The main complication was bleeding after the injection of cyanoacrylate. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the use of cyanoacrylate in the treatment of gastric varices with few major complications.

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