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We report a case of portosystemic encephalopathy treated by retrograde transvenous obliteration (RTO) with an antecubital vein approach using a steerable triaxial system. A 77-year-old female was referred to our department complaining of dizziness and tremor. Laboratory data showed hyperammonemia. Contrast-enhanced CT and 3D-CT reconstruction images demonstrated an inferior mesenteric vein (IMV)-left common iliac vein shunt and a splenorenal shunt. The former was treated as a responsible shunt. The spleen volume was 212 mL, and the liver volume was 757 mL; giving a spleen/liver volume ratio of 0.3. Partial splenic artery embolization (PSE) was employed to control portal venous pressure. The hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) changed from 13.2 to 9.6 mm Hg and the spleen/liver volume ratio improved from 0.3 to 0.2 by PSE. Two months after PSE, RTO with an antecubital vein approach using a steerable triaxial system was performed. HVPG changed to 12.5 mm Hg after RTO. Contrast-enhanced CT and 3D-CT reconstruction images 3 days after the procedure demonstrated the thrombus in the IMV-left common iliac vein shunt. We conclude that the antecubital vein approach using a steerable triaxial system is a feasible and minimally invasive technique in RTO for portosystemic shunts.

A case of high-risk giant esophagogastric varices was treated by blood supply route-targeted endoscopic injection sclerotherapy with multiple ligations (EISML). An endoscope was inserted in the left lower semi-lateral position under general anesthesia in the digital subtraction angiography room. The C-arm was rotated to obtain a frontal view for fluoroscopy. Before puncturing the esophageal varices, the balloon attached to the tip of the endoscope was inflated to block the variceal blood flow. At puncture, an intravascular injection was confirmed fluoroscopically, and a total of 18 m of 5% ethanolamine oleate with iopamidol was injected retrogradely at 5-minute intervals from the esophagogastric varices to the root of the left gastric vein, maintaining stagnation for 25 minutes. The variceal site of the injection was ligated immediately after the removal of the needle to prevent variceal bleeding. Multiple variceal ligations were added to stop the variceal blood flow. Contrast-enhanced CT 3 days after EISML showed the thrombus formation in esophagogastric varices and the left gastric vein. The blood supply route-targeted EISML can be a feasible procedure for giant esophagogastric varices.

We used modified and dynamic intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) navigation during laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy for difficult gallbladders. We have defined an IOC that does not open the cystic duct as a modified IOC. Modified IOC methods include the percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) tube method, the infundibulum puncture method, and the infundibulum cannulation method. Case 1 was chronic cholecystitis after PTGBD for acute cholecystitis with pericholecystic abscess. In this case, modified IOC was performed via PTGBD, and biliary anatomy and incarcerated stone were confirmed. Case 2 was chronic cholecystitis after endoscopic sphincterotomy for cholecystocholedocholithiasis. In this case, modified IOC was performed via gallbladder puncture needle, and biliary anatomy and incision line were confirmed. The target point on the laparoscopic image was determined by moving the tip of the grasping forceps under modified IOC, which we call modified and dynamic IOC. We conclude that the navigation by the modified and dynamic IOC via PTGBD tube or puncture needle is useful to identify biliary anatomy, incarcerated gallbladder stone, and safe incision line during laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy .

We report a case of life-threatening bleeding from gastric varices in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis, which was treated by emergency transileocolic vein obliteration (TIO). A 46-year-old male with a massive hematemesis was transported to our hospital by ambulance. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated large gastric varices. Temporary hemostasis using balloon tamponade was attempted, however, bleeding could not be controlled, and his vital signs were unstable despite massive blood transfusions. First, endoscopic treatment was attempted, but the visual field could not be secured due to massive bleeding. Therefore, emergency TIO under general anesthesia was attempted. After laparotomy, 5 Fr. sheath was inserted into the ileocolic vein. Posterior and left gastric veins, which were the blood supply routes of gastric varices, were identified and embolized using microcoils and a 50% glucose solution. Hemostasis was achieved and vital signs recovered. Three days after TIO, transjugular retrograde obliteration was attempted successfully to embolize the residual gastric varices. After the procedures, his condition improved. We conclude that emergency TIO is a useful rescue option for life-threatening bleeding from gastric varices if endoscopic treatment or balloon tamponade is ineffective.

We report a case of life-threatening bleeding after endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) in a patient with severe esophagogastric varices that was treated by percutaneous transhepatic obliteration (PTO). 3D-CT reconstruction image demonstrated giant esophagogastric varices and gastrorenal shunt. The spleen volume was 813 mL, and the liver volume was 716 mL; giving a spleen/liver volume ratio of 1.1. A strategy of stepwise partial splenic artery embolization (PSE) was employed to control portal venous pressure based on the concept of splanchnic caput Medusae. The S/L ratio improved to 0.3 by stepwise PSE. Subsequently, EVL was performed for esophageal varices, but bleeding occurred afterward, and hemostasis using a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube was attempted. Subsequently, PTO was performed the following day for embolization of the left gastric vein. Gastric varices and gastrorenal shunt were intentionally reserved to avoid portal venous pressure increase. After the procedure, his condition improved. We conclude, in patients with severe esophagogastric varices, prudent management of the splenomegaly and the collateral tracts is necessary.

A 71-year-old woman was referred to our department for abdominal pain. She was diagnosed with acute obstructive cholangitis due to cystic duct and bile duct stones after cholecystectomy and Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy. Two years ago, the patient underwent endoscopic and laparoscopic treatment for cystic duct and bile duct stones, however, the stones remained. This time, she was treated with stone removal using percutaneous papillary balloon dilatation (PPBD). Large stones in the common hepatic and bile ducts were crushed by electrohydraulic lithotripsy and then pushed out into the duodenum through the dilated papilla of Vater using a balloon catheter covered with the sheath and cholangioscopy. Stone in the cystic duct was pulled to the common bile duct and pushed to the duodenum. Stone removal using PPBD is an excellent alternative for patients with cystic duct and bile duct stones unable to be treated with endoscopic or laparoscopic stone removal.

Management of hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is important in the treatment of portal hypertension. We report a case that was treated by a hybrid procedure combining endoscopic injection sclerotherapy with ligation (EISL), left gastric artery embolization (LGE), and partial splenic artery embolization (PSE) based on a new concept ``splanchnic caput Medusae.'' The venous phase of left gastric arteriography just after EISL demonstrated thrombus formation in the gastric varices and the cardiac branch of the left gastric vein. The para-esophageal vein and lesser curvature branch of the left gastric vein were not affected. HVPG decreased from 14 to 11 mmHg immediately after LGE and PSE. 3D-CT reconstruction portal image revealed that the portal system reversed to almost normal form. This is the first case report in which thrombus formation in gastric varices and cardiac branch just after EISL could be demonstrated by the venous phase of left gastric arteriography.

Aberrant right posterior hepatic duct (ARPHD) is one of the anatomical anomalies of the bile duct. It is a risk factor for bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). ARPHD can be diagnosed before surgery by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography or drip infusion cholangiographic-computed tomography. However, it is not easy to identify ARPHD during LC. Classic intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) procedure that does not lead to bile duct injury avoidance needs to be modified. In modified IOC, cannulation is performed from the infundibulum or neck of the gallbladder. We reported a modified and dynamic IOC procedure that can identify ARPHD safely and precisely during LC. The modified IOC provided direct evidence of no injury to ARPHD in 2 cases.

Management of multiple hepatolithiasis with choledochoenteral anastomotic stenosis remains difficult and time-consuming. We report a case of a 77-year-old man with severe right hypochondoralgia, treated with percutaneous transhepatic balloon dilatation of choledocoduodenal anastomotic stenosis and percutaneous stone removal using 8Fr. cobra-shaped sheath and cholangioscopy. Hilar hepatic stones were pushed out into the duodenum through the dilated anastomosis using 5Fr. balloon catheter covered with the sheath and cholangioscopy. For stones located in the left, right anterior and aberrant right posterior hepatic ducts, a guidewire and a removal balloon catheter were inserted by using the cobra-shaped sheath. Stones pulled from the intrahepatic bile ducts to the common hepatic duct were pushed out into the duodenum. Clearance of intrahepatic bile duct stones was confirmed by balloon-occluded cholangiography using the cobra-shaped sheath and 6Fr. balloon catheter. The use of cobra-shaped sheath improved percutaneous stone removal, but the procedure needs further improvement.