Successful embolization of a spontaneous mesocaval shunt using the Amplatzer Vascular Plug II.

A 48-year-old man with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy was found to have a large, spontaneous mesocaval shunt. The shunt was successfully occluded with the use of an Amplatzer Vascular Plug. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of this device to embolize a mesocaval shunt involving the superior mesenteric vein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]