CASE-REPORT - BLEEDING GASTRIC VARICES SECONDARY TO SPLENIC VEIN-THROMBOSIS SUCCESSFULLY TREATED BY SPLENIC ARTERY EMBOLIZATION

Splenic vein thrombosis is a complication of pancreatic carcinoma or p ancreatitis. It may lead to gastric varices which are difficult to tre at and splenectomy may be required to stop variceal bleeding. A case o f bleeding gastric varices secondary to splenic vein thrombosis and su ccessfully treated by splenic artery embolization is reported. Emboliz ation was performed by transcatheter deposition of four Gianturco coil s into the splenic artery. This resulted in reduced blood flow through the spleen with partial splenic infarction and cessation of variceal bleeding. There has been no recurrence of bleeding in the 6 months sin ce the procedure. Literature review confirms that experience of using this treatment is very limited and it should therefore be restricted t o patients at high risk from surgery.