ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASONOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE AZYGOS VEIN IN PATIENTS WITHVARICES

Background and Study Aims: Using EUS in the study of portal hypertensi ve patients, various divisions of the gastroesophageal collateral circ ulation can be demonstrated, The azygos vein, which is the main draina ge system for varices, can also be scanned endosonographically, We stu died the azygos vein in control subjects and portal hypertensive patie nts using EUS, Patients and Methods: Our study included 17 patients wi th endoscopic evidence of esophagogastric varices and 11 control subje cts not suffering from chronic liver disease or varices, EUS and Doppl er EUS using a linear scanning echoendoscope were carried out on patie nts and control subjects with the aim of studying the azygos vein. Res ults: The azygos vein could be scanned in all subjects and was found t o be significantly dilated in patients with varices, Maximal velocity of its blood flow was higher among patients with varices compared to c ontrol subjects. Periazygos collaterals could be occasionally observed in portal hypertensive patients. Conclusion: EUS can be used both for scanning and hemodynamic studies of the azygos vein, The fact that EU S allows the collection of valuable quantitative and qualitative data from the azygos vein should encourage further studies on the clinical value of this information in the follow up of portal hypertensive pati ents.