Portal vein occlusion has previously been considered as a contraindication for TIPS placement. Several recent reports have suggested that placement of TIPS may be effective in patients with occluded portal veins to embolize varices and recanalize venous obstruction. We experienced a case of variceal bleeding associated with portal vein thrombosis who was successfully treated with TIPS placement. So we report the case with a brief review of literatures.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Humans ; Portal Vein* ; Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical* ; Varicose Veins ; Venous Thrombosis*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic sclerotherapy is an accepted treatment for the patients with esogeal variceal bleeding, but endoscopic varicea1 band ligation, introduced by Stiegmann et al in 1986, is a new form of endoscopic treatment method, and may be safer. This study is performed to compare the effectiveness and safety of the two techniques. METHODS: We compared endoscopic sclerotherapy and endoscopic ligation in 10~8 patients who had recently bled from esophageal varices. We assessed the hemostatic efficacy for bleeding varices, the number of sessions of treatments needed to eradicate varices, the incidence of complications, rebleeding rate and survival rate of the patients by two techniques. RESULTS: Active bleeding was well controlled by sclerotherapy in all of six patients, and ligation in all of five patients by the initial treatment. The mean number of treatment sessions required to achieve eradication did not significantly differ between sclerotherapy and ligation(2.4+0.8 vs 1.8+ 1.0 sessions). Complications were less comman in ligation than sclerotherapy; chest discomfort(5.6% vs 29.6%), fever(3,7% vs 16.7%), esophageal ulcer(0% vs 5.6%), esophageal stricture(0% vs 3.7%). The rate of recurrent bleeding was significantly lower in the patients treated with ligation(p<0.05). The overall rate of survival was significantly higher in the patients treated with ligation(p<0.05), The days of hospitalization was significantly shorter in the patients treated with ligation than sclerotherapy(14.8+-7.0 vs 21.0+-9.7 days). CONCLUSIONS: The patients with esophageal variceal bleeding treated with endoscopic ligation have fewer treatment-related complications, lower rates of rebleeding and better survival rates.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Esophagus* ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intestines* ; Ligation* ; Sclerotherapy* ; Stomach* ; Survival Rate ; Thorax ; Varicose Veins

Cytomegalovirus colitis has been reported infrequently in patients with underlying inflammatory bowel disease, and usually in those who are taking corticosteroid drugs. It has been implicated as a possible exacerbating factor of ulcerative colitis. We experienced a case of cytomegalovirus colitis developed in patient with ulcerative colitis during corticosteroid therapy. So we report the case with a brief review of literatures.
Colitis* ; Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Cytomegalovirus ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Ulcer*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS) is a promising method of treatment for gastric and esophageall variceal bleeding. Immediate technical and short-term clinical results have been reportn!. This study is performed to evaluate long-term outcome after TIPS in patients who underwent the pracedure for variceal bleeding. METHODS: Forty patients who underwent TIPS hetween August 1991 and February 199S were followed up by clinical examination, upper gastrointestina! Endoscopy and Duplex sonogrphy. RESULTS: The mean portohepatic pressure gradient prior to TIPS was 30.1+/-8.7cmH ancl dropped to 16.6+/-6.7cmH2O after shunt(p<0.001). The cumulative survival rate was 67.5% at 6 months. 57.4% at 1 year, 37.1% at 2 years and 26.8% at 3 years. Survival after TIPS was inversely related to Child-Pugh class. The incidence of recurrent variceal bleeding was 25%. The causes of death were hepatic failure(53.6 %), recurrent variceal bleeding(28.6'%), sepsis(7.1 %) and unknown causes(10.7'%). CONCLUSION: TIPS is an effective method for treatment of variceal bleeding in unsuccessful cases by other treatments including endoscopic therapy and the most important prognostic factor is preprocedual hepatic resenre(Child-Pugh class), TIPS by itself is not defioite therapy, but in combination with careful follow-up surveillance and percutaneous shunt revision is very effective therapeutic strategy. TIPS is particularly valuable in tlreating patients with variceal bleeding hefor liver transplantation and in treating patients with poor liver function.
Cause of Death ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Fibrinogen ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Incidence ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical* ; Survival Rate