Features of collateral portal circulation in the formation of gastric varices in patients with portal hypertension
- Authors: Dzidzava I.I.1, Dzhafarov A.A.1, Alent’yev S.A.1, Kotiv B.N.1, Bugaev S.A.2
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Affiliations:
- Kirov Military Medical Academy
- A.V. Vishnevsky National Medical Research Center for Surgery
- Issue: Vol 27, No 4 (2025)
- Pages: 547-558
- Section: Original Study Article
- URL: https://medbiosci.ru/1682-7392/article/view/363043
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.17816/brmma690059
- EDN: https://elibrary.ru/PBZJNS
- ID: 363043
Cite item
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Bleeding from esophageal varices and gastric varices is the most frequent and life-threatening complication of portal hypertension is. In 20% to 30% of cases, gastric varices are the source of hemorrhage. Bleeding from gastric varices is more dangerous than bleeding from esophageal varices, due to its greater bleeding volume and persistence as well as the lower therapeutic effectiveness of conventional hemostatic methods. Preventing the development and progression of gastric varices is therefore a key element in managing and preventing portal hypertensive bleeding.
AIM: This study aimed to improve algorithms for preventing and treating portal hypertensive gastric bleeding by characterizing the features of collateral circulation within the gastroesophageal region of the portal system in the context of gastric varix formation.
METHODS: A total of 137 patients with portal hypertension were examined. The main group included 67 patients with gastroesophageal varices type 1 or type 2 or isolated fundal varices. The etiologic factor of portal hypertension was liver cirrhosis of various etiologies in 37 cases and extrahepatic portal hypertension in 30 cases. Left-sided portal hypertension resulting from isolated splenic vein thrombosis was established in 13 (43.3%) patients with extrahepatic portal hypertension. Subcompensated liver function was identified in 22 cirrhotic patients and decompensated in 15 according to the C. Child – D. Turcotte – R. Pugh classification. The control group comprised 70 patients with portal hypertension and esophageal varices without extension of varices across the gastroesophageal junction. Cirrhosis was the etiologic factor of portal hypertension in 44 patients, whereas the elevated portal venous pressure in 26 patients was due to extrahepatic portal hypertension resulting from portal vein thrombosis. Based on the C. Child – D. Turcotte – R. Pugh classification, subcompensated liver function was noted in 25 cirrhotic patients and decompensated in 19.
RESULTS: Hepatofugal flow through the left gastric vein was the major factor resulting in the formation of esophageal varices and gastroesophageal varices type 1, which was characteristic for patients with cirrhosis. When an afferent inflow via the posterior gastric vein was present in addition to the left gastric vein, gastroesophageal varices type 2 developed more frequently. Concurrent retrograde flow through all three afferent vessels (left gastric vein, posterior gastric vein, and short gastric veins) resulted in a twofold higher likelihood of the development of isolated fundal varices or combined gastroesophageal varices type 1/type 2 patterns and occurred with similar frequency in both intrahepatic and extrahepatic portal hypertension (p = 0.0014). Retrograde flow through the posterior gastric vein and short gastric veins led to the development of isolated fundal varices type 1 and was typically associated with left-sided portal hypertension.
CONCLUSION: When making a differentiated selection of treatment and prevention methods for gastric variceal bleeding, the identified characteristics of collateral circulation in the gastroesophageal portal system must be considered.
About the authors
Ilyia I. Dzidzava
Kirov Military Medical Academy
Email: vmeda-nio@mil.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5860-3053
SPIN-code: 7336-9643
MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor
Russian Federation, Saint PetersburgArif A. Dzhafarov
Kirov Military Medical Academy
Author for correspondence.
Email: vmeda-nio@mil.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1999-7288
SPIN-code: 1023-1626
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg
Sergei A. Alent’yev
Kirov Military Medical Academy
Email: vmeda-nio@mil.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4562-113X
SPIN-code: 9029-8278
MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor
Russian Federation, Saint PetersburgBogdan N. Kotiv
Kirov Military Medical Academy
Email: vmeda-nio@mil.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0005-0809-5379
SPIN-code: 4038-0855
MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor
Russian Federation, Saint PetersburgSergei A. Bugaev
A.V. Vishnevsky National Medical Research Center for Surgery
Email: vmeda-nio@mil.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2097-3179
SPIN-code: 5373-9020
MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine)
Russian Federation, MoscowReferences
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