Case Report
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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 14, 2013; 19(34): 5759-5762
Published online Sep 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i34.5759
Cerebral and splenic infarctions after injection of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate in esophageal variceal bleeding
Dae-Seong Myung, Cho-Yun Chung, Hyung-Chul Park, Jong-Sun Kim, Sung-Bum Cho, Wan-Sik Lee, Sung-Kyu Choi, Young-Eun Joo
Dae-Seong Myung, Cho-Yun Chung, Hyung-Chul Park, Jong-Sun Kim, Sung-Bum Cho, Wan-Sik Lee, Sung-Kyu Choi, Young-Eun Joo, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 501-757, South Korea
Author contributions: Myung DS and Joo YE designed the report; Chung CY, Park HC and Kim JS organized the report; Cho SB was the physician for this patient, discussed the treatment plan with the patient, and revised the manuscript; Lee WS and Choi SK provided intellectual advice and revised the manuscript; Myung DS and Joo YE wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Young-Eun Joo, MD, PhD, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, 8 Hak-Dong, Dong-ku, Gwangju 501-757, South Korea. yejoo@chonnam.ac.kr
Telephone: +82-62-2206296 Fax: +82-62-2258578
Received: April 23, 2013
Revised: July 1, 2013
Accepted: July 23, 2013
Published online: September 14, 2013
Abstract

Variceal bleeding is the most serious complication of portal hypertension, and it accounts for approximately one fifth to one third of all deaths in liver cirrhosis patients. Currently, endoscopic treatment remains the predominant method for the prevention and treatment of variceal bleeding. Endoscopic treatments include band ligation and injection sclerotherapy. Injection sclerotherapy with N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate has been successfully used to treat variceal bleeding. Although injection sclerotherapy with N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate provides effective treatment for variceal bleeding, injection of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate is associated with a variety of complications, including systemic embolization. Herein, we report a case of cerebral and splenic infarctions after the injection of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate to treat esophageal variceal bleeding.

Keywords: Cerebrum, Esophageal varix, Infarction, N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate, Spleen

Core tip: Variceal bleeding is the most serious complication of portal hypertension, and it accounts for approximately one fifth to one third of all deaths in liver cirrhosis patients. Although injection sclerotherapy with N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate provides effective treatment for variceal bleeding, injection of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate is associated with a variety of complications including systemic embolization. Herein, we report a case of cerebral and splenic infarctions after the injection of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate to treat esophageal variceal bleeding.