A case of complete resolution of gastric varices

Background. A 49-year-old woman with hepatitis C and peptic ulcer disease presented to the emergency department after an onset of sudden massive hematemesis. She had a history of alcohol abuse, but denied any recent excessive drinking. Investigations. Physical examination, laboratory investigations including complete blood cell counts and liver function tests, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, abdominal angiography and venography, CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis. Diagnosis. Gastric variceal hemorrhage, severe portal hypertensive gastropathy, splenic vein thrombosis. Management. Blood transfusion, splenic artery embolization and balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration of gastric varices. Immediate postprocedural CT scans of the abdomen, with repeat imaging 30 months later.