Formation of downhill esophageal varices as a rare but serious complication of hemodialysis access: a case report and comprehensive literature review

Downhill esophageal varices: a systematic review of the case reports

Aim: The etiologies, presentation, and management of downhill varices in the era of modern medicine are relatively under-explored and mostly limited to case reports or case series. Methods: Published case reports/series of patients ≥ 18 years old with proven/probable downhill esophageal varices were searched on Ovid MEDLINE and Ovid EMBASE for all published cases up to January 2021. Results: The mean age was 50.9 (standard deviation ± 17.6) years old for all downhill variceal cases. End-stage renal disease was the most common comorbidity (43.9%), followed by thyroid disease (12.2%), Behçet’s disease (9.8%), and pulmonary hypertension (7.3%). Dialysis catheters, central venous grafts, or additional catheters were additional risk factors (51.2%). Variceal bleeding presenting as hematemesis, melena, or both was the most common presenting symptom (80.5%). Conclusions: Dialysis catheter-associated superior vena cava obstruction resulted in an increased risk of downhill varices. Other causes include thyroid malignancies, pulmonary hypertension, and Behçet’s disease.

Superior Vena Cava Syndrome: Etiologies, Manifestations, and Treatments

Superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction, whether from benign or malignant causes, results in a variety of symptoms. It is a potential medical emergency when cerebral or laryngeal edema occurs. Endovascular therapy is the treatment of choice for patients in need of emergent relief of symptoms. This article will provide a review of SVC syndrome with a focus on endovascular treatment techniques.

Hematemesis, a Rare Presentation for Downhill Esophageal Varices

Downhill esophageal varices (DEV) are a rare form of esophageal varices associated with superior vena cava obstruction. Obstruction leads to retrograde blood flow through collateral venous channels, including the esophageal venous plexus, to redirect blood flow to the right atrium via the inferior vena cava. This leads to the formation of DEV. It is a rare phenomenon to have gastrointestinal bleeding, especially hematemesis, on a patient's first presentation with this disease process. We describe such a case here involving a patient with DEV secondary to metastatic renal cell carcinoma presenting with hematemesis.

Recurrent Hematemesis From Downhill Esophageal Varices: A Therapeutic Challenge for Gastroenterologists

Downhill or upper esophageal varices have an etiology that differs from that of the “uphill” varices secondary to portal hypertension. Approximately 0.1% of all cases of variceal hemorrhage are due to downhill varices. The underlying etiology is obstruction of the superior vena cava (SVC) which results in the shunting of blood from the systemic circulation into the esophageal plexus, predominantly the upper two-thirds. The management should be directed to relieve the vascular obstruction. One of the causes of SVC obstruction leading to downhill variceal bleeding is dialysis catheter-associated SVC stenosis. We report the case of a 34-year-old male with hematemesis associated with downhill varices due to chronic SVC obstruction because of a central venous catheter.

Are Downhill Varices an Overlooked Entity of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleedings?

Aim

Downhill varices are not so safe as thought and can lead to life-threating or mortal bleeding complication, even if rare. In order to draw attention to this topic, we analysed 129 patients.

Materials and Methods

We evaluated the electronic endoscopy data records of all patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy over a nine-year period from January 2004 till December 2012, within a retrospective approach. The primary endpoints, incidence, causes, kind of resulting upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and the severity of the bleeding were evaluated. Secondary endpoints were the evaluation of the size of downhill varices and a comparison of the risk of bleeding between downhill varices and uphill varices.

Results

Downhill varices were identified, described, and/or documented in 129 patients of 25,680 upper gastrointestinal endoscopies. 26 patients had central venous catheter or port implantation, 22 patients had a history of an implantation of a cardiac pacemaker, 7 patients had severe pulmonary artery embolism, and 4 patients had severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Two patients had mediastinal tumors, and one patient had a large retrosternal goiter as a possible cause of the vena cava syndrome. Altogether, 62 patients were related to a vena cava superior syndrome; 67 were not.

Conclusions

Downhill varices can be seen with an incidence of 0.5%. Therapeutic means are the banding therapy as a safe and effective option. Severe bleedings associated with downhill varices can be mortal. Severe forms of downhill varices should be examined in relation to the origin in order to start a specific therapy.

Superior Vena Cava Obstruction: A Rare Cause of Recurrent Esophageal Variceal Bleeding

"Downhill" esophageal varices are formed in upper two-thirds of the esophagus as a consequence of a superior vena cava obstruction. We present a case of 55-year-old African-American female with a medical history of multiple comorbidities, including end-stage renal disease, who presented with an upper gastrointestinal bleed and was found to have distended neck veins on physical examination. She gave a history of the insertion of an intravenous central line in her neck area for hemodialysis purposes about six years previously. An endoscopy showed the presence of esophageal varices and computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen showed the presence of a superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction. The patient was managed supportively. This case represents a rare cause of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in an individual with a central line for dialysis leading to SVC thrombosis.

Downhill Esophageal Varices Associated With Central Venous Catheter-Related Thrombosis Managed With Endoscopic and Surgical Therapy

Downhill esophageal varices are a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. We present a case of downhill variceal bleeding due to superior vena cava thrombosis resulting from a prior central venous catheter. The patient was managed with endoscopic band ligation and later with surgical axillary vein to right atrium bypass grafting. Successful long-term resolution of varices was achieved at 1 year of follow-up. This is the longest follow-up described for combined endoscopic and surgical management in the existing literature for catheter-associated downhill varices.

Bleeding 'downhill' esophageal varices associated with benign superior vena cava obstruction: case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Proximal or 'downhill' esophageal varices are a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Unlike the much more common distal esophageal varices, which are most commonly a result of portal hypertension, downhill esophageal varices result from vascular obstruction of the superior vena cava (SVC). While SVC obstruction is most commonly secondary to malignant causes, our review of the literature suggests that benign causes of SVC obstruction are the most common cause actual bleeding from downhill varices. Given the alternative pathophysiology of downhill varices, they require a unique approach to management. Variceal band ligation may be used to temporize acute variceal bleeding, and should be applied on the proximal end of the varix. Relief of the underlying SVC obstruction is the cornerstone of definitive treatment of downhill varices.

CASE PRESENTATION

A young woman with a benign superior vena cava stenosis due to a tunneled internal jugular vein dialysis catheter presented with hematemesis and melena. Urgent upper endoscopy revealed multiple 'downhill' esophageal varices with stigmata of recent hemorrhage. As there was no active bleeding, no endoscopic intervention was performed. CT angiography demonstrated stenosis of the SVC surrounding the distal tip of her indwelling hemodialysis catheter. The patient underwent balloon angioplasty of the stenotic SVC segment with resolution of her bleeding and clinical stabilization.

CONCLUSION

Downhill esophageal varices are a distinct entity from the more common distal esophageal varices. Endoscopic therapies have a role in temporizing active variceal bleeding, but relief of the underlying SVC obstruction is the cornerstone of treatment and should be pursued as rapidly as possible. It is unknown why benign, as opposed to malignant, causes of SVC obstruction result in bleeding from downhill varices at such a high rate, despite being a less common etiology of SVC obstruction.

A Rare but Reversible Cause of Hematemesis: "Downhill" Esophageal Varices

“Downhill” varices are a rare cause of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding and are generally due to obstruction of the superior vena cava (SVC). Often these cases of “downhill” varices are missed diagnoses as portal hypertension but fail to improve with medical treatment to reduce portal pressure. We report a similar case where recurrent variceal bleeding was initially diagnosed as portal hypertension but later found to have SVC thrombosis presenting with recurrent hematemesis. A 39-year-old female with history of end-stage renal disease presented with recurrent hematemesis. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed multiple varices. Banding and sclerotherapy were performed. Extensive evaluation did not show overt portal hypertension or cirrhosis. Due to ongoing bleeding requiring resuscitation, she underwent internal jugular (IJ) and SVC venogram in preparation for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), which demonstrated complete IJ and SVC occlusion. She underwent balloon angioplasty with stent placement across SVC occlusion with complete resolution of her varices and resolved hematemesis. “Downhill” varices are extremely rare, though previously well described. Frequently, patients are misdiagnosed with underlying liver disease. High index of suspicion and investigation of alternative causes of varices is prudent in those without underlying liver diseases. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate intervention can significantly improve morbidity and mortality.

Conservative Management of Downhill Esophageal Varices Secondary to Central Line-related Thrombosis After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant

Occlusive central line-related complications are not infrequent in children undergoing cancer therapy, but are generally not associated with life-threatening complications. Thrombosis of the superior vena cava (SVC) is rarely described in such patients, and downhill esophageal varices have been described in children and adults as a complication of altered SVC blood flow. The management of patients with SVC thrombosis and associated varices is complicated by the need to treat the thrombus weighed against bleeding risk. We present a 14-year-old adolescent with a history of acute leukemia and central line-related complications, including SVC thrombosis with subsequent formation of downhill esophageal varices. Conservative management consisting of anticoagulation alone resulted in resolution of the varices with no bleeding complications.

Downhill varices secondary to HeRO graft-related SVC syndrome

Tunneled hemodialysis catheters are well-documented causes of benign central vein stenosis, which can be associated with proximal or downhill esophageal varices due to shunting of blood flow from the upper portion of the body through the esophageal venous plexuses. A majority of these cases remain asymptomatic. As a result, studies are largely limited to symptomatic patients, with incidence rates ranging from 16% to 29%. Recently, Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow (HeRO) graft has been introduced as an effective alternate hemodialysis access in catheter-dependent patients, especially in the presence of significant central venous occlusion. It differs from a conventional arteriovenous graft (AVG) by the fact that its venous outflow end is in the right atrium via one of the central veins, bypassing any significant occlusion upstream. Lower intervention rates and reduced incidence of bacteremia make it comparable to conventional tunneled catheters. However, the incidence of central vein occlusion and associated complications with HeRO grafts is unknown. We present the first case of gastrointestinal bleeding from downhill esophageal varices secondary to HeRO-graft-related SVC occlusion.

"Downhill" Esophageal Varices due to Dialysis Catheter-Induced Superior Vena Caval Occlusion: A Rare Cause of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

"Downhill" varices are a rare cause of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Rarely these varices are reported in patients receiving hemodialysis as a complication of chronic dialysis vascular access. We present a case of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in an individual with end-stage renal disease receiving hemodialysis. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed "downhill" varices in the upper third of the esophagus without any active bleeding at the time of the procedure. An angiogram was performed disclosing superior vena caval occlusion, which was treated with balloon angioplasty. Gastroenterologists should have a high index of suspicion for these rare "downhill" varices when dealing with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients receiving hemodialysis and manage it appropriately using endoscopic, radiological, and surgical interventions.