[Ectopic duodenal varices as a cause of difficult diagnosis of bleeding in extrahepatic portal hypertension]

Bleeding from ectopic varicose veins is a rare life-threatening cause of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Alberti first described duodenal varices in 1931. According to the literature, incidence of duodenal varicose veins in patients with portal hypertension is 1-3% of all varicose veins. Bleeding from duodenal varices makes up 17% of all bleedings from other ectopic varices. Mortality in these patients may be up to 40%. The causes are delayed diagnosis, technical difficulties in endoscopic therapeutic procedures (sclerotherapy, endoscopic ligation), as well as ineffective Blackmore tube for hemorrhage in distal stomach and bowel. We report a rare case of upper gastrointestinal bleeding from ectopic duodenal varices.

[Self-expanding nitinol stents for bleeding from esophageal varices in patients with portal hypertension]

Blakemore probe-obturator was previously preferable for primary hemostasis in patients with bleeding from esophageal varices. Currently, Danis self-expanding nitinol stent became an effective alternative. According to some manufacturers, Danis stent has some advantages over balloon tamponade. We report implantation of nitinol stent for hemostasis in a patient with multiple recurrent bleeding and ineffective endoscopic manipulations. A method of stent fixation for prevention of distal migration as the most common complication is described.