Transcatheter Embolization of Renal –Splenic Shunt to Treat Hematemesis

We report a case of a patient without portal hypertension, but with bleeding gastric varices with a presumed splenorenal shunt (SRS) on CT. Venography revealed flow  reversal through the shunt (directed from the renal vein, into the splenic vein and out the portal vein; a renal-splent shunt (RSR)) and thus an anatomically similar but functionally distinct systemic to mesenteric variant. While being anatomically similar to the well-known SRS, the different flow dynamics necessitate a different approach for treatment and important considerations for the use of any liquid embolic.
Source: CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology - Category: Radiology Source Type: research