Background: Ectopic varices may develop anywhere in the abdomen except in the cardioesophageal junction and cause only 5% of all variceal bleeding. Considering the low prevalence of this disease, management is challenging and low-evidence based. By means of a case report, we reviewed literature on the treatment of ectopic varices using TIPS (Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt). Case presentation: A 65-year old patient presented to the emergency department with massive hematochezia and haemorrhagic shock. A CT angiography reported liver cirrhosis, a portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and colonic varices without active bleeding. The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit where colonoscopy confirmed the presence of ascending colonic varices with a red whale sign. He successfully underwent a TIPS placement and was discharged after five days from the hospital. Conclusion: In this case, TIPS placement proved to be an effective treatment for ectopic variceal bleeding.
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Brusselle et al. (2025) studied this question.
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