Esophageal varices evaluated by endoscopic ultrasonography: observation of collateral circulation during non-shunting operations.

To clarify the inflow and outflow vessels of esophagogastric varices, we investigated the collateral circulation using endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS; Olympus GF-UM2, 7.5 MHz, radial type) during non-shunting operations in 16 cases of portal hypertension. The main inflow vessels were the left gastric veins and the short gastric veins. The paraesophageal vessels coalescent with esophageal varices were distributed up to 7 cm from the esophagogastric junction. It was possible to devascularize these inflow vessels from the transabdominal approach, and it was also easy to evaluate the complete devascularization by the intraoperative EUS. The main outflow vein seemed to be the azygos arch from the investigation of cross-sectional areas of the azygos system. EUS is very useful in evaluating portal hypertension and in determining the indications and the efficacy of the treatment.