Udaipur: In a significant advancement in gastrointestinal care, Geetanjali Medical College & Hospital, Udaipur, has successfully performed the city’s first EUS (Endoscopic Ultrasound)-guided coil and glue therapy for the treatment of life-threatening gastric varices.

The complex procedure was successfully carried out by gastroenterologist Dr. Kartikeya Mathur, providing patients suffering from portal hypertension with access to a precise, targeted and minimally invasive treatment option within Udaipur.

The procedure was recently performed on a middle-aged woman diagnosed with Extrahepatic Portal Vein Obstruction (EHPVO), who had large gastric varices. In EHPVO, blockage of the portal vein causes increased pressure in the portal circulation, leading to the formation of enlarged veins in the stomach and oesophagus. These varices can rupture and cause potentially life-threatening bleeding.

Using EUS guidance, the medical team was able to precisely identify the varices and visualize blood flow before delivering specially designed coils followed by medical glue. The combined approach successfully blocked the abnormal blood vessels.

Dr. Mathur explained that EUS-guided coil and glue therapy allows doctors to directly visualize both the varix and its blood flow using ultrasound guidance, enabling highly targeted treatment. The coil is placed first and helps retain the glue at the desired site. This approach can reduce the amount of glue required, improve procedural precision and help lower the risk of glue embolization and procedure-related bleeding.

He further explained that portal hypertension is not restricted to patients with liver cirrhosis. It can also occur due to non-cirrhotic conditions such as EHPVO. If left undiagnosed or untreated, portal hypertension may lead to serious complications, including vomiting of blood and black, tarry stools.

While procedures such as BRTO (Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration) are established treatment options, they may not be feasible for every patient. In selected cases, EUS-guided coil and glue therapy can provide a minimally invasive and highly targeted alternative.

Medical experts advised patients with cirrhosis, viral hepatitis, EHPVO or other causes of portal hypertension to undergo regular gastroenterological evaluation. Symptoms such as vomiting blood, black stools, recurrent anaemia, jaundice, abdominal fluid accumulation or an enlarged spleen should not be ignored and require timely medical assessment.

The successful introduction of this advanced procedure at Geetanjali Medical College & Hospital marks an important step forward in specialised gastrointestinal care in Udaipur, giving patients with complex gastric varices access to advanced treatment closer to home.