Combination therapy with laparoscopic Hassab's procedure and three subsequent endoscopic variceal ligation sessions for pipeline esophageal varices: A report of two cases

High blood flow and intravariceal pressure in pipeline esophageal varices (EVs) can cause refractory variceal bleeding that is difficult to control with endoscopic procedures and interventional radiology. We used combination therapy with Hassab's procedure (HP) and subsequent endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) to successfully treat two patients with pipeline EVs.Case 1A woman in her 30s with recurrent hemorrhagic pipeline EVs caused by idiopathic portal hypertension was referred for surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a dilated left gastric vein (LGV) connected to EVs with no palisade zone. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) identified high-risk EVs (Ls, F3, Cw, RC1) and gastric varices (GVs) (Lg-c, F2, Cw, RC0). Eradication of the esophagogastric varices was maintained 5 years after laparoscopic HP followed by EVL at 1, 6 and 16 months postoperatively.Case 2A woman in her 50s with cirrhosis (type B) and enlarged pipeline EVs was referred for prophylactic surgery. Computed tomography (CT) imaging revealed that the EVs were supplied by a dilated LGV without a palisade zone. EGD identified high-risk EVs (Lm, F3, Cb, RC2) and GVs (Lg-c, F3, Cw, RC1). Combination therapy with laparoscopic HP and EVL at 2, 4, and 6 months showed the eradication of esophagogastric varices 8 months after surgery. CT scanning performed 10 days postoperatively in case 2 revealed residual EVs supplied by gastric intramural blood flow, strongly supporting the need for additional EVL after HP. HP involves gastroesophageal devascularization and splenectomy, which reduce blood supply to EVs, facilitating subsequent EVL to eradicate pipeline EVs. This combination therapy appears to enhance outcomes and should be considered a viable option for treating refractory pipeline EVs.