Pulmonary embolization of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate after endoscopic injection therapy for gastric variceal bleeding

N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate, a tissue adhesive that polymerizes on contact with weak bases such as blood, is being used widely outside the United States to obliterate gastric varices. Embollzation of this material can occur via portosystemic shunts. We report a case of pulmonary embolization of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (an analogue of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate) that occurred after endoscopie injection therapy for gastric variceal bleeding. Cyanoacryiate embolism is difficult to diagnose with computed tomographic angiography because radiopaque emboli are masked by the contrast material. It is important to distinguish these emboli from conventional thromboembeli because "glue emboli" require only symptomatic treatment. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for embolism in the setting of tachycardia, chest pain, or hypoxia after a patient undergoes endoscopie injection therapy with cyanoacryiate glue for gastric variceal bleeding. The radiologist should be alerted so that the appropriate radiographic settings are used to make the diagnosis.