Bleeding Varices Health Article

PERIODICALS

Burroughs, Andrew K. and David Patch. "Primary prevention of bleeding from esophageal varices." New England Journal of Medicine 340 (April 1, 1999): 1033-5.

Hegab, Ahmed M. and Velimir A. Luketic. "Bleeding esophageal varices: How to treat this dreaded complication of portal hypertension." Postgraduate Medicine 109 (February 2001): 75-89.

ORGANIZATIONS

American Liver Foundation. 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 603, New York, NY 10038. (800) 465-4837. <http://www.liverfoundation.org/>.

OTHER

Goff, John. "Portal hypertensive bleeding." <http://www.nysge.org/PostGrad1999/Goff_VaricealBleeding.htm> (12 May 2001).

Paul A. Johnson

KEY TERMS

Cirrhosis of the liver—A type of liver disease, most often caused by chronic alcohol abuse. It is characterized by scarring of the liver, which leads to an increase in the blood pressure in the portal veins.

Endoscopy—Medical imaging technique for visualizing the interior of a hollow organ.

Esophagus—The tube in the body which takes food from the mouth to the stomach.

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)—An imaging test that involves visually examining the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and upper duodenum with a flexible fiberoptic endoscope.

Portal hypertension—Portal hypertension forces the blood flow backward, causing the portal veins to enlarge and the emergence of bleeding varices across the esophagus and stomach from the pressure in the portal vein. Portal hypertension is most commonly caused by cirrhosis, but can also be seen in portal vein obstruction from unknown causes.

Portal veins—The main veins that carry blood from the stomach and intestines to the liver.

Shock—A state of depression of the vital processes of the body characterized by pallor, a rapid and weak pulse, rapid and shallow respiration, and lowered blood pressure. Shock results from severe trauma, such as crushing injuries, hemorrhage, burns, or major surgery.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)—A transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a radiology procedure in which a tubular device is inserted in the middle of the liver to redirect the blood flow.

Varices—A type of varicose vein that develops in veins in the linings of the esophagus and upper stomach when these veins fill with blood and swell due to an increase in blood pressure in the portal veins.