| Esophageal varices | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Esophageal varix, oesophageal varices |
 | |
| Gastroscopy image of esophageal varices with prominent cherry-red spots and wale signs | |
| Specialty | Gastroenterology, Hematology, Hepatology (liver disease) |
| Symptoms | vomiting blood, passing black stool |
| Complications | Internal bleeding, hypovolemic shock, cardiac arrest |
| Causes | portal hypertension (high blood pressure in the portal vein and the associated blood vessels in the hepatic, or liver-based, circulation) |
| Diagnostic method | Endoscopy |
Esophageal varices are extremely dilated sub-mucosal veins in the lower third of the esophagus.[1] They are most often a consequence of portal hypertension,[2] commonly due to cirrhosis.[3] People with esophageal varices have a strong tendency to develop severe bleeding which left untreated can be fatal. Esophageal varices are typically diagnosed through an esophagogastroduodenoscopy.[4]
- ^ Rubin, Raphael; Strayer, David S.; Rubin, Emanuel, eds. (2012). Rubin's Pathology: Clinicopathologic Foundations of Medicine (6th ed.). Lippincot Williams & Wilkins. p. 612. ISBN 9781605479682.
- ^ Cushman, James (2018-01-01), Harken, Alden H.; Moore, Ernest E. (eds.), "Chapter 44 - Portal Hypertension and Esophageal Varices", Abernathy's Surgical Secrets (Seventh Edition), Elsevier, pp. 195–199, doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-47873-1.00044-9, ISBN 978-0-323-47873-1, retrieved 2020-11-23
- ^ Awad, Joseph; Wattacheril, Julia (2012-01-01), Jarnagin, William R.; Blumgart, Leslie H. (eds.), "Chapter 75B - Esophageal varices: Acute management of portal hypertension", Blumgart's Surgery of the Liver, Pancreas and Biliary Tract (Fifth Edition), Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, pp. 1135–1138.e1, doi:10.1016/b978-1-4377-1454-8.00120-x, ISBN 978-1-4377-1454-8, retrieved 2020-11-23
- ^ Biecker E, Schepke M, Sauerbruch T (2005). "The role of endoscopy in portal hypertension". Dig Dis. 23 (1): 11–7. doi:10.1159/000084721. PMID 15920321.