Esophageal varices & bull; hello healthy

Definition

What are esophageal varices?

Esophageal varices are abnormal swelling of the blood vessels in the esophagus - the tube that connects the esophagus to the stomach. This condition is most common in people with liver disease. Esophageal varices occur when normal blood flow to the liver is blocked by clots or scar tissue in the liver.

To avoid blockage, blood flows through smaller blood vessels that are not intended to drain large volumes of blood. Blood vessels can leak or burst, causing life-threatening bleeding. Once you have bleeding, the risk of other bleeding increases dramatically. If you lose enough blood, you can go into shock that can lead to death.

Several medications and medical procedures can help prevent and stop bleeding from esophageal varices.

How common are esophageal varices?

This condition is very common and can occur in patients of any age. Esophageal varices can be treated by reducing risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of esophageal varices?

Esophageal varices usually cause no signs and symptoms unless bleeding occurs.

The signs and symptoms of esophageal variceal bleeding include:

Vomiting and a significant amount of blood in vomit
The stool is dark and bloody
Dizzy
Loss of consciousness (in severe cases)
Symptoms of chronic liver disease such as yellowing of the skin and eyes, easy bleeding or bruising, fluid buildup in the abdomen (ascites)

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have any signs or symptoms above or any other questions, please consult your doctor. Everyone's body is different. Always consult a doctor to treat your health condition.

Cause

What causes esophageal varices?

The main cause of esophageal varices is injury to the liver, which is called cirrhosis. The injury causes blood to return to the portal vein, the main blood vessel that carries blood from the stomach and intestines to the liver. This return of blood causes high blood pressure in the portal vein and surrounding veins. This condition is called portal hypertension. As a result, blood will find its way through the smaller blood vessels, such as in the lower part of the esophagus. These thin-walled blood vessels expand with increased blood. Sometimes the blood vessels can burst and bleed.

Causes of esophageal varices include:

Severe liver injury (cirrhosis). Several liver diseases - including hepatitis infection, alcoholic liver disease, fatty liver disease and a bile duct disorder called primary biliary cirrhosis - can cause cirrhosis.
Blood clots (thrombosis). Blood clots in the portal vein or in the veins leading to the portal vein (splenic vessels) can cause esophageal varices.
Parasitis infection. Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection found in parts of Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Parasites can damage the liver, lungs, intestines and urine.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for esophageal varices?

There are many factors that make a person more at risk of developing esophageal varices, namely:

High pressure on the portal vein
Large varicose veins
Red marks on varicose veins
Severe cirrhosis or liver failure
Prolonged use of alcohol.

Medicines & Medicines

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How are esophageal varices diagnosed?

If you have cirrhosis, your doctor will look for esophageal varices when diagnosing. How often you get tested depends on your condition. The main tests used to diagnose esophageal varices are:

Endoscopic examination. The doctor will look at dilated blood vessels, measure them and check for red lines and spots, which usually indicate a significant risk of bleeding. Treatment can be done during imaging tests. CT scan of the stomach and ultrasonic Doppler of the splenic and portal vessels may show esophageal varices.
Capsule endoscopy. An option for people who do not want to have an endoscope.

What are the treatments for esophageal varices?

Treatment to lower blood pressure in the portal vein can reduce the risk of esophageal variceal bleeding. Treatments can include:

Medicines to lower pressure on the portal vein. A type of blood pressure medication called a beta blocker can be used in this case. These drugs include propranolol (Inderal, Innopran) and nadolol (Corgard).
Using an elastic band to tie a blood vessel that is bleeding. If esophageal varices appear to be at high risk of bleeding, your doctor may recommend a procedure called a band ligation.
Using an endoscope, the doctor entangles the varicose veins and wraps it with an elastic band, which binds the blood vessels so they don't bleed anymore. Esophageal band ligation carries a small risk of complications, such as injury to the esophagus.

If you have bleeding, the goal of treatment is to stop acute bleeding as quickly as possible. Bleeding must be controlled immediately to prevent shock and death.

Using an elastic band to tie a blood vessel that is bleeding.
Medicines to slow blood flow to the portal vein. A drug called octreotide (Sandostatin) is often used with endoscopic therapy to block blood flow from internal organs to portal blood vessels. This medication is usually continued for 5 days after the bleeding episode.
Diverts blood flow from the portal vein. Your doctor may recommend a procedure called a portosystemic shunt (TIPS) to place the shunt.
TIPS are usually used when other treatments have failed or are temporary while the patient awaits a liver transplant.
Restores blood volume. You may be given a transfusion to reverse blood loss and clotting factors to stop bleeding.
Prevent infection. There is an increased risk of infection with bleeding, it is likely that you will be given antibiotics to prevent infection.
Replacing a damaged liver with a healthy one. A liver transplant is an alternative for people with serious liver disease or for people who have recurrent bleeding from esophageal varices. While liver transplants are often successful, the number of people waiting for transplants far exceeds the organs available.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat esophageal varices?

Here are the lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with esophageal varices:

Don't drink alcohol. People with liver disease are often advised to stop consuming alcohol, because the liver processes alcohol. Drinking alcohol can burden a liver that is already working poorly.
Have a healthy diet. Choose a diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. Choose whole grains and lean protein sources. Reduce your intake of fatty and fried foods.
Maintain a healthy weight. Excess body fat can harm the liver. Obesity is associated with a greater risk of complications of cirrhosis. Lose weight if you are obese or overweight.
Use chemicals with caution. Follow directions on household chemicals, such as cleaners and insect sprays. If you work around chemicals, follow safety warnings. Your liver flushes toxins from your body, so limit the amount of toxins your liver has to process.
Reduce the risk of hepatitis. Protect yourself by staying away from sex or using condoms. Ask your doctor if you should be vaccinated for hepatitis B and hepatitis A.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.