The following is an excerpt....
BASICS
Description
- Dilated veins in the distal esophagus that connect the portal and systemic circulations
- Result from resistance to portal blood flow and increased portal venous blood inflow as a direct consequence of portal hypertension
- Cirrhosis leads to increased pressure and turbulent flow; superficial location of distal esophageal veins make them susceptible to rupture, producing major GI bleeding with high morbidity, mortality.
Epidemiology
Incidence
1-year rate of 1st variceal bleeding is ~5% for small varices, 15% for large varices (1).
ALERT:
Pediatric Considerations
Portal hypertension commonly complicates chronic liver disease in children. Incomplete data on screening, endoscopic treatment, β-blockers use (
2)
Prevalence
- Esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis (correlating with disease severity): 50%
- Patients with esophageal varices who ...
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