what are esophageal varices?

Answer 1

In medicine (gastroenterology), esophageal varices are extreme dilations of sub-mucosal veins in the mucosa of the esophagus in diseases featuring portal hypertension, secondary to cirrhosis primarily.


Esophageal varices seven days post banding, showing ulceration at the site of banding.Patients with esophageal varices have a strong tendency to develop bleeding.

Esophageal varices are diagnosed with endoscopy.

Contents [hide]
1 Pathogenesis
2 Treatment and the role of endoscopy
3 Prevention
4 References
5 See also



[edit]
Pathogenesis
The lower esophagus is a site of 'portosystemic anastamosis', meaning that venous blood flow in the portal circulation (i.e. draining into the portal vein) and the mesenteric circulation freely mix.

In situations where portal pressures increase, which are typically related to cirrhosis, there is dilation of veins in the anastamosis, leading to esophageal varices.

Varices can also form in other areas of the body, including the stomach (gastric varices), duodenum (duodenal varices), and rectum (rectal varices). Treatment of these types of varices may differ.

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Treatment and the role of endoscopy
In emergency situations, the care is directed at stopping blood loss, maintaining plasma volume, correcting disorders in coagulation induced by cirrhosis, and appropriate use of antibiotics (as infection is either concomittant, or a precipitant).

Therapeutic endoscopy is considered the mainstay of urgent treatment. Two main therapeutic approaches exist:

Variceal ligation, or banding
sclerotherapy
In cases of refractory bleeding, balloon tamponade may be necessary, usually as a bridge to further endoscopy, a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), or a distal splenorenal shunt procedure or a liver transplantation.

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Prevention
Ideally, patients with known varices should receive treatment to reduce their risk of bleeding (Lebrec et al., 1981). The non-selective β-blockers (e.g., propranolol, timolol or nadolol) and nitrates have been evaluated for secondary prophylaxis. The effectiveness of this treatment has been shown by a number of different studies (Talwalkar JA & Kamath PS, 2004).

Unfortunately, non-selective β-blockers do not prevent the formation of esophageal varices (Groszmann RJ et al., 2005).

Answer 2

I am not a doctor but from what I have heard they are weakened walls of the esophagus very commonly due to excessive long term alcohol use. They cause bleeding, eventually hemorrhaging and ultimately death. I don't believe there is really any cure for it. It is pretty much a breakdown of tissue due to abuse.

Answer 3

After 10 years of struggling with all sorts of creams and pills to treat this embarrassing problem I was able to get rid of my varicose veins by using natural healing methods and alternative herbal home remedies.

Read Diane Thompson's "Varicose Veins Secrets" (also available in electronic format at: http://www.varicoseveinscure.org ). By following this guide book I was able to eradicate my varicose veins pretty fast. God bless!

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Basically it is when you have extreme dilation of the veins in your esophagus.

Answer 6

varicose veins in your oesophagus, which have to be surgically fixed, or they can rupture and you could bleed to death