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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffSerious liver diseases such as cirrhosis can cause a number of complications, including esophageal varices — abnormally enlarged veins in the lower part of your esophagus, the tube that connects your throat and stomach.
Esophageal varices develop when normal blood flow to your liver is blocked. The blood then backs up into smaller, more fragile blood vessels in your esophagus, and often in your stomach or rectum as well, causing the vessels to swell. Sometimes, esophageal varices can rupture, causing a life-threatening condition.
A number of drugs and medical procedures are available to stop bleeding from esophageal varices. These same treatments can help prevent bleeding in people diagnosed with esophageal varices.
- Dite P, et al. World Gastroenterology Organisation Practice Guidelines: Esophageal Varices. World Gastroenterology Organisation. http://www.worldgastroenterology.org/assets/downloads/en/pdf/guidelines/18_treatment_e_varices_en.pdf. Accessed Aug. 21, 2008.
- Sanyal, AJ. General principles of the management of variceal hemorrhage. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 21, 2008.
- Runyon, BA. Patient information: Screening for esophageal varices. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 21, 2008.
- Goff JS. Endoscopic variceal ligation. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 21, 2008.
- Portal hypertension. Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. http://www.merck.com/mmhe/print/sec10/ch135/ch135d.html. Accessed Aug. 21, 2008.
- Sanyal, AJ. Prediction of variceal hemorrhage. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 21, 2008.
- Sanyal, AJ. Treatment of active variceal hemorrhage. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 21, 2008.
- Sanyal, AJ. Primary prophylaxis against variceal hemorrhage in patients with cirrhosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 21, 2008.
- Sanyal, AJ. Prevention of recurrent variceal hemorrhage in patients with cirrhosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 20, 2008.
- Picco MF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla. Aug. 24, 2008.
