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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.
The esophageal veins drain blood from the esophagus to the azygos vein, in the thorax, and to the inferior thyroid vein in the neck. It also drains, although with less significance, to the hemiazygos vein, posterior intercostal vein and bronchial veins. [citation needed] In the abdomen, some drain to the left gastric vein which drains into the ...
Esophageal varices are due to a connection between the left gastric vein and the azygos-hemiazygos veins; gastroesophageal varices are due to connections between either the anterior branch of the left gastric vein and esophageal veins or the short gastric & posterior gastric vein and esophageal veins. [25] [26]
Esophageal varices and gastric varices result from collateral circulation in the esophagus and stomach (a process called portacaval anastomosis). [40] When the blood vessels in this circulation become enlarged, they are called varices. Varices are more likely to rupture at this point. [9] Variceal rupture often leads to severe bleeding, which ...
Upper gastrointestinal bleeding can be caused by peptic ulcers, gastric erosions, esophageal varices, and rarer causes such as gastric cancer. The initial assessment includes measurement of the blood pressure and heart rate, as well as blood tests to determine the hemoglobin.
An upper GI bleed is more common than lower GI bleed. [2] An upper GI bleed occurs in 50 to 150 per 100,000 adults per year. [8] A lower GI bleed is estimated to occur in 20 to 30 per 100,000 per year. [2] It results in about 300,000 hospital admissions a year in the United States. [1] Risk of death from a GI bleed is between 5% and 30%. [1] [7 ...
In fact, adult levels of Lp(a) are typically reached by age 5, according to the American College of Cardiology (ACC). Also unlike cholesterol, Lp(a) is not exactly the topic of frequent conversations.
Upper and lower human gastrointestinal tract. The esophagus (American English), oesophagus (British English), or œsophagus (archaic spelling) (see spelling difference) all / iː ˈ s ɒ f ə ɡ ə s, ɪ-/; [1] pl.: ((o)e)(œ)sophagi or ((o)e)(œ)sophaguses), colloquially known also as the food pipe, food tube, or gullet, is an organ in vertebrates through which food passes, aided by ...