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Bleeding esophageal varices

Liver cirrhosis - varices; Cryptogenic chronic liver disease - varices; End-stage liver disease - varices; Alcoholic liver disease - varices

 

The esophagus is the tube that connects your throat to your stomach. Varices are enlarged veins that may be found in the esophagus. These veins may break open and bleed.

Causes

 

Scarring ( cirrhosis ) of the liver is the most common cause of esophageal varices. This scarring cuts down on blood flowing through the liver. As a result, more blood flows through the veins of the esophagus.

The extra blood flow causes the veins in the esophagus to balloon outward. Heavy bleeding can occur if the veins break open.

Any type of chronic liver disease can cause esophageal varices.

Varices can also occur in the upper part of the stomach.

 

Symptoms

 

People with chronic liver disease and esophageal varices may have no symptoms.

If there is only a small amount of bleeding, the only symptom may be dark or black streaks in the stools.

If larger amounts of bleeding occur, symptoms may include:

  • Black, tarry stools
  • Bloody stools
  • Lightheadedness
  • Paleness
  • Symptoms of chronic liver disease
  • Vomiting
  • Vomiting blood

 

Exams and Tests

 

Your health care provider will do a physical exam which may show:

  • Bloody or black stool (in a rectal exam)
  • Low blood pressure
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Signs of chronic liver disease or cirrhosis

Tests to find the source of the bleeding and determine if there is active bleeding include:

  • EGD or upper endoscopy, which involves the use of a camera on a flexible tube to examine the esophagus and stomach.
  • Insertion of a tube through the nose into the stomach (nasogastric tube) to look for signs of bleeding.

Some providers recommend EGD for people who are newly diagnosed with mild to moderate cirrhosis. This test screens for esophageal varices and treats them before there is bleeding.

 

Treatment

 

The goal of treatment is to stop acute bleeding as soon as possible. Bleeding must be controlled quickly to prevent shock and death.

If massive bleeding occurs, a person may need to be put on a ventilator to protect the airways and prevent blood from going down into the lungs.

To stop the bleeding:

The provider may pass an endoscope (tube with a small light at the end) into the esophagus:

  • A clotting medicine may be injected into the varices.
  • A rubber band may be placed around the bleeding veins (called banding).

Other treatments to stop the bleeding:

  • A medicine that tightens blood vessels may be given through an IV. Examples include octreotide or vasopressin .
  • Rarely, a tube may be inserted through the nose into the stomach and inflated with air. This produces pressure against the bleeding veins (balloon tamponade).

Once the bleeding is stopped, other varices can be treated with medicines and medical procedures to prevent future bleeding, including:

  • Drugs called beta blockers, such as propranolol and nadolol that reduce the risk of bleeding.
  • A rubber band can be placed around the bleeding veins during an EGD procedure. Also, some medicines can be injected into the varices during EGD to cause them to clot.
  • Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt ( TIPS ). This is a procedure to create new connections between 2 blood vessels in your liver. This can decrease pressure in the veins and prevent bleeding episodes from happening again.

Emergency surgery may be used (rarely) to treat people if other therapy fails. Portocaval shunts or surgery to remove the esophagus are 2 treatment options, but these procedures are risky.

People with bleeding varices from liver disease may need more treatment for their liver disease, including a liver transplant.

 

Outlook (Prognosis)

 

Bleeding often comes back with or without treatment. Bleeding esophageal varices are a serious complication of liver disease and have a poor outcome. Placement of a shunt can result in a decrease of blood supply to the brain, leading to mental status changes.

 

Possible Complications

 

Future problems caused by varices may include:

  • Narrowing or stricture of the esophagus due to scarring after a procedure
  • Return of bleeding after treatment

 

When to Contact a Medical Professional

 

Call your provider or go to an emergency room if you vomit blood or have black tarry stools.

 

Prevention

 

Treating the causes of liver disease may prevent bleeding. Liver transplantation should be considered for some people.

 

 

Open References

References

Garcia-Tsao G. Cirrhosis and its sequelae. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine . 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 153.

Savides TJ, Jensen DM. Gastrointestinal bleeding. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease . 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 20.

 
  • Digestive system

    Digestive system - illustration

    The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.

    Digestive system

    illustration

  • Liver blood supply

    Liver blood supply - illustration

    The proper hepatic artery supplies blood to the liver.

    Liver blood supply

    illustration

    • Digestive system

      Digestive system - illustration

      The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.

      Digestive system

      illustration

    • Liver blood supply

      Liver blood supply - illustration

      The proper hepatic artery supplies blood to the liver.

      Liver blood supply

      illustration

    A Closer Look

     

      Self Care

       

        Tests for Bleeding esophageal varices

         
           

          Review Date: 10/27/2015

          Reviewed By: Subodh K. Lal, MD, gastroenterologist with Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia, Austell, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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