ESOPHAGEAL VARICES

Course overview

ESOPHAGEAL VARICES ARE DILATED SUBMUCOSAL DISTAL ESOPHAGEAL VEINS CONNECTING THE PORTAL AND SYSTEMIC CIRCULATIONS. THEY FORM DUE TO PORTAL HYPERTENSION, WHICH COMMONLY IS A RESULT OF CIRRHOSIS, RESISTANCE TO PORTAL BLOOD FLOW, AND INCREASED PORTAL VENOUS BLOOD INFLOW. VARICEAL RUPTURE IS THE MOST COMMON FATAL COMPLICATION OF CIRRHOSIS. THE SEVERITY OF LIVER DISEASE CORRELATES WITH THE PRESENCE OF VARICES AND RISK OF BLEEDING. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION OF ESOPHAGEAL VARICES AND THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING THIS CONDITION.