esophageal varices


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varix

 [vār´iks] (L.) an enlarged, tortuous vein, artery, or lymphatic vessel.aneurysmal varix a markedly dilated tortuous vessel; sometimes used to denote a form of arteriovenous aneurysm in which the blood flows directly into a neighboring vein without the intervention of a connecting sac.arterial varix a racemose aneurysm or varicose artery.esophageal varices varicosities of branches of the azygous vein which anastomose with tributaries of the portal vein in the lower esophagus; due to portal hypertension in cirrhosis of the liver.lymph varix (varix lympha´ticus) a soft, lobulated swelling of a lymph node due to obstruction of lymphatic vessels.

e·soph·a·ge·al var·i·ces

longitudinal venous varices at the lower end of the esophagus as a result of portal hypertension; they are superficial and liable to ulceration and massive bleeding.

esophageal varices

The presence of varices under the esophageal mucosa, which most commonly occurs in a background of advanced liver disease Etiology Portal HTN, schistosomiasis Management Acute hemorrhage of EVs is treated by balloon compression; rebleeding is common, and is preemptively managed with endoscopic sclerotherapy, which in turn is often complicated by rebleeding, stenosis, & esophageal ulceration; some data suggest that combined modality therapy with a β-blocking agent–nadolol, propranolol and an anti-hypertensive–isosorbide mononitrate is better than endoscopic sclerotherapy in treating EVs Prognosis Good if unrelated to cirrhosis. See Endoscopic sclerotherapy, Nadolol with isosorbide mononitrate.

e·soph·a·ge·al va·ri·ces

(ĕ-sof'ă-jē'ăl var'i-sēz) Longitudinal venous varices at the lower end of the esophagus as a result of portal hypertension; they are superficial and liable to ulceration and massive bleeding.
Synonym(s): oesophageal varices.

e·soph·a·ge·al va·ri·ces

(ĕ-sof'ă-jē'ăl var'i-sēz) Longitudinal venous varices at lower end of esophagus as a result of portal hypertension; superficial and liable to ulceration and massive bleeding.