What are the causes and symptoms of bleeding varices?
Liver disease often causes an increase in the blood pressure in the main veins that carry blood from the stomach and intestines to the liver (portal veins). As the pressure in the portal veins increases, the veins of the stomach and esophagus swell, until they eventually become varices. Bleeding varices are a life-threatening complication of this increase in blood pressure (portal hypertension). The most common cause of bleeding varices is cirrhosis of the liver caused by chronic alcohol abuse or hepatitis. Bleeding varices occur in approximately one in every 10,000 people. Symptoms of bleeding varices include: • vomiting blood, sometimes in massive amounts • black, tarry stools • decreased urine output • excessive thirst • nausea • vomiting • blood in the vomit If bleeding from the varices is severe, a patient may go into shock from the loss of blood, characterized by pallor, a rapid and weak pulse, rapid and shallow respiration, and lowered systemic blood pressure. Source: The Gale G
