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How can bleeding from esophageal varices be prevented?
Esophageal viruses are enlarged veins that develop in the esophagus the tube that connects our mouth to our stomach and can be the result of cirrhosis. Cirrhosis of the liver is a type of liver damage where healthy cells are replaced by scar tissue.
The scar tissue becomes an obstacle to the normal flow of blood through the liver, and as a consequence, the blood pressure in the veins of the esophagus increases. This can cause the veins in the esophagus to rupture, a very serious complication, that can lead to severe hemorrhage, and also death.
Preventing bleeding from esophageal varices is a crucial part of protecting the life of the patient while he is waiting for a liver transplant.
Patients need to be aware of signs of bleeding, such as vomiting blood, or passing black tarry stools. They should seek medical attention immediately if one of these things happens. Also, an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is recommended for individuals with a cirrhotic liver. This allows gastroenterologists to assess the size and risk of viruses and intervene if necessary.
There are ways to medically intervene if someone has esophageal varices that don’t involve liver transplantation. For example, medications such as propranolol or nadolol can help reduce the pressure in the veins, thus lowering the risk of bleeding from varices.
There are also some endoscopic interventions such as variceal band ligation. These endoscopic procedures involve placing rubber bands around the varices to prevent or even stop the bleeding using a tube with a camera inserted into the esophagus.
Another way to address esophageal varices is with sclerotherapy. This involves injecting a solution directly into the varices to shrink and seal them.
Lastly, when other interventions are not effective, a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, or TIPS procedure, can be considered. TIPS involves creating a shunt to divert blood flow away from the liver and reduce the pressure.
In conclusion, esophageal viruses is a very serious condition that can cause a life-threatening amount of bleeding. It is essential to be aware of the way to reduce bleeding
