Esophageal Varices

Esophageal varices are enlarged, swollen veins located in the lining of the lower esophagus, typically resulting from increased pressure in the portal vein system—a condition known as portal hypertension. This often occurs in patients with advanced liver disease, such as cirrhosis, where normal blood flow through the liver is obstructed, causing blood to be rerouted through smaller, fragile veins like those in the esophagus. 

These veins are prone to rupture, which can lead to sudden and severe gastrointestinal bleeding—a medical emergency that may present with vomiting blood, black tarry stools, dizziness, or fainting. Because bleeding from esophageal varices can be life-threatening, early diagnosis and preventive care are essential. Diagnosis is most often made through an upper endoscopy, which allows direct visualization of the varices and assessment of their size and bleeding risk. 

Treatment may include medications to reduce portal pressure, endoscopic banding or sclerotherapy to control bleeding, and in some cases, surgical procedures such as TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt). Patients with liver disease should be monitored regularly to detect and manage esophageal varices before complications arise, improving long-term outcomes and survival rates.