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Várices esofágicas sangrantes - Overview

Definición:

Son venas muy hinchadas en las paredes de la parte inferior del esófago (el conducto que conecta la garganta con el estómago) que comienzan a sangrar.

Causas, incidencia y factores de riesgo:

La cicatrización (cirrosis) del hígado es la causa más común de várices esofágicas. Esta cicatrización impide que la sangre fluya a través del hígado. Como resultado, hay más flujo de sangre a través de las venas del esófago.

Este flujo sanguíneo extra provoca que las venas en el esófago se hinchen hacia afuera. Si estas venas se rompen (presentan ruptura), pueden causar sangrado profuso.

Cualquier causa de enfermedad hepática crónica puede provocar várices.

Las venas hinchadas (várices) también se pueden presentar en la parte superior del estómago.

  • Reviewed last on: 1/20/2010
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Garcia-Tsao G, Sanyal AJ, Grace ND, Carey WD; Practice Guidelines Committee of American Association for Study of Liver Diseases; Practice Parameters Committee of American College of Gastroenterology. Prevention and management of gastroesophageal varices and variceal hemorrhage in cirrhosis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2007;102:2086-2102.

Garcia-Tsao G. Cirrhosis and its sequellae. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 157.

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