Variceal Bleeding are dilated blood vessels in the esophagus or stomach caused by portal hypertension. They cause no symptoms unless they rupture and bleed, which can be life-threatening.
Someone with symptoms of bleeding varices should seek treatment immediately. Doctors can stop the bleeding and help prevent varices from coming back.
Symptoms of Bleeding Varices
Symptoms include:
- Vomiting of blood
- Black, tarry, or bloody stool
- Low blood pressure
- Rapid heart rate
- Lightheadedness
- Shock (in severe cases)
Bleeding from varices is a medical emergency. If the bleeding is not controlled quickly, a person may go into shock or die.
Even after the bleeding has been stopped, there can be serious complications, such as pneumonia, sepsis, liver failure, kidney failure, confusion, and coma.
The treatment of veral bleeding is a combination of medications which are given through the intravenous route and endoscopic treatment which requires Band ligation in most cases. The patient needs to be admitted for these procedures and delay in treatment can lead to life threatening conditions.