Esophageal varices are because of portal hypertension and responsible for massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, portal hypertension is a progressive complication of cirrhosis and upper GI hemorrage is 4 times commoner than lower intestinal hemorrhage. 50% of cases may develop esophageal varices with portal hypertension, primary biliary cirrhosis cases present with varices at an earlier age, in cases of splenic vein thrombosis, patients presents with varices without portal hypertension. Anatomy Upper 2/3 esophagus drained via esophageal veins to azygos vein drained into superior vena cava, but not play any part in esophageal varices.
lower 1/3 esophagus drained via submucosal veins to left gastric vein to portal vein. Submucosal veins are normally 1 mm in diameter but in a case of portal hypertension, diameter reached up to 10 to 12 mm's in size. Normal portal pressure is 9 mm of…
