Esophageal Varices and Cirrhosis Quiz

Enlarged vessels within the lumen of the lower esophagus that provide extrahepatic pathways of blood flow from the portal to the systemic circulation.

Esophageal varices enlarge and may spontaneously rupture, leading to bleeding, which may be massive.

Upper endoscopy should be performed in all patients with cirrhosis to assess for varices.

<p>Initiate nonselective β-blocker therapy or endoscopic variceal ligation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Endoscopic variceal ligation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They are generally not amenable to band ligation and are treated with hemodynamic resuscitation, antibiotic therapy, and octreotide.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Isolated gastric varices occurring with splenic vein thrombosis are treated with splenectomy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Portal hypertensive gastropathy is the presence of dilated mucosal gastric veins and venules and is treated by focusing on the underlying portal hypertension.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>In the setting of portal hypertension, gastric antral vascular ectasias tend to be more diffuse than the classic linear pattern ('watermelon stomach').</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They are used to eradicate gastric varices via the systemic circulation and mucosal lesions in the distal stomach, respectively.</p> Signup and view all the answers