gastrointestinal disorders
Varices
Introduction
Varices are dilated veins in the distal esophagus or proximal stomach caused by elevated pressure in the portal venous system, typically from cirrhosis. They may bleed massively but cause no other symptoms. Diagnosis is by upper endoscopy. Treatment is primarily with endoscopic banding and IVoctreotide. Sometimes a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting procedure is needed. (See also Overview of Gastrointestinal Bleeding and see also the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases' Portal Hypertension results from a number of conditions, predominantly Nasogastric tube passage in a patient with varices has not been shown to trigger bleeding. 