Esophageal varices are bulging veins in the esophagus caused from portal hypertension. This occurs when pressure builds in the portal vein that leads to the liver due to cirrhosis. Survival rate is 30% if they rupture.
An EGD (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy - say that 5 times really fast. Ha! Just say it once.) is a procedure where a small narrow scope is inserted into your esophagus and stomach via your mouth in order to examine the lining. If the doctor feels it is necessary, he may band them to keep them from rupturing.
I have this done once a year to check my varices. Mine are medium sized, but over the the last couple years, they leaked a few times. I say leaked instead of bleed because it was always a small amount and by the time I was checked over in the ER, everything would be good. No matter if it is just a leak, it is still a very scary thing to experience because you don't know if it's a leak or a rupture.
No comments:
Post a Comment