Heyyyyy

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Toots keeping up with all the testing labs scans reports all our medical files we compile is a full time job and gets much more involved and much more is done in later stages.

Besides our many scans and with or without contrasts both upper and lower gi scopes scans are usually done and routinely in late stages to view first hand compare scans any problems could be many related problems many areas for signs of varices banding if needed and for prevention of major bleeds total medical care and tx's.

Varices the increased portal vein hypertension high pressures blood flow complications bursting bleeds is not only located in the esophagus causing enlargement of veins there also upper/lower gi systems and a cause of enlargement of the spleen.

In later stages I was routinely checked with both upper/lower gi scopes to cover it all all the bases.

All The Best

Deb

Portal Hypertension Portal hypertention is a state in which the pressure within the hepatic portal vein is increased, causing enlargement of the spleen, enlargement of the veins in the esophagus (gullet) (which may rupture to cause severe bleeding), and accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity (ascites). The commonest cause is cirrhosis, but other diseases of the liver or thrombosis of the portal vein can also produce it.

Varices

As said before, portal hypertension is the increased pressure in the portal vein and its tributaries resulting from increased resistance to the blood flow into the liver, and is usually caused by the scarring process of cirrhosis. The increased pressure causes varices, or dilatations of the veins tributaries to the portal vein. When varices are located in superficial tissues and have thin walls, they may rupture and bleed. The two main locations where bleeding is likely to occur are the lower esophagus/upper stomach and the perianal region. Esophageal varices are likely to bleed most heavily, and this bleeding is sometimes associated with the onset of hepatic encephalopathy or coma. Because of their location at the lower end of the esophagus and/or the upper portion of the stomach, bleeding from these varices is often difficult to control. If discovered before bursting, or after successful emergency treatment, varices can be treated long term with beta blockers, which induce a reduction in the portal vein blood pressure. If varices burst, they can be obliterated using endoscopically placed rubber bands or injections with a drug that turns the varices into sclerotic tissue. If the bleeding is heavy, a rubber balloon may be placed at the lower end of the esophagus or the upper portion of the stomach, and is then inflated, in order to stop the bleeding by pressure. If treatment via endoscopy fails to stop the bleeding, a TIPS (Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt) can be created by inserting a short metal mesh tube through a neck vein into the liver, redirecting part of the blood flow from the portal vein to another vein in the liver. Another possibility is to surgically redirect some of the blood flow from the portal vein around the liver.