Esophageal Varices
Esophageal varices refer to enlarged veins that appear at the upper stomach wall or the lower esophagus. If these veins start to rupture, they could cause some bleeding and lead to blood in black stool or vomit. These conditions are severe complications resulting from the high blood pressure brought about by liver cirrhosis. People with esophageal varices generally don’t experience symptoms as long as the veins don’t rupture. However, the moment it does, the condition of the symptoms can include melena, the vomiting of blood, lightheadedness, and fainting.
There are a few ways in which esophageal varices are detected. Upper endoscopy is one of the more common procedures used to identify the existence of the condition. During the procedure, the patient is sedated, and the healthcare provider inserts a flexible, lighted, and thin tube with a miniature camera that they can use to look at the stomach and esophageal lining. The less popular alternative is swallowing a pill containing a tiny camera. With it, medical professionals take pictures to check for any abnormalities.
