Varices are abnormal dilated veins which result from increased pressure in the portal circulation. Although the oesophagus and stomach are the most common sites for varices to develop, they may also occur as ectopic varices in the duodenum, rectum, and retroperitoneal areas. Isolated duodenal varices involving distal duodenum, particularly the fourth part of the duodenum, are extremely rare. Ho...

Esophagogastric varices are considered to be the most common complication in patients with portal hypertension, while ectopic varices, that is, those outside of the esophagogastric region, are less common. Rectal varices represent portal systemic collaterals that are manifested as discrete dilated submucosal veins and constitute a pathway for portal venous flow between the superior rectal veins...

Ectopic varices (those outside of the gastro-esophageal region) are occasionally found on endoscopy in patients with portal hypertension; however they account for a small minority of all variceal bleeds. Cases of isolated cecal varices are quite rare and, when described, often present with acute hemorrhage or evidence of occult bleeding. We present the case of a 29-year-old male with a history ...

Bacterial infection may adversely affect the hemostasis of patients with gastroesophageal variceal bleeding (GEVB). Antibiotic prophylaxis can prevent bacterial infection in such patients, but its role in preventing rebleeding is unclear. Over a 25-month period, patients with acute GEVB but without evidence of bacterial infection were randomized to receive prophylactic antibiotics (ofloxacin 20...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Symmers periportal fibrosis secondary to schistosomiasis is a common cause of portal hypertension worldwide. Data on the prevalence of gastric varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy in this group of patients with portal hypertension is relatively scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of gastric varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy in ...

Background and study aims  Polypoid lesions found during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) are occasionally found in patients with portal hypertension (PH). This study aimed to assess the true nature of such polypoid lesions using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and determine the accuracy of UGIE in differentiating between vascular and non-vascular lesions in PH. Patients and methods  We re...

BACKGROUND Long-term follow-up studies of patients with extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) after eradication of esophageal varices using endoscopic sclerotherapy (EST) are limited. METHODS Between 1985 and 1994, 223 patients with bleeding esophageal varices due to EHPVO underwent variceal eradication using EST. Regular annual clinical and endoscopic follow-up data were available f...

Varices most commonly occur and bleed in the gastro-esophageal region but ectopic varices can arise at extra-gastro-esophageal locations in the gastrointestinal tract like duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon, rectum, biliary tree and at the site of a surgical ostomy. These varices pose diagnostic as well as therapeutic challenges during endoscopic procedures. Ectopic varices can also occur outside ...

Bleeding from duodenal varices is a rare complication of portal hypertension, occurring in only 0.4% of these patients and is often life-threatening because of the difficulty in diagnosis and treatment. Treatment options include surgical procedures and endoscopic and endovascular treatments. A 48-year-old female cirrhotic patient was admitted to our clinic with upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract...