Editing Oesophageal/gastric varices (section)

== '''Pathophysiology''' ==

* Can develop from either:
** Portal hypertension, in      conjunction with oesophageal varices
*** Transmitted by the left       gastric vein to oesophageal varices, and then drain through azygos       system
*** Transmitted by the short       and posterior gastric veins to the fundic plexus and cardia veins
** Sinistral hypertension from      splenic vein thrombosis
*** Tends to cause isolated       gastric varices
*** SVT is most commonly       secondary to pancreatitis
*** Splenic blood flows       retrograde through the short and posterior gastric veins into the       varices and then through the coronary vein into the portal vein
*** Ectopic varices can form       from retrograde flow through the gastroepiploic vein to the SMV
* Need a pressure gradient     >12mmHg across liver to develop varices
* Veins may pathologically     dilate up to 2cm with increased wall tension stressing the overlying     mucosa. The mucosa can breach, causing catastrophic bleeding