NYMC Faculty Publications
Downhill Esophageal Varices: a Therapeutic Dilemma
Journal Title
Annals of Translational Medicine
First Page
463
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
December 2018
Department
Medicine
Abstract
Esophageal varices can cause life-threatening complications and are most often a sequela of liver disease. Although a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding, downhill variceal bleeding secondary to superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. We discuss two such cases of downhill esophageal varices presenting with hematemesis in patients with end stage renal disease and no history of cirrhosis. These varices were thought to be secondary to SVC occlusion caused by complications from previous dialysis catheters. However, their difficult anatomy posed a significant challenge to the therapeutic interventions.
Recommended Citation
Chakinala, R. C., Kumar, A., Barsa, J., Mehta, D., Haq, K., Solanki, S., Tewari, V., & Aronow, W. (2018). Downhill Esophageal Varices: a Therapeutic Dilemma. Annals of Translational Medicine, 6 (23), 463. https://doi.org/10.21037/atm.2018.11.13
