title: Management of acute variceal bleeding: emphasis on endoscopic therapy.
abstract: Acute variceal bleeding is one of the most serious and feared complications of patients with portal hypertension. The most common cause of portal hypertension is advanced liver disease. Patients with esophageal and gastric varices may bleed because of a progressive increase in portal pressure that causes them to grow and finally rupture. This article will review the current management strategies for acute variceal bleeding with emphasis on endoscopic therapy for the acute episode.
authors.affiliation: GI Unit / Institut Clinic de Malalties Digestives i Metaboliques, University of Barcelona, Hospital Clinic, Spain. acardena@clinic.ub.es
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cárdenas
mesh_terms: D021721:Balloon Occlusion / Q000009:adverse effects; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008026:Ligation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D011168:Portal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents