GASTRIC VARICES Meaning and
Definition
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Gastric varices refer to the abnormal enlargement and dilation of the blood vessels (varices) in the stomach. Varices are commonly associated with liver cirrhosis, a chronic liver condition characterized by the progressive and irreversible scarring of the liver tissue.
In a healthy liver, blood flow through the portal vein carries nutrients from the digestive system to the liver for processing. However, in liver cirrhosis, the scar tissue disrupts the normal blood flow, leading to increased pressure in the portal vein. This elevated pressure causes the body to develop alternative channels for blood to flow, bypassing the liver and redirecting it towards other organs, including the stomach.
Gastric varices usually originate from the left gastric vein, a blood vessel that runs along the lesser curvature of the stomach, or the short gastric veins, which connect the larger vessels to the spleen.
Gastric varices are considered more dangerous and prone to bleeding compared to esophageal varices (varices in the esophagus) because gastric varices have thinner walls, making them more susceptible to rupture and bleeding. If a gastric variceal rupture occurs, it can result in severe gastrointestinal bleeding, potentially leading to life-threatening complications.
The diagnosis of gastric varices often involves endoscopic procedures, such as upper gastrointestinal endoscopy or endoscopic ultrasound, to visualize and assess the condition of the varices. Various treatment options are available, including pharmacotherapy, endoscopic interventions (e.g., band ligation, cyanoacrylate injection), and interventional radiology procedures, depending on the specific case and individual patient factors.
Common Misspellings for GASTRIC VARICES
- fastric varices
- vastric varices
- bastric varices
- hastric varices
- yastric varices
- tastric varices
- gzstric varices
- gsstric varices
- gwstric varices
- gqstric varices
- gaatric varices
- gaztric varices
- gaxtric varices
- gadtric varices
- gaetric varices
- gawtric varices
- gasrric varices
- gasfric varices
- gasgric varices
- gasyric varices
Etymology of GASTRIC VARICES
The term "gastric varices" is a medical term that refers to vascular abnormalities occurring in the stomach. The word "gastric" is derived from the Latin word "gaster" which means "belly" or "stomach". It ultimately originates from the Greek word "gastēr". The term "varices" is derived from the Latin word "varix" which means "twisted or dilated vein". The word "varix" is believed to have its roots in the Greek word "variēn" meaning "to enlarge, dilate, or twist". So, the etymology of "gastric varices" indicates its literal meaning of "enlarged or dilated veins in the stomach".
