Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Gastrointestinal varices primary prevention
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Primary prevention of variceal bleeding may be achieved via rigorous surveillance of varices after their development and via the use non-selective beta blockers and/or endoscopic band ligation (EBL). Liver disease is the most common cause of portal hypertension and effective measures for the primary prevention of liver diseases include hepatitis B vaccination, avoidance from unprotected sexual intercourse, precise screening of the blood products before infusion, reducing alcohol consumption, obesity prevention, and diabetes mellitus prevention.
Primary Prevention
Primary Prevention
Effective measures to prevent variceal bleeding include the following:[1]
Cirrhosis
- Diagnostic endoscopy for the presence of varices
No varices
- Surveillance for development of varices (every 2-3 yr in compensated cirrhosis/yearly in cases of decompensation)
Small varices-low bleeding risk
- Surveillance for progression of varices (every 1-2 yr in compensated cirrhosis/yearly in cases of decompensation)
Small varices-high bleeding risk
Medium-large varices
- Non-selective beta blockers or endoscopic band ligation (EBL)
Prevention of liver disease
- Effective measures for the primary prevention of liver diseases, as the main causes of portal hypertension, include:[2]
- Prevention of hepatitis B through vaccination
- Avoid unprotected sexual intercourse
- Prevention of hepatitis C through precise screening of the blood products before infusion
- Reduction of alcohol consumption
- Prevention of overweight and obesity
- Prevention of diabetes mellitus
References
References
- ↑ Triantos C, Kalafateli M (2014). “Primary prevention of bleeding from esophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis”. World J Hepatol. 6 (6): 363–9. doi:10.4254/wjh.v6.i6.363. PMC 4081611. PMID 25018847.
- ↑ Flores YN, Lang CM, Salmerón J, Bastani R (2012). “Risk factors for liver disease and associated knowledge and practices among Mexican adults in the US and Mexico”. J Community Health. 37 (2): 403–11. doi:10.1007/s10900-011-9457-4. PMID 21877109.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Syed Hassan A. Kazmi BSc, MD [2]