Nursing Care in Esophageal Varices

Objectives To identify and understand Nursing care in patients with esophageal varices.; Methods to adopt while managing acute variceal bleeding.; Nurses role in prevention of secondary bleeding. Design: used for this article is to review method. Data sources are different types of Medical and Gastroenterology text books, Medical Journals and Medical Surgical Nursing Text Books. The results that can be found; esophageal varices and paraesophageal varices are swollen veins in the lining of the lower esophagus. In most of the cases esophageal varices occur in people who have portal hypertension with variety of etiology. The veins don't enlarge in a uniform fashion. Esophageal varices usually have enlarged, irregularly shaped bulbous regions (varicosities) that are interrupted by narrower regions. These abnormal dilated veins rupture easily and can bleed profusely because, The pressure inside the varices is higher than the pressure inside normal veins; The walls of the varices are thin. About 50% of people who have bleeding from esophageal varices will have the problem return during the first one to two years. It is very much common among severe liver disease and ongoing alcohol consumption. Screening is done by an Upper GI Endoscopy.The preventive method used in patients is to give beta blockers. Bleeding from esophageal varices is an emergency that requires immediate treatment which includes variceal ligation and trans-jugular intra hepatic portosystemic shunt. Vasopressin and somatostatin analogue are main two drugs used to treat active bleeding. Conclusion: this article deals with management of esophageal varices which include both medical and nursing management. With effective and prompt nursing care for varices, the life of patients can be extended.