Home | Jackson Siegelbaum Gastro | Patient Education
		Esophageal Varices Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Examples of Varices Varices in the esophagus are like varicose veins in the legs. They are swollen veins which usually only occur when there is cirrhosis of the liver. When this happens, blood from the intestine cannot get through the blocked liver but rather detours through the esophagus on the way back to the heart. These veins eventually can become very large and bleed which is a bad complication. Note that the veins in the images are swollen and have a bluish tinge the color of blood in veins. Like most things in life, they come in small, medium and large. Usually, it is only when they become large that bleeding occurs. Image 1 shows a small bluish varix. In Image 2, there are now several larger undulating swollen varices. In Image 3, you see quite large swollen veins with even a small amount of blood.
		Patient Ed | Diseases | Procedures | Diets | Drugs | Endoscopy Images | Links Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology 423 North 21st Street, Suite 100   2626 North 3rd Street., Suite 3A Camp Hill, PA 17011 Harrisburg, PA 17110 (717) 761-0930   Phone: (717) 238-3111 *We can NOT provide medical care over the phone. Please contact us to make an appointment if needed. Fax: (717) 761-0465 Email: contact@gicare.com Web: gicare.com © Copyright 2006 Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology. All Rights Reserved.