1. Haematemesis Lent 2007

2. The case: Mr J O’F 48 year old jockey (divorced, no recent wins). Presents at 2am with a big haematemesis Unable to give a history

3. On examination…… Shocked: b.p. 90/60, P120 Short (5’5”); Thin arms and legs Spider naevi Pale yellow sclerae Veins visible coming out from the navel Liver palpable plus mass in LUQ Abdomen distended with shifting dullness Fetid breath

4. Spider naevus

5. Yellow scleri

6. Which way do the veins go?

7. What is the lump in the LUQ?

8. Why is the abdomen distended?

9. Why is the breath fetid and why is he vomiting blood?

10. Common causes of haematemesis Peptic ulcer: gastric or duodenal Acute gastric erosions/gastritis Carcinoma of the stomach Mallory-Weiss syndrome Oesophageal varices

11. So what might be happening in our patient?

12. The portal venous system: blood goes from the guts to the liver

13. Hepatic portal vein pressure Pressure = output (flow) x resistance, so.. pressure increases due to an increase in flow or resistance

14. What might cause an increase in resistance?

15. Increase in portal pressure: A blocked portal vein: thrombosis or tumour Liver disease: cirrhosis, tumour, infection (e.g schistosomiasis)

16. What would happen if the portal venous pressure increases? (Portal hypertension)

17. In portal hypertension.. Portal flow slows Vessels dilate due to back-pressure Flow may go elsewhere: anastomoses open up: At the base of the oesophagus At the umbilicus At the haemorrhoidal plexus

18. Anastomosis with oesophageal veins

19. What is the umbilicus?

20. Umbilicus: insertion site of umbilical cord: 2 arteries and one vein

23. In adult life: The umbilical arteries- become the obliterated umbilical arteries in the medial umbilical ligaments The umbilical vein- becomes the ligamentum teres in the falciform ligament THIS BECOMES PATENT IN PORTAL HYPERTENSION

24. The caput Medusa

25. And what causes ascites?

26. Ascites: fluid in the peritoneal cavity May be transudate due to increased portal pressure May be exudate of actively secreted fluid due to inflammation or tumour May be exacerbated by low protein levels due to poor liver function

27. So what has happened to to Mr J O’F?

28. The clinical picture suggests: Signs of portal hypertension Hepatosplenomegaly ascites Large haematemesis, probably from oesophageal varices Underlying cause?

30. How would you manage this case?

31. management Rescuscitaion Hb, X-match blood, U&Es, LFTs clotting studies Investigation: endoscopy; imaging Treatment: stop the bleeding; address the underlying problem

32. endoscopy

33. Treatment of varices: Medical: IV vasopressin; octreotide Ligation; banding Sclerotherapy Balloon tamponade

34. banding

35. The Sengstaken-Blakemore tube

36. And the outcome?

37. Prognosis from bleeding varices Patients who have bled once from esophageal varices have a 70% chance of rebleeding Approximately one third of further bleeding episodes are fatal. Risk of death highest during the first few days after the bleeding episode and decreases slowly over the first 6 weeks.