Overview
Esophageal varices occur in about half of all people with alcoholic cirrhosis. About one-third of these will experience variceal hemorrhage, a life-threatening event. This article describes alcoholic cirrhosis and its complications, discusses the etiology of esophageal varices and the risk factors for hemorrhage, and addresses emergent treatment. Further treatment options, including endoscopic variceal ligation, endoscopic injection sclerotherapy, balloon tamponade, and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement, are also discussed.