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Variceal Hemorrhage

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Evidence-Based Critical Care

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Abstract

Acute variceal hemorrhage is one of the most common reasons for intensive care unit admission of patients with cirrhosis, with mortality rates improved in recent years to 15–20%. Patients with variceal bleeding require immediate and aggressive resuscitation, with the goals of maintaining end-organ perfusion and achieving hemostasis as soon as possible. The critical care practitioner must be familiar with recommended medications and transfusion parameters, and indications for more invasive procedures should endoscopic measures fail to halt bleeding. Complications such as infection and hepatic encephalopathy should be given attention. In this chapter, we discuss typical management of a patient with suspected variceal bleeding and more controversial aspects in their care.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Elizabeth A. Belloli & Steven E. Gay

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  1. Elizabeth A. Belloli
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  2. Steven E. Gay
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Correspondence to Elizabeth A. Belloli .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Robert C. Hyzy

  2. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Jakob McSparron

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Belloli, E.A., Gay, S.E. (2020). Variceal Hemorrhage. In: Hyzy, R.C., McSparron, J. (eds) Evidence-Based Critical Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26710-0_68

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26710-0_68

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-26709-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-26710-0

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