Synonyms
Gastroesophageal lacerations; Mallory-Weiss tears
Definition
Mallory-Weiss lacerations are mucosal or submucosal longitudinal tears that occur at the gastroesophageal junction or gastric cardia. These lacerations may cause upper gastrointestinal bleeding from submucosal blood vessels (Mallory-Weiss syndrome). They were first described in 15 alcoholic patients with persistent retching and vomiting (Mallory and Weiss 1929).
While the pathogenesis is not completely understood, it appears that any action leading to a sudden rise in intra-abdominal pressure and gastric prolapse or intussusception into the esophagus may cause a Mallory-Weiss laceration. Besides retching and vomiting, other precipitating factors include coughing, straining, convulsions, hiccups, blunt abdominal trauma, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Iatrogenic tears can result from procedures like upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and transesophageal echocardiography. Colonoscopic preparation with polyethylene...
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References and Further Reading
Bharucha, A. E., Gstout, C. J., & Balm, R. K. (1994). Clinical and endoscopic risk factors in the Mallory-Weiss syndrome. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 89, 2147.
Fujisawa, N., Inamori, M., Sekino, Y., et al. (2011). Risk factors for mortality in patients with Mallory-Weiss syndrome. Hepatogastroenterology, 58(106), 417–420.
Higuchi, N., Akahoshi, K., Sumida, Y., et al. (2006). Endoscopic band ligation therapy for upper gastrointestinal bleeding related to Mallory-Weiss syndrome. Surgical Endoscopy, 20(9), 1431–1434.
Kovacs, T. O., & Jensen, D. M. (1997). Endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of bleeding Mallory-Weiss tears. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 92, 805.
Mallory, G. K., & Weiss, S. W. (1929). Hemorrhages from lacerations of the cardiac orifice of the stomach due to vomiting. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, 178, 506–512.
Sugawa, C., Benishek, D., & Walt, A. J. (1983). Mallory-Weiss syndrome. A study of 224 patients. American Journal of Surgery, 145(1), 30–33.
Yamaguchi, Y., Yamato, T., Katsumi, N., et al. (2001). Endoscopic hemoclipping for upper GI bleeding due to Mallory-Weiss syndrome. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 53(4), 427–430.
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Pereira, B., Pereira, A.D. (2017). Mallory Weiss Lacerations, Esophageal. In: Carneiro, F., Chaves, P., Ensari, A. (eds) Pathology of the Gastrointestinal Tract. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40560-5_1652
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40560-5_1652
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