Mallory Weiss Syndrome - Symptoms & Treatment

Mallory-Weiss syndrome refers to bleeding from tears (a Mallory-Weiss tear ) in the mucosa at the confluence of the stomach and esophagus, usually caused by severe retching, coughing, or vomiting. Alcoholism is a strong inclining factor. Mallory-Weiss tears are accountable for approximately 5% of cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Mallory-Weiss syndrome is a condition singularized by a tear and bleeding in the mucous membrane near where the esophagus and stomach join. A condition characterized by mucosal tears at the esophagogastric junction, occassionally with hematemesis. Any disorder which instated vomiting may result in the development of a Mallory-Weiss tear, that arises as a linear laceration at the gastroesophageal junction as the esophagus and stomach are cylindrical. Patients suffering from increased pressure in the vein leading into the liver (portal hypertension ) are more likely to bleed heavily from an esophageal laceration than those whose blood pressure is normal. In most of the patients the condition was confederated with chronic alcoholism.

Mallory-Weiss syndrome often presents as an episode of vomiting up blood ( hematemesis ) after violent retching or vomiting, but may also be noticed as old blood in the stool ( melena ), and a history of retching may be absent. In most cases, the bleeding stops impromptu after 24-48 hours, but endoscopic or surgical treatment is sometimes required and rarely the condition is fatal. Definitive diagnosis is by endoscopy; treatment by cautery or injection of epinephrine to stop the bleeding may be undertaken at the same time. In some cases, embolization of the arteries supplying the region may be performed by an mediate radiologist to stop the bleeding. As in any case of hemorrhage, fluid maintenance is an important part of therapy.

Causes of Mallory Weiss Syndrome

Common Causes of Mallory Weiss Syndrome :

• Stomach bleeding.
• Rectal bleeding.
• Acute inflammation of the liver causes vomiting in 10-20% of patients.
• Mallory-Weiss syndrome is usually caused by forceful or prolonged vomiting or coughing.
• Gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Bleeding from the tear causes a disruption in fluid and electrolyte balance of the body.
• Excessive vomiting or retching.

Symptoms of Mallory Weiss Syndrome

Some common Symptoms of Mallory Weiss Syndrome :

• Vomiting bright red blood .
• Lesser known silent killer diseases.
• Bloody stools.
• Symptoms of the Silent Killer Diseases.
• Immediate medical attention should be sought-after if these symptoms are present.

Treatment of Mallory Weiss Syndrome

• Coagulation therapy is done by passing a special delve which heats up through an endoscope to the site to stop the bleeding.
• Avoiding alcohol and other drugs
• Liquid diet after bleeding stops, evenly advancing to solids
• Administration or application of remedies to a patient or for a disease or injury; medicinal or surgical management; therapy.
• 5% of cases need surgery for uncontrolled bleeding. Surgery is also indicated when conservative therapy fails.
• Putting the patient on intravenous fluids until the bleeding stops
• In rare cases surgery may be needed to treat these tears.