n. a drug that releases *vasopressin over a period of hours. It is administered to help to control bleeding from *oesophageal varices by constricting the small arteries in the intestinal tract.
dilated veins in the lower oesophagus due to *portal hypertension. Varices have a high risk of bleeding, resulting in life-threatening *haematemesis. Bleeding may be arrested by band ligation (or banding): an endoscopic technique in which rubber bands are applied to the base of a bleeding varix. Injection of sclerosants into bleeding varices is an older technique not now widely used. Failure to stop variceal bleeding at endoscopy may require the insertion of a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube (a compression balloon). Nonendoscopic treatments for variceal bleeding include antibiotics and vasoactive agents (such as *terlipressin or octreotide).... oesophageal varices
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