Mallory-Weiss syndrome (patient information)

Mallory-Weiss syndrome
Overview
What are the symptoms?
What are the causes?
Who is at highest risk?
Diagnosis
When to seek urgent medical care?
Treatment options
Where to find medical care for Mallory-Weiss syndrome?
Prevention
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Possible complications
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mohamed Diab, MD [2]

Overview

Mallory-Weiss syndrome occurs in the mucus membrane of the distal esophagus or proximal part of stomach, near the junction. The tear may bleed.

What are the symptoms of Mallory-Weiss syndrome?

• Bloody stools

• Vomiting blood (bright red)

• Epigastric pain

Patients often have history of nonbloody vomiting, retching, or coughing.

What causes Mallory-Weiss syndrome?

Mallory-Weiss tears are usually developed secondary to a sudden increase in intraabdominal pressure. Anything that leads to forceful and lengthy vomiting or coughing. can cause these tears.

Mallory-Weiss tears may also be caused by convulsions.

Diagnosis

• CBC possibly showing low hematocrit

• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), more likely to be done when there is active bleeding

When to seek urgent medical care?

Call your health care provider if you begin vomiting blood or if you pass bloody stools.

Treatment options

The tear usually heals in a few days without treatment. Surgery is rarely needed. Drugs that suppress stomach acid (proton pump inhibitors or H2 blockers) may be given, but it is not clear if they are helpful.

If blood loss has been great, blood transfusions may be needed. In most cases, bleeding stops without treatment within a few hours.

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Repeated bleeding is uncommon and the outcome is usually good. Cirrhosis of the liver and problems with blood clotting make future bleeding episodes more likely to occur.

Possible complications

• Hemorrhage (loss of blood)

Prevention

Treatments to relieve vomiting and coughing may reduce risk. Avoid excessive alcohol use.

Source

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001315/