Many people live their lives completely unconcerned with themselves. But everyone knows that in order to live happily ever after, you need to take care of your health. Endless feasts, holidays, rivers of alcohol, the constant temptation to eat something tasty, but very harmful, causes irreparable harm to the human body. It is alcohol lovers who most often have big health problems. One of them is Mallory Weiss syndrome. In most cases, this disease occurs in men aged 45-60 years. It is characterized, first of all, by vomiting with an admixture of blood.
Mallory Weiss syndrome is a rupture of the mucous membrane in the area between the stomach and esophagus. The following symptoms are inherent in it:
- gastroesophageal bleeding;
- esophageal erosion;
- persistent vomiting;
- intense abdominal pain;
- hemorrhages in a small omentum;
- pallor of the skin of the face;
- lethargy;
- tachycardia;
- the possibility of developing shock.
What are the causes of the onset of the disease:
- Alcoholism.
- Pregnancy.
- Bulimia.
- Cough.
- Hiccups.
- Diaphragmatic hernia.
- Dumb abdominal injuries (accidents, falls from a height, bumps).
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- Vomiting caused by excessive alcohol consumption, pancreatitis, overeating, chronic intoxication, cholecystitis.
- Damage to the esophagus.
Mallory Weiss syndrome is diagnosed quite simply. A blood test will show a reduced number of red blood cells and an increased platelet count.
The most valuable is the endoscopic examination. It makes it possible to view the longitudinal rupture of the mucous membrane of the esophagus. This allows you to more accurately diagnose and begin treatment.
As a rule, Mallory Weiss syndrome manifests itself quite "colorfully." At the very beginning, with a rupture of the mucous membrane, blood may be absent in the vomit. But she will not be long in coming and will certainly appear a little later. Plus, there is pain in the abdomen, which will haunt the patient constantly. In particular, if the disease is not treated, but continue to tempt fate by drinking alcohol and adhering to the wrong lifestyle.
It’s hard enough to stop Mallory Weiss syndrome. Treatment must be done by specialists. The paramount task is the complete restoration of the blood volume in the human body. In this case, a variety of crystalloid, colloidal solutions are used. In case of large blood loss, blood transfusion is administered. It can be freshly frozen plasma or red blood cells.
A big problem in the treatment of this disease is constant bleeding. It is stopped with octreotide or aminocaproic acid. Everything is complicated by frequent bouts of vomiting. Because of this, it becomes impossible to use certain drugs. Vomiting can be stopped with a drug like Metoclopramide (or Cerucal otherwise).
Bleeding is also stopped mechanically using a Blackmore probe. A hemostatic effect is achieved by squeezing bleeding vessels in the esophagus.
There are so complex cases of the disease that, despite the above methods, bleeding does not stop. At the same time, endoscopic methods of stopping it are used: argon plasma coagulation, electrocoagulation, ligation, vascular clipping, chipping of the bleeding site with adrenaline, as well as combinations of different methods.
In especially difficult cases, these measures may be ineffective, and surgical intervention is required. Most often, flashing of bleeding vessels and gastrotomy are recommended.
It is always worth remembering that the disease is easier to prevent than to treat. Take care of yourself, and you won’t have to spend time and money on doctors and medicines.