Gastric Varices (4 of 25)

Sarin et al. defined four subtypes of gastric varices (Figure1) Gastro-Esophageal Varices (GOVs) are associated with esophageal varices along the lesser curve (type 1, GOV1), or along the fundus (type 2, GOV2) Isolated gastric varices (IGVs) are present in isolation in the fundus (IGV1) or at ectopic sites in the stomach or the first part of the duodenum (IGV2) Gastric varices may be primary (at initial presentation) or secondary (appearing after obliteration of esophageal varices) GOV1, the commonest at 70% of gastric varices, are also known as cardial varices. GOV2 and IGV1, at 21% and 7% of gastric varices, respectively, together referred to as fundal varices. The incidence of bleeding is highest with IGV1 (78%), followed by GOV2 (55%), and much less for GOV1 and IGV2 at 10%. Although the mortality rate with GOV1 is high, endoscopic treatment of GOV1 is likely to be more successful than the other subtypes.