Symptoms Of Mallory-Weiss Syndrome

Mallory-Weiss syndrome describes a laceration or tear of the mucous membrane. It most commonly occurs in the gastroesophageal junction, which is where the stomach and esophagus connect. A prolonged bout of severe vomiting is the most common cause of Mallory-Weiss syndrome, which, in turn, can cause severe bleeding. Mallory-Weiss syndrome occurs in one to fifteen percent of bleeding episodes in the gastrointestinal tract. It is most common in men between forty and sixty years old. Mallory-Weiss syndrome can sometimes occur as a complication of chemotherapy, as well as by food poisoning and other conditions that cause severe retching and vomiting. Uncover the symptoms of Mallory-Weiss syndrome now.

Hematemesis

Hematemesis is the vomiting of blood, and in Mallory-Weiss syndrome, the blood patients vomit is often dark, clotted and resembles coffee grounds. If the blood is fresh, however, it will be red. If the patient loses a lot of blood, they can go into shock. Fortunately, the bleeding stops on its own in about eighty to ninety percent of cases, and most of the mucous membrane tears also heal on their own within seven to ten days. The doctor will often diagnose Mallory-Weiss syndrome if the hematemesis has been preceded by at least one bout of non-bloody vomiting.

If the doctor suspects a patient has Mallory-Weiss syndrome, they may perform an esophagogastroduodenoscopy. After giving the patient a painkiller and sedative, the doctor will maneuver an endoscope down their esophagus to their stomach. The endoscope is a flexible tube with a camera attached, and it will enable doctors to examine the patient’s gastrointestinal tract and locate the tear. Doctors may also order a complete blood count to determine the number of red blood cells and thus determine the severity of the blood loss.

Learn more about the signs of Mallory-Weiss syndrome now.