Gastric varices

Gastric fundal varices, also known as esophagogastric fundal varices, are primarily caused by increased portal vein pressure in liver cirrhosis. Normally, blood from the gastric fundus returns to the liver through the portal vein. When portal vein pressure increases, it leads to the opening of small blood vessels in the gastric fundus and lower esophagus, causing retrograde blood flow, which manifests as dilated submucosal veins in the esophagus and gastric fundus. When gastric fundal varices rupture, the bleeding is massive, rapid, and life-threatening, with a high mortality rate.