Background:Rupture of the esophageal varices (REV) is a very dangerous complication of the portal hypertension, which seriously jeopardize life of the patients. Aim of this study is to point out the mortality rate of the patients with cirrhosis due to variceal bleeding. Patients and methodology: In retrospective clinical survey we evaluated 52 patients who died from complication of liver cirrhosis. We considered death from variceal bleeding in those patients who developed hemorrhage shock following severe hemathemesis and/or melena. We confirmed bleeding from esophageal and fundus varices by means of proximal endoscopy. All patients were hospitalized in Division for Gastroenterohepatology, CCU Sarajevo, from January 1996. - December 1998. Results: Death from ruptured esophageal varices was confirmed in 11/51 (21.5%) patients. Mortality rate due to ruptured varices was higher in patients having cirrhosis of virus (9/11; 81.8%) than of alcohol (2/11; 18.2%) (X2=6.545; p< 0.011) etiology. Patients classified (prognostic classification system of hepato-cellular function) as Child's Pugh B predominated over Child Pugh A and C (p<0.01). Conclusion: Ruptured esophageal varices (REV) are important cause of death in patients having terminal and irreversible liver disease. Undertaking various therapeutic procedures in patients having diagnosed esophageal varices certainly ensure better survival.
Keywords: Ruptured esophageal varices, portal hypertension, mortality.