A patient is admitted with bleeding esophageal varices due to alcoholic liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. The patient is alcohol dependent. What is the most likely cause of the bleeding?

1) Gastric ulcer
2) Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
3) Esophageal cancer
4) Portal vein thrombosis

The most likely cause of the bleeding in a patient with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension is related to portal hypertension caused by scarring in the liver, which leads to increased pressure in the portal vein system (option 4) and bleeding from esophageal varices, making portal hypertension the direct cause.

Explanation:

A patient admitted with bleeding esophageal varices, alcoholic liver cirrhosis, and portal hypertension, who is also alcohol dependent, is most likely experiencing bleeding due to portal hypertension. Alcoholic liver cirrhosis leads to scarring within the liver, causing obstruction of blood flow through the liver and resulting in portal hypertension. This increased pressure in the portal vein system pushes blood into collateral veins such as esophageal varices, making them prone to bleeding.

Among the given options, portal vein thrombosis can also increase portal vein pressure, but given the context of the patient's condition (alcohol dependency leading to liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension), Portal Hypertension due to cirrhosis is the direct cause rather than a consequence like portal vein thrombosis. Therefore, the most likely cause of the bleeding is related to the cirrhosis-induced portal hypertension rather than the other conditions listed.

A patient is admitted with bleeding esophageal varices due to alcoholic liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. The patient is alcohol dependent. What is the most likely cause of the bleeding?1) Gastric ulcer 2) Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) 3) Esophageal cancer 4) Portal vein thrombosis

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Final answer:

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