“Mallory-Weiss syndrome is a cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, that is, bleeding from the upper part of the digestive tract,” explains Dr. Scanzi. This syndrome is thought to be involved in 5 to 8% of bleeding upper digestive tract. It generally has a favorable evolution and a good prognosis.
“The Mallory-Weiss syndrome consists of a laceration of the mucous membrane of the lower esophagus during the effort of vomiting”, explains the doctor. “Repeated vomiting can wound the lower esophagus, which will cause the presence of blood in the vomit.”, he adds. It is most often a single lesion located at the oesogastric junction, that is to say at the junction between the esophagus and the stomach.
This syndrome is more frequently described in alcoholic patients, especially in middle-aged men. Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or chronic liver disease may be involved in the occurrence of this bloody vomiting.
However, Mallory-Weiss syndrome can affect anyone suffering from violent vomiting. These can, for example, be caused by a eating disorder.
The first symptom of Mallory-Weiss Syndrome is obviously the presence of bright red blood in the vomit. We then speak ofhematemesis, a term that designates the rejection of blood of digestive origin by the mouth. This is not the case in all patients, but some of them feel (…)
