Experimental model of portal hypertension and esophagogastric varices in minipigs: pressure and endoscopic pilot study

Abstract

Portal hypertension plays a fundamental role in the pathophysiology of complications that lead to decompensation of advanced chronic liver disease, such as ascites, hepatic encephalopathy and hemorrhage due to rupture of gastroesophageal varices. Bleeding from esophageal varices has an accumulated incidence of approximately 10-15% per year, varying according to the degree of liver failure, diameter of the varices and the presence of red signs [1][2][3] . Such event has a 15-25%-mortality rate in the first six weeks after the first episode. If untreated, about 60% of patients who survive the first bleeding episode will rebleed, usually within one or two years 1-3 .