Prescribing Warfarin to a Patient with Oesophageal Varices—A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

We describe the case of a 42-year old man who presented with melaena. He was found to have bleeding varices during endoscopic investigation. Subsequent investigation revealed the aetiology to be a portal vein thrombosis (PVT) due to an underlying pro-coagulable state (Factor V Leiden). He was managed with cautious anticoagulation but suffered a life-threatening upper gastrointestinal bleed that was not amenable to endoscopic treatment or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting (TIPS). As such, the only therapeutic option involved the pursuit of surgical shunt operations. We review the literature regarding this atypical cause of GI-bleeding and discuss medical and surgical considerations for the management of such patients.