The distention and enlargement of veins in esophageal varices are not entirely the primary clinical concern but the deadly rupturing of these varices. Analyzing the disease process, the rupture of these veins can immediately cause extreme hemorrhagic complication and blood loss in the area causing immediate disruption in the blood returns of the body as well as the arterial pressure generated during the pumping of venous returns (Perkin, Swift and Newton et al.
, 2007 p. 306). According to Timby and Smith (2007), acute hemorrhage caused by the bleeding is a life-threatening emergency and needs to be prioritized by the health care provider in terms of prevention and curative interventions (p. 291). d. Diagnostic Procedures of the Health Alteration Endoscopy is the most common diagnostic tool used in such case.
Although, patients with severe esophageal varices are diagnosed through laboratory components, such as (a) prothrombin index of below 60%, (b) more than 110 IU/L of phosphatase activity in the blood and (c) hyaluronate biochemical increase from the borderline of 100g/L (Escott-Stump, 2008 p. 368). These laboratory values are most often altered among patients with frequent to habitual alcohol habits (Timby and Smith, 2007 p. 887).
Implications of esophageal varices as a life-threatening health alteration mainly affect the physical, emotional and psychological domains of the person’s health. As supported by Marian, Williams-Mullena and Muir (2007), the main implication of the disease in the physical domain of the person is due to the declining nutritional estate of the body, which eventually causes alteration in body image, incapacitation for self-managed tasks, etc (p. 329).
Under these conditions, the person experiences emotional and psychological torture brought by feelings of helplessness and limitations on one’s function (Escott-Stump, 2008 p. 368). With the aggravating nutritional status caused by the varices formation, the person’s physical statue continues to decline impairing further the individual’s capacity to pursue his or her daily tasks. Psychological feelings of regret, depression and projection continue to follow affecting the patient’s compliance to care process and view on self worth.