Bleeding small-bowel varices.

A case of bleeding jejunal varices in a 27-year-old man is reported. Portal hypertension resulted from portal vein thrombosis and the varices were not associated with portasystemic shunting. Because mesenteric varices are rare, they are seldom the cause of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. However, they should be suspected in patients with an obscure source of bleeding and portal hypertension. The pathogenesis, roentgenographic criteria and surgical management are discussed.