[Mallory-Weiss syndrome. Considerations on 27 cases]

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Endoscopy
• Internal Medicine

Context:

• Mallory-Weiss syndrome (MWS) is a significant cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Endoscopic evaluation is crucial for diagnosing MWS, identifying lacerations, and assessing associated lesions.
• Understanding risk factors and clinical presentations aids in managing MWS patients.

Purpose:

• To analyze the clinical characteristics, endoscopic findings, and outcomes of 27 patients diagnosed with Mallory-Weiss syndrome.
• To investigate the association of MWS with factors such as age, sex, alcohol consumption, and other gastrointestinal conditions.
• To evaluate the efficacy of medical management and identify factors contributing to poor outcomes.

Summary:

• This study reviewed 27 patients with endoscopically diagnosed Mallory-Weiss syndrome, predominantly males (23/27) with an average age of 46.7 years.
• Common presentations included upper gastrointestinal bleeding (22/27), often with single mucosal tears (22/27). Associated conditions like hiatal hernia (37%) and chronic alcoholism were frequently observed.
• The majority of patients (26/27) were managed medically, with one requiring surgery for gastric perforation. Mortality was low (1/27), attributed to associated gastritis.

Impact:

• Provides valuable data on the demographic, clinical, and endoscopic features of Mallory-Weiss syndrome in a specific patient cohort.
• Highlights the importance of endoscopic diagnosis and the frequent association with hiatal hernia and alcohol use.
• Reinforces the effectiveness of conservative management for most Mallory-Weiss syndrome cases while identifying potential complications and risk factors for mortality.