Treatment of Esophageal Varices with Bleeding in Patients Aged Up to 18 Years
Active variceal hemorrhage in children and adolescents (age up to 18 years) requires a management approach that is specifically adapted to the pediatric population, where standard adult therapies may not be directly applicable.
Clinical Scenario
This protocol applies to the pediatric age group — patients aged up to 18 years presenting with esophageal varices and acute bleeding. Age-specific factors determine both the selection of individual therapies and the parameters applied within each intervention.
Treatment Approach
Management in this age group combines a vasoactive agent with an endoscopic intervention. The choice of vasoactive drug and the preferred endoscopic technique depend on the child's age and clinical profile — the complete regimen, including the transfusion strategy, is available in the full protocol below.
References
DOI: 10.1007/s12072-025-10894-4
- The pediatric age-group is defined as age up to 18 years.