Esophageal varices

Patients should participate in prevention strategies that improve their liver function. Self-help management is dependent on the etiology of the portal hypertension. For patients with alcoholic liver disease it is important to advise them to continue maintaining contact with helpful treatment resources and/or support groups (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous, Smart Recovery), even if they are initially able to achieve abstinence. It is also important that the patient is able to contact a social support, doctor, and clinic if concerned about any increased risk of return to alcohol use due to increased stress, anxiety, family issues, work-related problems, or increased craving. In most other etiologies of portal hypertension, patient education is also an important aspect of ongoing management. 

Patients need to seek urgent medical attention with any suggestion of decompensation, which includes abdominal distension, fevers, chills, confusion, hematemesis, hematochezia, or melena.