Gastroesophageal postemetic lacerations as a source of massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding (The Mallory-Weiss syndrome).

Abstract

THE importance of postemetic gastroesophageal lacerations as a source of massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding was first pointed out by Mallory and Weiss1 in 1929. Their autopsy studies emphasized the pathology and indicated the basis for the rationale of proper surgical therapy.Characteristically, the lesion consists of one or more longitudinal tears of the mucosa and submucosa of the cardia, reaching and often crossing the gastroesophageal junction. These tears involve large vessels and thus can cause massive bleeding. The hemorrhage follows vomiting or retching, and usually occurs in alcoholic patients. Alcoholism, however, is not a requisite precursor of such lacerations. Mallory . . .