conâ¢fluâ¢ent. 1. flowing or running together; blending into one: confluent rivers; confluent ideas. 2. characterized by confluent efflorescences: confluent smallpox.3. a confluent stream. 4. a tributary stream. confluent-, s. of confluÄns, present participle of confluere to flow together].onâ¢fluâ¢ent. 1. flowing or running together; blending into one: confluent rivers; confluent ideas. 2. characterized by confluent efflorescences: confluent smallpox.
Cirrhosis can be caused by alcoholic liver disease, fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis or other diseases of the liver. Thrombosis (blood clot) in the portal vein or the splenic vein, which connects to the portal vein, can cause esophageal varices.actors that increase the risk for bleeding include: 1  High portal blood pressure. 2  The higher the portal pressure, the greater the risk of bleeding. 3  Large varices. 4  Risk of bleeding increases with size of varices. 5  Severe liver disease. 6  Advanced cirrhosis or liver failure increases the risk. 7  Ongoing alcohol consumption.
Because the veins in the esophagus are so close to the surface of the esophagus, swollen veins in this location can rupture and cause dangerous bleeding. Esophageal varices almost always occur in people who have cirrhosis of the liver. Cirrhosis causes scarring of the liver, which slows the flow of blood through the liver. Scarring causes blood to back up in the portal vein, the main vein that delivers blood from the stomach and intestines to the liver.