Final answer:
Mallory-Weiss tears are typically managed with supportive care, endoscopic therapy, and possibly surgery if necessary. Treatment aims to stop bleeding and ensure patient stability. Additional measures like administering proton pump inhibitors may promote healing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mallory-Weiss tears are managed primarily by supportive care and interventions aimed at stopping the bleeding and ensuring hemodynamic stability. The initial approach often includes intravenous fluids to maintain blood pressure and blood transfusions if necessary. Endoscopy is commonly used to diagnose and treat Mallory-Weiss tears; it can also be utilized for therapeutic interventions such as epinephrine injection, thermal coagulation, or application of hemostatic clips to control bleeding.
In cases where endoscopy is not successful or not possible, angiographic embolization or surgery may be considered. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are often prescribed to reduce gastric acidity and promote healing. Patients with minor bleeding that has stopped might only require observation and conservative management, while those with ongoing or significant bleeding might need more aggressive treatment.