Molleston JP, Bennett Jr WE., et al. - Researchers conducted this retrospective cohort study to determine the mortality, risk factors, and co-morbidities of esophageal variceal bleeding in children utilizing a large administrative database. Children 18 years and younger with variceal bleeding and complications were identified by ICD codes from 2004 through 2019. One thousand nine hundred two patients had 3,399 esophageal variceal bleeding events. Multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression found that increased mortality was correlated with Black race or Hispanic ethnicity, but not sex, household income, or type of insurance. Higher mortality was associated with bacteremia, peritonitis, mechanical ventilation, acute renal failure, and transfusion. Data reported that the 6-week mortality rate for variceal bleeding in children was 8.8%. The risk of death was higher for Black or Hispanic children. For children at risk, study results may inform consideration of prophylactic or therapeutic interventions.