estases

Estase (plural estases) is a term used in medical contexts to describe stagnation or markedly slowed movement of fluids within a biological system. The word derives from French and Latin roots meaning standing or stoppage. In English, the concept is usually referred to as stasis, but estase appears in Romance-language medical literature and translations, particularly in Portuguese and French, with estases as the plural form.

Common forms include venous estasis (estase venosa), which impairs venous return and can cause edema, varicosities, and skin changes; lymphatic estasis (estase lymphatique), leading to lymphedema; and cholestasis or biliary estasis (estase biliaire) of bile flow, as well as intestinal estasis related to reduced gut motility or ileus. These forms share the core feature of reduced or blocked fluid movement, though their consequences vary by body system.

Pathophysiology typically involves fluid accumulation, hypoxia, and inflammatory changes; venous stasis can create a prothrombotic environment, while chronic stasis increases the risk of ulcers and infection. Lymphatic estasis results in persistent swelling and immune dysfunction, and cholestasis can injure liver cells and alter bilirubin metabolism.

Diagnosis and management rely on clinical assessment supported by targeted imaging or tests (for example, Doppler ultrasound for venous estasis, lymphoscintigraphy for lymphatic estasis, liver function tests for cholestasis). Treatment focuses on addressing the underlying cause and alleviating stagnation, using measures such as compression therapy and leg elevation for venous edema, therapies to improve lymphatic drainage, and disease-specific interventions for organ-based stases.