Endoscopic variceal ligation

Patients with cirrhosis or other diseases complicated by portal hypertension often develop esophageal varices. These are dilated veins along the esophagus that may start bleeding. In this case the best treatment option is ligation. Patients undergo gastroscopy. Elastic bands are placed on the tip of the endoscope and the endoscopy specialist deploys them onto the varices, from the lower to their upper part, interrupting their blood flow.  The session is repeated every 2-3 weeks, and complete variceal eradication usually requires 2-4 sessions.