A new multiligation device (Speedband) for the endoscopic treatment of esophago-gastric varices ? Preliminary results in 10 patients of a prospective ongoing study

Chronology of Histological Changes after Band Ligation of Esophageal Varices in Humans

“…were not found at 93 of 300 treated sites (31 %; range 0 ± 100 % per individual patient) during the follow-up endoscopy. The fact that immediate rebleeding had not occurred led the authors to speculate that variceal thrombosis ªfollows initial trauma of the wallº [11]. The present series shows that this is not the case; thrombosis was seen on day 2 after ligation, but was absent on the day following ligation.…”

“…By contrast, knowledge of the histological changes that take place after ligation in humans is limited to two case reports, which described the gross and microscopic appearance of lesions on days 5 and 7 after ligation, respectively [9,10]. Since the continuum of tissue changes in humans has not been de-scribed, the relevance of histological events to potential clinical outcomes has been speculative [11].…”

Extraesophageal Varices

“…Fibrin glue also holds promise as a very effective agent that results in cessation of acute variceal bleeding [23]. Other endoscopic techniques to treat acute bleeding and to obliterate gastric varices are endoscopic band ligation and endoloops (detachable snares) [24,25]. Both single and multiple rubber band ligatures have been used.…”