Endoscopic variceal ligation, a mechanical mode of variceal obliterati
on, was used in the management of patients having extrahepatic portal
vein obstruction. Fifteen patients (10 males, 5 females) had grade III
varices. Their mean age was 8.13 years (range, 3 to 14 years). Oblite
ration was achieved in 14 patients (93.33%) after a mean number of 1.8
6 (range, 1 to 4) sessions. The mean number of bands required for vari
ceal obliteration was 4.33 (range, 1 to 9). The number of bands requir
ed to obliterate each variceal column was 1.38. No patient required a
blood transfusion, and there was only one recurrence of varices during
the mean follow-up period of 9 months (range, 4 to 12 months), Postli
gation hemorrhage was encountered in one patient; there were no other
complications. Endoscopic variceal ligation is an effective and safe m
ethod for early variceal obliteration in children. Copyright (C) 1995
by W.B. Saunders Company.