Banding is done primarily to stop blood from leaking from varices and significantly lower the risk of serious health problems associated with this bleeding.
Varices are enlarged veins, often found in the esophagus or stomach, which can be fragile and prone to rupture and bleeding. This bleeding can be severe and life-threatening.
The Purpose of Variceal Banding
The main objective of banding, specifically variceal banding as described in the provided reference, is to prevent or stop dangerous bleeding episodes.
According to the information from 17-Jul-2018:
- Variceal banding stops blood from leaking from your varices.
- This action significantly lowers the risk of serious health problems.
Therefore, the procedure is performed as a crucial intervention to manage the risk of hemorrhage in individuals with varices.
How Banding Works
Variceal banding is a procedure that utilizes an endoscope, a thin, flexible tube with a camera, inserted through the mouth into the esophagus. During the procedure:
- The endoscope is used to visualize the varices.
- Small elastic bands are placed around the enlarged veins.
- These bands constrict the blood flow through the varices.
Over time, the banded varices will typically shrink and scar, reducing the likelihood of future bleeding from those specific sites.
In summary, banding is performed as a preventive or acute treatment to control bleeding from varices, thereby protecting patients from potentially fatal complications.
