Published online Jul 21, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i27.4271
Revised: March 19, 2013
Accepted: April 28, 2013
Published online: July 21, 2013
Processing time: 183 Days and 1.9 Hours
Endoscopic band ligation (EBL) is the preferred endoscopic technique for the endoscopic treatment of acute esophageal variceal bleeding. EBL has also been used to treat nonvariceal bleeding. Recently, Han et al demonstrated that EBL can be a feasible and safe alternate technique for the management of iatrogenic gastric perforation especially in cases in which closure with endoclips is difficult. EBL is technically simpler to perform than other methods and provides a good view of the lesions under direct pressure and suction from the transparent ligation cap. EBL can be used even if the diameter of the perforation is greater than 10 mm or if there is a severe tangential angle. In this commentary, we discuss the efficacy and safety of EBL for the closure of iatrogenic gastrointestinal perforation. We also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of EBL for the treatment of nonvariceal bleeding.
Core tip: Recently, Endoscopic band ligation (EBL) has been widely used in the treatment of nonvariceal bleeding from angiodysplasia, Dieulafoy’s lesion, Mallory-Weiss tears, polypectomy bleeding and colonic diverticular bleeding. In this commentary, we describe EBL may be useful for the endoscopic closure in iatrogenic gastrointestinal perforation in which endoclip closure failed. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of EBL for the treatment of nonvariceal bleeding are discussed.