From the Guidelines
Ligation refers to the process of binding or tying something, typically in medical or biochemical contexts, and involves surgically tying off a structure like a blood vessel or duct to stop blood flow or prevent passage of contents, as seen in variceal ligation, which is recommended as the first therapeutic option in acute variceal bleeding 1. In medicine, ligation is a crucial procedure that can be used to treat various conditions, such as variceal bleeding, and is often performed in conjunction with other treatments, like vasoactive drug therapy 1. Some common examples of ligation include:
- Tubal ligation for sterilization, where fallopian tubes are tied to prevent pregnancy
- Varicose vein ligation to redirect blood flow
- Variceal ligation, which is a recommended treatment for acute variceal bleeding, and should be performed within the same procedure as endoscopy when acute variceal bleeding is confirmed 1 In molecular biology, ligation means joining DNA fragments together using an enzyme called DNA ligase, which creates a phosphodiester bond between nucleotides, and is a fundamental technique in genetic engineering and cloning procedures. The term can also apply to chemical reactions where molecules are joined together, and the word comes from Latin "ligare" meaning "to bind," reflecting its core meaning of connecting or securing structures together. It's worth noting that ligation can be used in various medical contexts, including the treatment of dialysis fistula malfunction, where it may be used to ligate a dysfunctional or thrombosed access 1, and in the management of adults with congenital heart disease, where tubal ligation may be recommended as a contraceptive method for women with cyanotic CHD and PAH 1.
From the Research
Definition of Ligation
- Ligation refers to the process of tying or binding something, often used in medical contexts to describe the closure or occlusion of a blood vessel, duct, or other tubular structure.
- In surgery, ligation is used to control bleeding, prevent leakage, or interrupt the flow of fluids or gases through a vessel or duct.
Methods of Ligation
- Various methods of ligation are used in surgical procedures, including:
- Suture ligation, which involves tying a thread or suture around a vessel or duct 2
- Clip ligation, which uses metal or plastic clips to occlude a vessel or duct 3, 4
- Ring or clip tubal ligation, which is used in tubal ligation procedures to block the fallopian tubes 5
- Tie ligation, which involves using a thread or suture to tie off a vessel or duct 4