Ligature (medicine)

Under a ligature (from Latin: ligare " bind ", " connect "; ligature " it is bound " ) is understood in the surgery, the lower binding of a hollow organ with a surgical thread, for example, a blood vessel. The ligature can thus be used for hemostasis during surgery.

In particular situations, the tissue is additionally pierced by the needle in a ligature, to prevent slippage (sharp ligation ).

Special forms of ligature, for example, for the treatment of hemorrhoids symptoms or as an emergency measure of life-threatening bleeding from esophageal varices used ( rubber band ligation ). Another application is the setting of unneeded vessels after circulatory modifications such as the Glenn anastomosis.

The advantage of the ligature over the electrocautery is the reliability that the vessel is securely closed mechanically. With the cautery coagulated / cauterized vessels, however, can leak at the fire damage in the neighboring zone and start to bleed again.

Until the 16th century, many people bled to death in amputations, first by the method of ligation, which was applied by Ambroise Paré first time, the mortality went back there.

• Surgical suture