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    Description

    Varices are enlarged veins that can develop in the stomach (gastric) when a person has liver disease. They can burst, causing uncontrollable bleeding. In this procedure, a tube with a tiny balloon on the end is inserted into a vein (transvenous) in the thigh or neck and passed into the enlarged vein. The balloon is inflated to stop blood flowing into the vein. The vein is then blocked (obliterated) using one of several techniques. The aim is to reduce the risk of bleeding.