Joseph McArdle describes the risk factors associated with oesophageal varices and the nursing contribution to the various techniques used to treat them. This article first appeared in Nursing Standard, 14, 9, 46-52. Readers who successfully completed a written ‘practice profile assessment’ on that occasion may not do so again

This article describes the aetiology of oesophageal varices, the variety of treatment options available and the physiological and psychological nursing needs of patients undergoing these treatment regimes. Its purpose is to produce a balanced overview, looking at nursing care in the acute period and the long-term support required to meet the complex needs of these patients and their carers.