BACKGROUND Bleeding from esophageal varices is the major cause of death in patients with portal hypertension. The ideal surgical procedure should effectively control bleeding and maintain liver function with low rates of encephalopathy. Based on this objective, laparoscopic devascularization of the lower esophagus and upper stomach was studied. METHODS Eighteen patients were studied prospectively who underwent a laparoscopic esophagogastric devascularization procedure for variceal hemorrhage. The diaphragmatic hiatus and esophagus are dissected. The lower 7 or 8 cm of esophagus is devascularized. Devascularization of the gastric fundus is then accomplished by meticulous dissection and ligation of the short gastric vessels. The hepatogastric ligament is opened, permitting identification and isolation/ligation of the left gastric vessels. The dissection and ligation of the vessels at lesser curvature proceeded up to the diaphragmatic hiatus with devascularization of the external varices from the retroperitoneum or mediastinum at the esophagogastric junction. RESULTS Mean operating room time was 111 min (range, 80-140 min) (6 emergent/12 elective). Mean blood loss 388 ml (range, 150-650 ml). Intensive care unit stay averaged 48 h, with a mean hospitalization of 11 days. Liver function and coagulation parameters remained stable postoperatively. Duplex sonography on the portal and splenic veins revealed patency in all patients. The flow velocity in the portal vein decreased from 15.5 +/- 4.1 to 13.4 +/- 3.5 cm/s postoperatively ( p = 0.021). Splenic vein velocity was unchanged. Bleeding recurred in 6 patients, and grade 1 encephalopathy developed in 1 patient. Follow-up endoscopy (8-24 months) demonstrated substantial reduction in variceal grade. CONCLUSIONS Laparoscopic devascularization of the lower esophagus and the upper stomach is technically feasible and promising. Rapid recovery and control of variceal hemorrhage are accomplished in most patients without exposing them to the risk of open surgery.