Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of endoscopic ligation between using intensive ligation and non-intensive ligation methods for severe esophageal varices.Methods A total of 89 patients with cirrhosis and esophageal varices in our hospital from 2007 to 2013 were selected and divided into two groups.Patients in the observation group were treated with endoscopic ligation using intensive ligation (39 cases),and patients in the control group were treated with endoscopic ligation using non-intensive ligation (50 cases).Sixshooter multi-band ligator was used for endoscopic therapy.If the number of loop ligature collar was larger than 6 and less than or equal to 12,it was regarded as intensive ligation;if the number of loop ligature collar was smaller or equal to 6,it was regarded as non-intensive ligation.The clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups.Results The average number of ligation in the observation group was greater than that in the control group,there was statistically significant difference (t=29.11,P=0.000).The cure rate at the first time in the observation group was higher than that in the control group,there was statistically significant difference (x2=5.002,P=0.025).No statistically significant difference was found in efficient rate at the first ligation (x2 =2.268,P=0.132).The total effective rates in the observation group half a year,one year,two years and three years after operation was significantly higher than those in the control group (P＜0.05).Conclusion Intensive ligation is a safe,reliable and effective approach for esophageal varices,which could have a high effective rate in the treatment of esophageal varices and reduce the average number of ligation,patients recover well after surgery and have a good long-term prognosis.