A rubber band wrapped round a limb as a tourniquet before a surgical operation and left in place during the operation so as to keep the site free of blood [Described 1869. After Johann Friedrich August von Esmarch (1823-1908), Professor of Surgery at Kiel, Germany.]
An extensive rubber bandage is applied around the elevated limb of a patient to encourage blood flow from the blood vessels towards the heart. This process creates a blood-free area, making it easier to perform surgery on the limb.
First, the patient is anesthetized, and then the Esmarch’s bandage is applied, starting from the fingers or toes and moving upwards. Following that, an inflatable tourniquet (a device used to compress blood vessels) is placed on the upper arm or thigh to prevent blood from flowing back into the limb. Afterward, the Esmarch’s bandage is taken off, while the inflated tourniquet remains in place throughout the surgery.