Introduction
Acute variceal hemorrhage is common in patients with cirrhosis and is associated with a mortality rate of 20–40%.1,2 Esophageal varices (EVs) develop and progress at variable rates and are present in 30–40% of patients with compensated cirrhosis and 85% of patients with decompensated cirrhosis.3 Endoscopy is the gold standard investigation for screening patients with cirrhosis for varices needing treatment (VNTs) with nonselective beta-blockers or endoscopic variceal band ligation.4 However, endoscopy is invasive,…
