Because the present method is easy to perform and causes less pain to patients compared to endoscopy, it is useful for following and assessing esophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Esophageal capsule endoscopy for screening and surveillance of esophageal varices in patients with portal hypertension. Hepatology 47 , 1595–1603 (2008). Article Google Scholar ...

Gastric varices are present at the time of screening endoscopy in approximately 25% of patients with known cirrhosis; 18% of patients with known cirrhosis have both esophageal and gastric varices.

Nonselective beta blockers or endoscopic band ligation (EVL) are recommended for primary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding in patients with esophageal varices. However, it has been found that ...