Endoscopic Ruler for varix size measurement: A multicenter pilot study

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients

Parameters	Patients (n = 120)
Age (yr), mean (SD)	54.02 (11.90)
Sex n (%)
Male	71 (59.16%)
Female	49 (40.83%)
Complication, n (%)
Ascites	36 (30.00%)
Hepatocellular carcinoma	5 (4.17%)
Etiology, n (%)
Hepatitis B infection	82 (68.33%)
Alcoholic liver disease	11 (9.17%)
Autoimmune	6 (5.00%)
Primary biliary cirrhosis	4 (3.33%)
Hepatitis C infection	2 (1.67%)
Others	15 (12.50%)
Child-Pugh Class, n (%)
Class A	43 (35.83%)
Class B	59 (49.17%)
Class C	18 (15.00%)
Laboratory tests, median (IQR)
Platelet count (109/L)	70.00 (59.75)
Alanine aminotransferase (U/L)	26.50 (21.10)
Aspartate aminotransferase (U/L)	32.00 (22.00)
Albumin (g/L)	34.04 (9.45)
Total bilirubin (μmol/L)	26.27 (23.90)
Prothrombin time (s)	14.25 (3.40)
Creatinine (μmol/L)	61.10 (21.35)

SD: Standard deviation; IQR: Interquartile range.

Table 2 The feasibility, safety, operation time of Endoscopic Ruler, and the agreement on diagnosing large oesophageal varices between endoscopists and Endoscopic Ruler

Outcome	Patients (n = 120)
Primary outcome
Technical success of Endoscopic Ruler, n (%)	120 (100.00%)
Secondary outcomes
Adverse events, n (%)	0 (0.00%)
Operation time (min), median (IQR)	3.00 (3.00)
Kappa value	0.52 (95%CI: 0.31- 0.73)

95%CI: 95% confidence interval; OV: Oesophageal varices; IQR: Interquartile range.

Table 3 The interobserver reliability on detecting large oesophageal varices

Assessment	Raters	Kappa value (95%CI)
Objective measurement of Endoscopic Ruler
All observes	6	0.77 (0.61-0.93)
Experienced endoscopists	3	0.71 (0.36-1.00)
Inexperienced endoscopists	3	0.71 (0.36-1.00)
Empirical reading of endoscopists
All observes	6	0.52 (0.36-0.68)
Experienced endoscopists	3	0.57 (0.21-0.93)
Inexperienced endoscopists	3	0.40 (0.04-0.76)

95%CI: 95% confidence interval.