Cost-effectiveness of treating esophageal varices.

The clinical effectiveness of the various prophylaxis methods used to treat esophageal varices remains unknown because of limited evidence. Even less is known about the extent of resource use and subsequent impact on health status associated with primary and secondary prophylaxis. Recently, several economic analyses have been developed to answer these questions and identify gasps in knowledge. This article provides an overview of results from these studies and explores areas in need of future investigation.