Endoscopy results
The success rate of EVL with the JEA was 98.8% (95% CI 96.6–100), with success defined as no more than three attempts. On the other hand, the success rate of EVL with the ETT was 100% (95% CI 100–100). The difference in success rates between the JEA and ETT groups was −1.2% (95% CI −3.4%, 0.9%). Our findings suggested that JEA was noninferior to ETT in patients who underwent elective EVL, with the noninferiority limit set to 8%. Both groups demonstrated a comparable first-attempt endoscopy success rate (95.1% vs. 96.3%, 