Fig. 3.

Endoscopic grading of esophageal varices according to Paquets (I: Varices surpass the level of mucous membrane, however disappear after insufflation of air, II: Varices that extend into the esophageal lumen less than 1/3 of esophageal diameter, III: Varices that extend into the esophageal lumen less than 1/2 of esophageal diameter and/or “cherry red spots”, IV: Varices that fill the esophageal lumen and often stretch into the upper third part of the esophagus, additionally “whale sign”). Images by courtesy of Michael Oelckers, Hamburg, Germany; endoskopiebilder.de/endoskopie-bilder)