Case volume and outcome of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: results of a nationwide Austrian benchmarking project.

Background And Study Aim: In a quality assessment project for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), initiated in 2006 by the Austrian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, benchmark data were collected on a voluntary basis. Results from the individual participating centers, both academic and community-based, were compared with pooled benchmark data, with the intention that individual problems should be identified and corrected in order to improve patient care in Austria. Success and complication rates in nonselected patients were evaluated, especially with regard to case volume.

Multicenter retrospective evaluation of capsule endoscopy in clinical routine.

Background And Study Aims: The small bowel is anatomically difficult to examine; disease conditions are rarely located in it, but can be serious. Neither conventional radiography nor push enteroscopy has sufficient sensitivity and specificity to detect distinct lesions. Wireless capsule endoscopy can theoretically allow imaging of the entire small bowel, with only minimal discomfort for the patient.

Primary gastric B-cell lymphoma: results of a prospective multicenter study. The German-Austrian Gastrointestinal Lymphoma Study Group.

Background & Aims: Appropriate management of primary gastric lymphoma is controversial. This prospective, multicenter study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of endoscopic biopsy diagnosis and clinical staging procedures and assess a treatment strategy based on Helicobacter pylori status and tumor stage and grade.

Methods: Of 266 patients with primary gastric B-cell lymphoma, 236 with stages EI (n = 151) or EII (n = 85) were included in an intention-to-treat analysis.

Extracellular Enzyme Activities in Relation to Hydrodynamics in the Pomeranian Bight (Southern Baltic Sea).

Abstract The Pomeranian Bight in the southern Baltic Sea is characterized by a huge input of nutrients from the Oder river. This input shows seasonal variation. In winter, the nutrients are introduced in inorganic form.

Prophylactic endoscopic sclerotherapy of esophageal varices in liver cirrhosis--long-term follow-up and final results of a multicenter prospective controlled randomized trial in Vienna.

This study reports the final results of a randomized multicenter trial on prophylactic endoscopic sclerotherapy of large esophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis. Forty-one patients received prophylactic treatment and 41 patients were in the control group. A first analysis 3 years after beginning the study revealed no significant difference in the distribution of the bleeding free intervals between both groups, but indicated a tendency towards longer survival of patients with prophylactic sclerotherapy.

Prophylactic endoscopic sclerotherapy of oesophageal varices in liver cirrhosis. A multicentre prospective controlled randomised trial in Vienna.

The effect of prophylactic treatment of oesophageal varices by endoscopic injection sclerotherapy before the first episode of variceal haemorrhage was studied in patients with cirrhosis in a prospective, randomised and controlled multicentre trial. From February 1984 to March 1987 patients with liver cirrhosis and large varices (stage III-IV according to Paquet) were treated and followed up. The sample comprised 87 patients: 45 in the prophylactic treatment and 42 in the control group.

Combined therapy with cisapride and cimetidine in severe reflux oesophagitis: a double blind controlled trial.

Combined treatment with cimetidine 1 g daily and cisapride 40 mg daily in patients with endoscopically diagnosed severe reflux oesophagitis was compared with single drug therapy (cimetidine and placebo). At the end of the six to 12 weeks treatment, 11 (46%) of the 24 patients under single drug therapy were endoscopically healed and three were improved. In contrast, 16 (70%) of the 23 patients under combined therapy were healed and all of the remainder were improved (p = 0.

[Treatment of duodenal ulcer with famotidine].

In a prospective double blind study the efficacy and safety of the new H2-receptor antagonist famotidine was compared with ranitidine. 48 patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcer were randomly allocated to receive famotidine 40 mg once at night, 20 mg bid, 40 mg bid or ranitidine 150 mg bid. After 4 weeks of treatment the ulcers of 7/12, 10/12, 9/12 and 6/12 patients were healed; the corresponding rates after 8 weeks were 9/12, 12/12, 11/12 and 10/12.

Effects of low and high dose oral cimetidine on hormone serum levels in patients with peptic ulcers.

Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (hPRL) and testosterone (T) were assayed in a total of 131 patients with peptic ulcer. Initial oral treatment was performed with 1000 mg cimetidine per day for 6 to 12 weeks. After healing was confirmed endoscopically, the patients were switched to a maintenance dose of 400 mg per day cimetidine for 3 years.

[3-year long-term therapy of recurrent duodenal ulcer with 400 mg cimetidine nocte].

253 patients were treated for 3 years with 400 mg cimetidine at night to prevent relapses of recently healed duodenal ulcers. The efficacy of maintenance treatment was evaluated on a life table basis. In contrast to previous studies not the first but the third symptomatic relapse was taken as the major criterium of treatment failure, an assumption, that better represents the everyday practical situation.

Nizatidine versus ranitidine in the prevention of duodenal ulcer relapse. Six-month interim results of a European multicentre study.

Nizatidine, a new H2-receptor antagonist, was compared with ranitidine in a double-blind, randomized, multicentre trial for the prevention of duodenal ulcer relapse. This is the interim analysis of 197 patients admitted to the study by 1 September 1985, having finished a 6-month treatment period by 1 March 1986. At night, 96 and 101 patients received 150 mg nizatidine and 150 mg ranitidine, respectively.

Effect of cimetidine treatment in the prevention of gastric ulcer relapse: a one year double blind multicentre study.

One hundred and forty six gastric ulcer patients were given open treatment using 1 g cimetidine daily to heal their ulcers. Of 130 who completed the acute treatment period of eight weeks, 112 (86%) had healed ulcers. Of these 112 patients with healed ulcers, 108 entered a one year double blind study to compare the effect of cimetidine maintenance therapy (400 mg at night) with placebo.

Hormone serum levels during oral cimetidine treatment of patients with peptic ulcers.

Radioimmunoassayable basal serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (hPRL), 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) were estimated in a total of 68 patients, who were treated because of peptic ulcer with 1 g cimetidine per day. 37 patients were male and 31 were female subjects, respectively. Hormone serum levels were assayed before and 4 to 6 weeks after start of therapy.

[Benign chronic conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia: rotor syndrome or hepatic storage impairment?].

In a 52-year-old female who was jaundiced since early childhood, marked conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia and a delay of bromsulfophthalein and indocyanine green plasma disappearance rates were observed. Liver histology, plasma bile acids and plasma clearance of 14-C-cholic acid were normal. There was a pronounced impairment of the relative storage capacity of bromsulfophthalein (S = 2,4 mg/mg%) and a moderate decrease of BSP-transport maximum.

[Pseudomyxoma of the peritoneum (author's transl)].

A case report is given of a peritoneal pseudomyxoma originating from pseudomucineous cystadenomata of both ovaries. The diagnosis was established by peritoneoscopy and histological examination. Both ovaries were removed surgically and cytostatic treatment initiated thereafter; hyperthermic peritoneal perfusion was done as well.