Factors Affecting the Learning Curve in the Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Sampling of Solid Pancreatic Lesions: A Prospective Study.

Background/aims: Endosonography is associated with a long learning curve. We aimed to assess variables that may influence the diagnostic outcomes in endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration/biopsy (EUS-FNA/B) of solid pancreatic tumors regarding the level of endoscopists' experience.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing EUS-guided puncture of solid pancreatic tumors (eight endosonographers, including six trainees) were prospectively enrolled.

Challenges in hepatitis C elimination despite highly effective antiviral agents in patients with and without intravenous drug use.

Aim: To assess the adherence to treatment, sustained virologic response (SVR) rate, and reinfection rate in hepatitis C patients with and without intravenous drug use.

Methods: This retrospective study included hepatitis C patients, evaluated and treated in our hepatology outpatient clinic between January 2014 and October 2019. The following information was extracted from the patient's file: the presence of positive viral load for hepatitis C virus (HCV), active and recent (in the last 6 months) use of i.

Impact of endoscopist experience, patient age and comorbidities on dose of sedation and sedation-related complications by endoscopic ultrasound.

Aim: The aim of the study is to investigate the influence of endosonographer experience and patient-related factors on the dose of sedation and sedation-related complications during endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).

Methods: Our retrospective analysis included EUS investigations performed between 2015 and 2018 at our institution. Sedation-related complications were defined as cardiorespiratory instability with oxygen saturation drop below 90% or prolonged low blood pressure or bradycardia.

The bleeding risk after endoscopic ultrasound-guided puncture of pancreatic masses.

Background: Although EUS-fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is considered to be safe, there are limited studies on adverse events of fine-needle biopsy (FNB).

Aim: To compare the bleeding rate of EUS-FNA and EUS-FNB of solid and cystic pancreatic masses.

Methods: Our retrospective study included EUS-FNA/FNB of solid and cystic pancreatic masses performed between 02/2017-03/2019 in Klinikum Klagenfurt and 11/2018-03/2019 in University Hospital St.

The prevalence of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy according to different diagnostic criteria.

Background And Aims: Recently published criteria by 2019 Cirrhotic Cardiomyopathy Consortium set a lower threshold for reduced ejection fraction to diagnose systolic dysfunction in cirrhotic patients, and stress testing was replaced by echocardiography strain imaging. The criteria to diagnose diastolic dysfunction are in general concordant with the 2016 ASE/EACVI guidelines and differ considerably from the 2005 Montreal recommendations. We aimed to assess the prevalence of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy according to different diagnostic criteria.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in pancreatic masses with inconclusive radiologic workup - a case series and short review of the literature.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a very sensitive examination to detect pancreatic masses and can provide useful information in cases where conventional radiologic workup remains inconclusive. We present three cases in which EUS was decisive in establishing the correct diagnosis. Case 1: A 74-year-old female was hospitalized because of acute pancreatitis.