Evaluating current and recent fellows' perceptions on the interventional radiology residency: Results of a United States survey.

PURPOSE: To evaluate current and recent interventional radiology (IR) fellows' perceptions on the new integrated IR residency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anonymous, web-based survey was distributed to 82 current and recent IR fellows across the Unites States. The survey contained 15 questions, most of which were based on a five-point Likert scale. The survey was open for a three-week period in September 2015. The results were analyzed by two trainees and three IR attending physicians. RESULTS: Sixty-four current or recent former IR fellows completed the survey (response rate 78%). Of these 18% decided to pursue a career in IR by the end of their third year of medical school. A majority believed that the integrated IR residency will be an improved IR training pathway (62%). Based on current medical school curricula, 74% either disagreed or strongly disagreed that IR residency applicants will be ready to select such a pathway by the end of their third year of medical school. CONCLUSIONS: Most current and recent IR fellows surveyed chose IR during their final year of medical school or during residency. Most respondents believe that the integrated IR residency will be an improved IR training pathway.

[Pain management in chronic pancreatitis and chronic inflammatory bowel diseases]. / Schmerztherapie bei chronischer Pankreatitis und chronisch-entzündlichen Darmerkrankungen.

Apart from local inflammation and defects in secretion, central mechanisms are important for pain etiology in chronic pancreatitis. Therefore, centrally acting co-analgetic agents can be used in addition to classical pain medications. Endoscopic interventions are preferred in patients with obvious dilation of the pancreatic duct. Surgical interventions are generally more effective although they are usually reserved for patients with prior failure of conservative treatment. Diverse surgical options with different efficacies and morbidities are used in individual patients.One of the main problems in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases is abdominal pain. Primarily the underlying disease needs to be adequately treated. Symptomatic pain management will most likely include treatment with acetaminophen and tramadol as well as occasionally principles of a multimodal pain regimen. For the treatment of arthralgia as well as enteropathy-associated arthritis the same treatment options are available as for other spondyloarthritic disorders.

[Antidiarrheal drugs for chronic diarrhea]. / Antidiarrhoika bei chronischer Diarrhoe.

Chronic diarrhea can be caused by multiple disease entities. Basic diagnostic tests are required in order to administer specific therapies whenever possible. If no specific treatment can be used, a symptomatic management should be initiated in order to prevent massive electrolyte- and water losses. Substances that can be used are loperamide, cholestyramine, bulking agents, probiotics, anticholinergic agents and in severe cases opioids. If used properly these agents can be prescribed longterm with an acceptable side effect profile.

[Updated German S3-guideline regarding the diagnosis of Crohn's disease--implementation of radiological modalities]. / Aktualisierte S 3-Leitlinie zur Diagnostik des Morbus Crohn--radiologische Untersuchungstechniken.

The recently updated German S 3-guideline regarding the diagnosis and treatment of Crohn's disease incorporates several changes concerning the radiological approach compared to the former guideline. This article focuses on guideline-based radiological imaging techniques for patients with Crohn's disease. The new guideline is also compared to former European and German guidelines in the context of recently published radiological literature.

An internet portal for the development of clinical practice guidelines.

BACKGROUND: The complexity and quality requirements for the development of clinical practice guidelines steadily increase. Internet technologies support this process by optimizing the development process. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this internet based solution was to facilitate the development of clinical practice guidelines. METHODS: An internet portal was developed allowing for a shared workplace to support clinical practice guideline authoring. It is based on a Content Management System and combines different tools for document handling and editing, communication as well as process and team steering. RESULTS: Until now, the internet portal has been successfully implicated in the development of six evidence- and consensus-based clinical practice guidelines. Additional German and European clinical practice guidelines are currently generated with support of the internet portal. The available tools allow for a flexible design of the scheduled workflow, depending on the requirements of the respective group. An additional strength of the platform is the advantage to transfer all data from a previous version of a guideline into the next 'life-cycle'. CONCLUSION: The application of the portal results in a considerable reduction of costs and development time of the resulting clinical practice guidelines.

S3-guideline "helicobacter pylori and gastroduodenal ulcer disease" of the German society for digestive and metabolic diseases (DGVS) in cooperation with the German society for hygiene and microbiology, society for pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition e. V., German society for rheumatology, AWMF-registration-no. 021 / 001.

This guideline updates a prior consensus recommendation of the German Society for Digestive and Metabolic Diseases (DGVS) from 1996. It was developed by an interdisciplinary cooperation with representatives of the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology, the Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (GPGE), and the German Society for Rheumatology. The guideline is methodologically based on recommendations of the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF) for providing a systematic evidence-based S 3 level consensus guideline and has also implemented grading criteria according to the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) process. Clinical applicability of study results as well as specifics for Germany in terms of epidemiology, antibiotic resistance status, diagnostics, and therapy were taken into account.