Meta-analysis of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation with or without intravascular ultrasound guidance.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) during transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation. METHODS: MEDLINE and Embase databases were queried until July 2022 for comparative studies reporting procedure metrics for TIPS creation with or without IVUS guidance. Meta-analysis was performed with random-effects modelling for total procedural time, time to portal venous access, fluoroscopy time, iodinated contrast volume use, air kerma, dose area product, and number of needle passes. Intraoperative procedure-related complications were also reviewed. RESULTS: Of 95 unique records initially identified, 6 were eligible for inclusion. A total of 194 and 240 patients underwent TIPS with and without IVUS guidance. Pooled analyses indicated that IVUS guidance was associated with reduced total procedure time (SMD -0.76 [95% CI -1.02, -0.50] P < .001), time to portal venous access (SMD -0.41 [95% CI -0.67, -0.15] P = .002), fluoroscopy time (SMD, -0.54 [95% CI -1.02, -0.07]; P = .002), contrast volume use (SMD, -0.89 [95% CI -1.16, -0.63]; P < .001), air kerma (SMD, -0.75 [95% CI -1.11, -0.38]; P < .001) and dose area product (SMD, -0.98 [95% CI -1.77, -0.20]; P = .013). A total of 4.2 and 7.8 needle passes were required in the IVUS and non-IVUS group, respectively (SMD, -0.60 [95% CI -1.42, 0.21]; P = .134). Pooled complication rates were 15.2% (12/79) and 21.4% (28/131), respectively. CONCLUSION: IVUS guidance during TIPS creation improves procedural metrics including procedural time, contrast usage, and radiation exposure. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: (1) The use of IVUS during TIPS is associated with shorter procedural time, lower contrast usage, and radiation exposure. (2)The use of IVUS is not associated with higher complication rates.

Traumatic Aortic and Celiac Pseudoaneurysm with Aortocaval Fistula Managed with Endovascular Aortic Cuff Deployment and Open Hepatic Revascularization.

We present the case of a young patient who sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen initially treated with laparotomy and repair of small bowel, splenic vein and diaphragmatic injuries. Subsequent computed tomography (CT) performed for hemodynamic instability demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm involving the aorta and proximal celiac artery, with an associated aortocaval fistula. An attempt at transperitoneal repair of these injuries was aborted due to extensive inflammatory changes in the region encountered during exposure. Subsequently, a hybrid repair was performed. This consisted of exclusion of the aortic and celiac artery pseudoaneurysm using an endovascular aortic cuff (22 × 39 mm, Cook Medical) via infrarenal aortic access, surgical ligation of the celiac artery branches, and revascularization via bypass from the infrarenal aortic access site arteriotomy to the common hepatic artery.

Thoracic Aortic Emergencies: Presenting Pathologies and Treatment Strategies.

Thoracic aortic emergencies reflect a wide range of etiologies, pathologic processes, and clinical presentations. Accurate identification with an appropriate treatment algorithm is best accomplished in a multidisciplinary setting with interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, and cardiothoracic surgeons. While knowledge of thoracic stent graft equipment and technique is essential in the treatment of thoracic aortic emergencies, many clinical settings may employ alternative treatment techniques. This article will review the most common thoracic aortic emergencies and treatment strategies.

Spontaneous Rectus Sheath Hematoma: Factors Predictive of Conservative Management Failure.

PURPOSE: To evaluate radiographic, laboratory, and clinical factors associated with conservative management (CM) failure in spontaneous rectus sheath hematoma (RSH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 72 patients with spontaneous RSH between 2006 and 2017 was performed. Patients were initially managed conservatively and then divided into 2 groups based on decision to embolize. No differences were found between embolization (n = 32) and CM (n = 40) groups in age (67.5 vs 69.5 y; P = .79), sex (31% vs 38% male; P = .58), body mass index (27.7 vs 25.7 kg/m2; P = .20), or medical comorbidities. Univariate analyses compared initial hemoglobin level, change in hemoglobin level, coagulation parameters, transfusion requirements, hematoma volume, and active extravasation on computed tomographic (CT) angiography between groups. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors predictive of CM failure. A scoring system was then created to predict CM failure. RESULTS: CM failed in 32 of 72 patients. Multivariable regression identified active extravasation on CT angiography (P = .02), hematoma volume (P = .01), and packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusion of ≥ 4 U (P = .03) as predictors of embolization. A scoring system using these factors along with maximum rate of hemoglobin decrease yielded a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 98% in determining need for embolization. CONCLUSIONS: CM for RSH was more likely to fail in patients with active extravasation on CT angiography, larger hematoma volume, pRBC transfusion of ≥ 4 U, and higher rate of hemoglobin decrease. Using these parameters, a scoring system was created that achieved high sensitivity and specificity in identifying patients who would require embolization.

Outcomes of Hypertensive Patients with Renal Fibromuscular Dysplasia Compared with Patients with Concomitant Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Stenosis following Endovascular Therapy.

PURPOSE: To examine if the outcomes after endovascular treatment in hypertensive patients with renal artery fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) and incidental atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) differ from the outcomes in patients with FMD alone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All cases of patients with renal artery FMD undergoing percutaneous transluminal angioplasty during the period 2002-2012 were reviewed. The patients with complete data before and after the procedure were identified (N = 84). Based on the procedural reports, these patients were separated into two cohorts: patients with isolated FMD (n = 59) and patients with concomitant atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis and FMD (ARAS-FMD) (n = 25). The medical record of each patient was reviewed for baseline blood pressure, antihypertensive medication use, and renal function data and the same data after the procedure. Procedural details including the angiographic findings, the number of stents placed, the average number of revascularization procedures, and the number of patients requiring more than one revascularization procedure were noted. RESULTS: The study population included 68 patients (FMD, n = 46; ARAS-FMD, n = 22). Patients in the FMD and ARAS-FMD cohorts experienced comparable significant decreases in systolic and mean arterial pressures after endovascular intervention. There was no change in the number of antihypertensive medications after the procedure within or between groups. Patients in the ARAS-FMD cohort had lower baseline estimated glomerular filtration rates (P = .007); however, renal function stabilized in both groups after endovascular therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ARAS-FMD respond to endovascular therapy with outcomes similar to patients with isolated renal artery FMD.

Towards practical cadmium phytoextraction with Noccaea caerulescens.

A series of field trials were conducted to investigate the potential of Noccaea caerulescens F.K. Mey [syn. Thlaspi caerulescens J &C Presl. (see Koch and Al-Shehbaz 2004)] populations (genotypes) derived from southern France to phytoextract localized Cd/Zn contamination in Thailand. Soil treatments included pH variation and fertilization level and application of fungicide. N. caerulescens populations were transplanted to the field plots three months after germination and harvested in May, prior to the onset of seasonal rains. During this period growth was rapid with shoot biomass ranging from 0.93-2.2 g plant(-1) (280-650 kg ha(-1)) DW. Shoot Cd and Zn concentrations for the four populations evaluated ranged from 460-600 and 2600-2900 mg kg(-1) DW respectively. Cadmium and Zn Translocation Factors (shoot/root) for the populations tested ranged from 0.91-1.0 and 1.7-2.1 and Bioaccumulation Factors ranged from 12-15 and 1.2-1.3. We conclude that optimizing the use of fungicidal sprays, acidic soil pH, planting density and increasing the effective cropping period will increase rates of Cd and Zn removal enough to facilitate practical Cd phytoextraction from rice paddy soils in Thailand.

Thrombocytopenia in Patients with Gastric Varices and the Effect of Balloon-occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration on the Platelet Count.

OBJECTIVES: Gastric varices primarily occur in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension and splenomegaly and thus are probably associated with thrombocytopenia. However, the prevalence and severity of thrombocytopenia are unknown in this clinical setting. Moreover, one-third of patients after balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) have aggravated splenomegaly, which potentially may cause worsening thrombocytopenia. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence and degree of thrombocytopenia in patients with gastric varices associated with gastrorenal shunts undergoing BRTO, to determine the prognostic factors of survival after BRTO (platelet count included), and to assess the effect of BRTO on platelet count over a 1-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 35 patients who underwent BRTO (March 2008-August 2011). Pre- and post-BRTO platelet counts were noted. Potential predictors of bleeding and survival (age, gender, liver disease etiology, platelet count, model for end stage liver disease [MELD]-score, presence of ascites or hepatocellular carcinoma) were analyzed (multivariate analysis). A total of 91% (n = 32/35) of patients had thrombocytopenia (<150,000 platelet/cm(3)) pre-BRTO. Platelet counts at within 48-h, within 2 weeks and at 30-60 days intervals (up to 6 months) after BRTO were compared with the baseline pre-BRTO values. RESULTS: 35 Patients with adequate platelet follow-up were found. A total of 92% and 17% of patients had a platelet count of <150,000/cm(3) and <50,000/cm(3), respectively. There was a trend for transient worsening of thrombocytopenia immediately (<48 h) after BRTO, however, this was not statistically significant. Platelet count was not a predictor of post-BRTO rebleeding or patient survival. However, MELD-score, albumin, international normalized ratio (INR), and etiology were predictors of rebleeding. CONCLUSION: Thrombocytopenia is very common (>90% of patients) in patients undergoing BRTO. However, BRTO (with occlusion of the gastrorenal shunt) has little effect on the platelet count. Long-term outcomes of BRTO for bleeding gastric varices using sodium tetradecyl sulfate in the USA are impressive with a 4-year variceal rebleed rate and transplant-free survival rate of 9% and 76%, respectively. Platelet count is not a predictor of higher rebleeding or patient survival after BRTO.

Treatment of type II endoleak using Onyx with long-term imaging follow-up.

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study is to report our experience with the use of an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (Onyx) in an off-label fashion for the treatment of type II endoleak after endovascular repair of the thoracic (TEVAR) and abdominal (EVAR) aorta. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients with type I and/or II endoleak treated with Onyx was performed. Data regarding the technical, clinical, and imaging outcomes were collected. Technical success was defined as decreased or eliminated endoleak on the first imaging follow-up. Clinical success was defined as unchanged or decreased aneurysm sac size on subsequent follow-up. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (15 male, 3 female) with a mean age of 79 years (range 69-92) met inclusion criteria (16 abdominal aortic aneurysm, 2 thoracic aortic aneurysm). Sixteen patients had type II endoleak, and 2 had complex type II endoleak with a type I component. The interval between endograft placement and treatment was a mean of 30 months. Direct sac treatment approach was used in 13 patients; transarterial approach was used in 3 patients. Seven patients required the use of coils, N-butyl cyanoacrylate glue, or Amplatzer vascular plugs. The average volume of Onyx used per treatment was 5.6 mL (range 2.5-13). Duration of imaging follow-up was 0.75-72.5 months (mean 32.8). Sixteen of 18 (88.9 %) patients had initial technical and clinical success. Two of 18 patients (11.1 %) were initial technical failures, and 1 remained a failure despite a second treatment and attempted surgical ligation. Eight of 18 (44.4 %) of patients eventually required a second intervention, 5 (27.8 %) of them due to delayed clinical failure. Complications included 1 psoas hematoma, 1 transient L2 nerve paresis, and 1 intraperitoneal Onyx leak; all of these were without clinical sequelae. CONCLUSION: Onyx with or without coil/glue/Amplatzer plug embolization is safe and useful in the treatment of type II endoleak after TEVAR and EVAR. However, long-term clinical and imaging follow-up is needed for early detection and management of recurrence of the primary endoleak or the development of new, secondary endoleaks or enlargement of the aneurysm sac.

Ureteric embolization for lower urinary tract fistulae: use of two amplatzer vascular plugs and N-butyl cyanoacrylate employing the "sandwich" technique.

PURPOSE: This study describes and evaluated the effectiveness of occluding distal ureters in the clinical setting of urinary vaginal (vesicovaginal or enterovesicovaginal) fistulae utilizing a new technique which combines Amplatzer vascular plugs and N-butyl cyanoacrylate. MATERIALS: This is a retrospective study (January 2007-December 2010) of patients with urinary-vaginal fistulae undergoing distal ureter embolization utilizing an Amplatzer-N-butyl cyanoacrylate-Amplatzer sandwich technique. An 8-12-mm type-I or type-II Amplatzer vascular plug was delivered using the sheath and deployed in the ureter distal to the pelvic brim. Instillation of 0.8-1.5 cc of N-butyl cyanoacrylate into ureter proximal to the Amplatzer plug was performed. This was followed by another set of 8-12-mm type-I or type-II Amplatzer vascular plugs in a technique referred to as the "sandwich technique." RESULTS: Five ureters in three patients were occluded utilizing the above-described technique during the 4-year study period. Mean maximum size Amplatzer used per ureter was 10.8 mm (range, 8-12). One ureter required three Amplatzer plugs and the rest required two. Two patients (3 ureters) were clinically successful with complete resolution of symptoms in 36-48 h. The third patient (2 ureters) was partly successful and required a second Amplatzer-N-butyl cyanoacrylate sandwich technique embolization. The mean clinical follow-up was 11.3 months (range, 1.7-29.2). CONCLUSIONS: The Amplatzer-N-butyl cyanoacrylate-Amplatzer sandwich technique for occluding the distal ureter is safe and effective with a quick (probably due to the N-butyl cyanoacrylate) and durable (probably due to the Amplatzer plugs) clinical response.

Hyperandrogenism of ovarian etiology: utilizing differential venous sampling for diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: We report the diagnosis and management of testosterone hypersecretion in the presence of an adrenal mass and no initially discernible ovarian mass. CASE: A 64-year-old woman with severe hyperandrogenism, including serum testosterone 392 ng/dL, male-pattern baldness, and hirsutism, required bilateral ovarian and adrenal venous sampling to determine the source of the testosterone. Once an ovarian origin was confirmed, total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were performed for definitive treatment. The adrenal adenoma was left in situ. There was a dramatic decrease in subjective symptomatology and normalization of testosterone postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Preoperative differential venous sampling determined the correct source of testosterone. Subsequent removal of the ovary and steroid cell tumor correctly treated the hyperandrogenism and avoided an unnecessary surgical procedure for the adrenal adenoma.

Complicated postpartum type B aortic dissection and endovascular repair.

BACKGROUND: Fifty percent of aortic dissections in women younger than 40 years occur in association with pregnancy. Of these, half of type B dissections occur in the postpartum period. CASE: A 30-year-old woman was status post spontaneous vaginal delivery at 30 weeks of gestation for fetal death, complicated by an eclamptic seizure. On postpartum day 4, she suffered an acute, complicated type B aortic dissection treated with endovascular stent graft placement. CONCLUSION: Endovascular repair may be an attractive option for the treatment of complicated type B aortic dissections in pregnancy and the peripartum period, with reduced maternal and fetal mortality. This may allow the fetus to remain in situ and avoid the risks of surgery and possible cardiopulmonary bypass, with little radiation risk to the fetus.

It's not just for laparoscopy anymore: use of insufflation under ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance by Interventional Radiologists for percutaneous placement of intraperitoneal chemotherapy catheters.

OBJECTIVES: While intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy has shown significant survival benefits, the ability to successfully deliver IP chemotherapy has been limited. In GOG 172, surgically-placed IP catheters had a reported complication rate of 34%. In addition, IP catheters have to be placed surgically. We have developed a novel percutaneous placement technique for IP catheters in patients without ascites. METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of all patients receiving percutaneously-placed IP catheters from 12/2008 to present. Catheters were placed using a two-step technique under conscious sedation. IP access was gained using ultrasound-guided peritoneal puncture over the right lobe of the liver. A 5 Fr catheter was placed into the peritoneal cavity and the abdomen insufflated with carbon dioxide (CO(2)). Access was gained in the RLQ once distention separated the bowel from the abdominal wall. A 14.5 Fr multi-side hole catheter was coiled in the pelvis, and a reservoir tunneled onto the lower anterior chest wall. For this analysis, abstracted data included patient demographics, indication for catheter placement, complications (procedural and with chemotherapy delivery), fluoroscopy time, and timing/indication of catheter removal. RESULTS: Eleven patients received IP catheters. The mean age was 58 years, mean body mass index was 27.1, and mean number of days from surgical debulking was 38. There were two stage 2, and eight stage 3 patients. Two patients had fallopian tube, and nine patients had ovarian cancer. All patients had an optimal debulking procedure. Seven of 11 patients also obtained central intravenous access when the IP port was placed. Follow-up data were as follows: Average fluoroscopy time was 9 min. One patient (9%) had an intra-procedural complication but the catheter was successfully placed. Zero patients had catheter-related complications in the course of receiving chemotherapy. Five of the 11 patients (45%) completed the planned IP chemotherapy treatments, with three additional patients (27%) currently receiving therapy. The remaining three patients (27%) discontinued chemotherapy for reasons unrelated to IP catheter function: two due to chemotherapy side effects, and one with sepsis from a perforated diverticulum. CONCLUSIONS: Thus far, our experience with percutaneous placement of IP catheters is associated with a low risk of catheter-related complications and high technical success rates. CO(2) insufflation may make peritoneal puncture easier and potentially safer. This procedure offers an alternative to surgical placement, even in patients without clinically significant ascites.

Search for light dark matter in XENON10 data.

We report results of a search for light (≲10 GeV) particle dark matter with the XENON10 detector. The event trigger was sensitive to a single electron, with the analysis threshold of 5 electrons corresponding to 1.4 keV nuclear recoil energy. Considering spin-independent dark matter-nucleon scattering, we exclude cross sections σ(n)>7×10(-42) cm(2), for a dark matter particle mass m(χ)=7 GeV. We find that our data strongly constrain recent elastic dark matter interpretations of excess low-energy events observed by CoGeNT and CRESST-II, as well as the DAMA annual modulation signal.

Rheolytic Thrombectomy with or without Adjunctive Indwelling Pharmacolysis in Patients Presenting with Acute Pulmonary Embolism Presenting with Right Heart Strain and/or Pulseless Electrical Activity.

Purpose. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Possis rheolytic thrombectomy with or without indwelling catheter-directed pharmacolysis for the treatment of massive pulmonary embolus in patients presenting with right heart strain and/or a pulseless electrical activity (PEA). Materials and Methods. Retrospective review of patients undergoing pulmonary pharmacolysis was performed (07/2004-06/2009). Pre- and posttreatment Miller index scoring weres calculated and compared. Patients were evaluated for tPA doses, ICU stay, hospital stay, and survival by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results. 11 patients with massive PE were found, with 10/11 presenting with a Miller score of >17 (range: 16-27, mean: 23.2). CTPA and/or echocardiographic evidence of right heart strain was found in 10/11 patients. 3 (27%) patients presented with a PEA event. Two (18%) patients had a contraindication to pharmacolysis and were treated with mechanical thrombectomy alone. The intraprocedural mortality was 9% (n = 1/11). Of the 10 patients who survived the initial treatment, 7 patients underwent standard mechanical thrombectomy initially, while 5 received power pulse spray mechanical thrombectomy. Eight of these 10 patients underwent adjunctive indwelling catheter-directed thrombolysis. The mean catheter-directed infusion duration was 18 hours (range of 12-26 hours). The average intraprocedural, infusion, and total doses of tPA were 7 mg, 19.7 mg, and 26.7 mg, respectively. There was a 91% (10/11) technical success rate. The failure was the single mortality. Average reduction in Miller score was 9.5 or 41% (P = 0.009), obstructive index of 6.4 or 47% (P = 0.03), and perfusion index of 2.7 or 28% (P = 0.05). Average ICU and hospital stay were 7.4 days (range 2-27 days) and 21.3 days (range 6-60 days), respectively. Intent to treat survival was 90% at 6, 12, and 18 months. Conclusion. Rheolytic thrombectomy with or without adjunctive catheter-directed thrombolysis provides a safe and effective method for treatment of acute PE in patients who present with right heart strain and/or a PEA event.

Adrenal vein sampling.

Adrenal vein sampling is the gold standard for localizing aldosterone-secreting adenomas and for distinguishing adenomas from bilateral adrenal hyperplasia in patients with primary hyperaldosteronism. The importance of this distinction cannot be overstated because the former is curable surgically, whereas the latter is managed medically. Primary hyperaldosteronism has historically been underdiagnosed as a cause of hypertension, but recent reports highlight its ubiquitous nature with a prevalence of 5%-10% in screened hypertensive patients. Of such patients, up to 62.5% have a potentially curable adenoma as the underlying etiology. Adrenal vein sampling is a safe, highly effective procedure that is shown to alter the clinical management in 35.7% of primary hyperaldosteronism patients who would have otherwise been treated improperly based on the results of CT or other modalities. Although adrenal vein sampling is hindered by the inherent difficulty of catheterizing the right adrenal vein, technical success is reported as high as 97% in experienced hands. In this article, we review aldosterone physiology and the clinical workup of primary aldosteronism as well as the anatomic, technical, and analytical factors to be considered with adrenal vein sampling.

Treatment of renal artery fibromuscular dysplasia.

Fibromuscular dysplasia is a nonatherosclerotic and noninflammatory disease that can result in stenoses of the renal arteries and hypertension, most commonly affecting middle-aged women. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty has long been considered the mainstay of therapy and offers high rates of improved or cured hypertension. The disease involves the mid and distal renal arteries and branchpoints and poses endovascular treatment challenges that separate fibromuscular dysplasia from atherosclerotic disease. The development of smaller balloon dilation systems offers safe and highly effective endovascular treatment options for technically difficult lesions. Newer technologies such as cutting balloons also add to the armamentarium of treatment choices, which may be useful in the setting of resistant stenoses. This article focuses on the modern technical considerations in the diagnostic evaluation and endovascular treatment of renal artery fibromuscular dysplasia.

Stenting for atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis.

Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) is the most common cause of renal artery stenosis in the adult population. ARAS may result in progressive renal impairment, renovascular hypertension, and/or cardiac disturbance syndromes. Because medical therapy does not affect the progressive nature of this disease process, more aggressive treatments are needed to definitively treat ARAS. When performed correctly, renal artery stenting has been shown to stabilize or improve renal function and/or renovascular hypertension in 65-70% of carefully selected patients with ARAS. Therefore, percutaneous renal artery stenting should be considered the primary treatment for patients with symptomatic ARAS.

Endovascular therapy for patients with renal angiomyolipoma presenting with retroperitoneal haemorrhage.

We report our experience treating four patients with acutely bleeding angiomyolipoma (AML) of sizes between 4 and 12 cm who were managed with endovascular embolisation with a mean follow-up of 10 months. In our case series, we demonstrate that endovascular embolisation in the acute setting for bleeding AMLs is a viable treatment option. AML should be in the differential diagnosis of acutely bleeding renal masses, even when there is no fat assessed by computed tomography (CT) imaging in the renal mass.

Preoperative embolization of Castleman's disease using microspheres.

Castleman's disease is a rare form of lymph node hyperplasia most commonly presenting as a solitary hypervascular mediastinal mass. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice, but this can be associated with significant blood loss due to its hypervascularity. We report two cases with a preoperative diagnosis of mediastinal Castleman's disease in whom preoperative embolization with Trisacryl gelatin microspheres (Biosphere Medical, Rockland, MA) was performed. Compared with the literature, a decrease in the amount of perioperative bleeding was noted in both cases.