Pseudoaneurysms embolization with glue via percutaneous direct puncture: a multicenter experience on 54 patients.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective multicentric study aims to report on technical safety and effectiveness of pseudoaneurysms embolization with glue (N-butyl cyanoacrylate) adopting a percutaneous direct puncture approach. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients data were collected from five centers. All patients at the time of treatment presented with unruptured PAs and were hemodynamically stable. True aneurysms and lesions treated with embolics other than glue were excluded. Pseudoaneurysms diagnosis was based on CT and anamnestic data; initial investigation with digital-subtracted arteriography was acquired in all cases; then, percutaneous embolizations were performed in the angio-suite (ultrasound, fluoroscopy, ConeBeam CT guidance) or in CT. Technical success was considered as complete pseudoaneurysm embolization at final imaging with sole percutaneous strategy, without need for additional endovascular embolization. Clinical success was intended as pseudoaneurysm resolution within one week follow-up with stabilization or restored clinical conditions. Pseudoaneurysms origins were traumatic (57.4%), inflammatory (24.1%) or spontaneous (18.5%); 39 patients (72.2%) were symptomatic, presenting with pain and/or pulsatile mass. Mean lesions diameter was 19.3 mm (range: 7-30); pseudoaneurysms were located in abdomen (48.1%), limbs (42.6%) and thorax (9.3%). Coagulation function was impaired in 16.6% and 48.1% was under antiplatelets/anticoagulation therapy. In 16.6% the percutaneous approach followed previous treatments failure. The image-guidance modality for percutaneous puncture was most often ultrasound combined with fluoroscopy (38%). Clinical success was obtained in all patients while technical success occurred in 94.4% because 3 patients required an additional endovascular embolization. Complications were registered in 14.8%, all of low grade without clinical sequelae neither prolonged recovery (7 non target embolizations, 1 post-embolization syndrome). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, pseudoaneurysms embolization with glue via percutaneous direct puncture was safe and effective with a low rate of minor complications.

Percutaneous Embolization of Biliary Leaks: Initial Experience with Extravascular Application of a PTFE-Covered Microplug.

PURPOSE: This paper describes the initial experience with a PTFE-covered microplug to perform extravascular embolizations in patients with iatrogenic biliary leaks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective multicenter analysis has been conducted on seven patients. All were symptomatic for abdominal pain and had an abdominal drainage adjacent to the supposed site of leakage. The biliary output of the drainage was monitored daily. Biliary leak etiology was iatrogenic: four after laparoscopic cholecistectomy for gallstones, one after explorative laparotomy for pancreas head adenocarcinoma with concomitant cholecistectomy for gallstones, and two after long-standing internal-external right biliary drainage for cholangiocarcinoma. In four cases leakage sourced from cystic duct stump, in one from an aberrant bile duct and in two from bilio-cutaneous fistula. Technical success was considered leak resolution at the last cholangiography. Clinical success was defined improvement in the clinical conditions together with progressive resolution of the biliary output from the abdominal drainage until removal. RESULTS: Technical and clinical successes were 100%. A 5 mm microplug was adopted in five cases of post-cholecistectomy leaks. A 3 mm microplug and a 9 mm microplug were deployed in the two cases of peripheral leaks related to bilio-cutaneous fistulas. In three patients additional embolics (coils in two cases; spongel slurry in one case) were required. Minor complications occurred in three patients. CONCLUSION: This initial experience on seven patients with iatrogenic biliary leaks demonstrated that percutaneous transhepatic PTFE-covered microplug embolization is technically feasible and clinically effective to achieve leak resolution. Future researches with larger samples are needed to confirm these findings.

Spontaneous Upper Urinary Tract Rupture Caused by Ureteric Stones: Clinical Characteristics and Validation of a Radiological Classification System.

BACKGROUND: This study seeks to validate a radiological classification system of spontaneous upper urinary tract rupture (sUUTR) and to analyse its relationship with clinical, laboratory and radiological characteristics of sUUTR. METHODS: We analysed data from 66 patients with a computerised tomography (CT)-proven sUUTR treated with ureteral or nephrostomy catheter positioning. Comorbidities were scored with the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). All CT scans were reviewed by two experienced radiologists and one urologist, who classified sUUTR in (a) local spread, (b) free fluid and (c) urinoma. Interobserver agreement for radiological score was evaluated with the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Cohen's Kappa analyses. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models verified the association between clinical variables and sUUTR severity. RESULTS: The interobserver agreement for sUUTR classification was high among radiologists and between the radiologists and the urologist (all Kappa > 0.7), with an overall high interrater reliability (ICC 0.82). Local spread, free fluid and urinoma were found in 24 (36.4%), 39 (59.1%) and 3 (4.5%) cases, respectively. Patients with free fluid/urinoma had higher rate of CCI ≥ 1 than those with local spread (40.5% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.04). Intraoperative absence of urine extravasation was more frequently found in patients with local spread than those with free fluid/urinoma (66.7% vs. 28.6%, p < 0.01). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that local spread (OR 4.5, p < 0.01) was associated with absence of contrast medium extravasation during pyelography, after accounting for stone size, fever and CCI. CONCLUSIONS: The analysed sUUTR classification score had good inter/intra-reader reliability among radiologists and urologists. Absence of urine extravasation was five times more frequent in patients with local spread, making conservative treatment feasible in these cases.

Percutaneous lung microwave ablation versus lung resection in high-risk patients. A monocentric experience.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF WORK: Lung microwave ablation (MWA) is considered an alternative treatment in high-risk patients, not suitable for surgery. The aim of our study is to compare MWA and pulmonary lobectomy in high-risk, lung cancer patients. METHODS: This was a single-center, propensity score--weighted cohort study. All adult patients who underwent CT guided MWA for stage I NSCLC between June 2009-October 2014 were included in the study and were compared with a cohort of patients submitted to lung lobectomy in the same period of time. Outcomes were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: 32 patients underwent MWA, and 35 high-risk patients submitted to lung lobectomy in the same period were selected. Median follow-up time was 51.1 months (95% CI: 43.8-62.3). Overall survival was 43.8 (95% CI: 26.1-55) and 55.8 months (95% CI: 49.9-76.8) in the MWA group and Lobectomy group, respectively. Negative prognostic factors were MWA procedure (HR:2.25, 95% CI: 1.20-4.21, p= 0.0109) and nodule diameter (HR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.07; p= 0.007) for OS, while MWA procedure (HR: 5.2; 95% CI: 2.1-12.8: p < 0.001), ECOG 3 (HR: 5.0; 95% CI: 1.6-15.6; p = 0.006) and nodule diameter (HR: 1.1; 95% CI: 1.0-1.1; p = 0.003) for DFS. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated a high percentage of local relapse in the MWA group but a comparable overall survival. Although lung lobectomy remains the gold standard treatment for stage I NSCLC, we can consider the MWA procedure as valid alternative local treatment in high-risk patients for stage I NSCLC.

Treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm with a new type of polymer-filled low profile device.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the mid-term safety and effectiveness of a novel stent graft for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). METHODS: Thirty-three patients with AAA (20 males and 13 females; mean age: 71.3 y) were treated with the Ovation™ Abdominal Stent Graft System (TriVascular, Inc., Santa Rosa, CA, USA). Indications for endovascular aneurysm repair: AAA ≥ 5.5 cm, neck ≥ 7 mm, angulation ≤ 60° and with an inner wall diameter of no less than 16 mm and no greater than 30 mm; the presence of neck calcification and thrombosis is not much of a problem in this device because aortic seal is achieved with 2 polymer-filled sealing rings and the fixation by means of a suprarenal stent with 8 pairs of anchors. Patients were followed through discharge and returned for follow-up visits. The follow-up protocol included a CT-A exam at 1 and 12 months after the intervention; the mid-term follow up was performed at 3 and 6 months with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Mean follow-up duration was 18.6 months (range: 3-25 months). MAIN FINDINGS: Technical success was 100%. Mean implantation procedure time was 31.1 minutes, and median hospital stay was 4.6 days. None of the patients required conversion to open surgery, and no aneurysm enlargement, rupture, fracture, or migration were observed. No type I, III or IV endoleaks were observed. Hospitalization death rate was 0%. Death rate at 30 days was 0%. No major complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The first results from this 3-center study with the Ovation stent graft are promising with high technical success and excellent safety and effectiveness.