Predelivery uterine arteries embolization in patients with placental implant anomalies: a cost-effective procedure.

Postpartum hemorrhages occur in 5 % of all deliveries. Open surgery and endovascular embolization techniques are the options commonly applied to face this life-threatening scenario. A cost analysis has been performed to compare the standard embolization endovascular approach, performed postpartum in emergency settlement, with a novel proposed preventive embolization approach, and performed in election in selected high-risk patients before the delivery. Two groups have been compared: 46 patients (non-preventive group) and 67 patients (preventive group). The computation of the detailed costs derived from the real costs supported by the hospital, based on the regional tariff in the period considered. The total expense for the 46 patients of the non-preventive group was 640.551,84€ (13.925,04€/patient); all of them received transfusions and 43.4 % underwent to hysterectomy; the total expense for the 67 patients of the preventive group was 509.720,59€ (7.607,77€/ patient); 36 % required transfusions and 26 % underwent to hysterectomy. Overall, in the preventive group, there is a mean saving of 45 %, it else 6.317€/patient. In this sample, predelivery uterine artery embolization has proved to be a cost-effective procedure, reducing the length of the hospital stay and the number of transfers to the intensive care unit, in pregnants with placental implant anomalies.

Uterine Artery Embolization before Delivery to Prevent Postpartum Hemorrhage.

PURPOSE: To assess the safety and outcomes of uterine artery embolization (UAE) performed before delivery in patients with placental implant anomalies at high risk for peripartum or postpartum hemorrhage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2013 to January 2015, 50 consecutive patients with placental implant anomalies at 35-36 weeks of pregnancy were recruited. UAE was performed superselectively by injecting reabsorbable pledgets. We applied 5 dosimeters to patients' backs to measure the uterine radiation dose, considered to be the same radiation dose that the fetus received. Newborns were assessed immediately after birth and at 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: All procedures were technically successful. Of patients, 64% did not require transfusions. Mean blood units transfused was 0.7 U (range, 0-4 U). No patient was transferred to the intensive care unit. Hysterectomy was performed in 13 patients (26%). Mean fluoroscopy operative time was 3 minutes 42 seconds (range, 1 min 21 s-6 min 58 s), and mean uterine radiation dose was 15.61 mGy (range, 8.15-38.18 mGy). Mean time between embolization and delivery was 6 minutes 4 seconds (range, 4 min 18 s-8 min 12 s). The 1-minute and 5-minute Apgar scores were 8-9 in all newborns; 8 newborns were lost to follow-up at 6 months. A normal cognitive outcome was evident in all 42 children studied. CONCLUSIONS: UAE before delivery appeared to reduce bleeding during cesarean sections in this consecutive series of patients with placental implant anomalies. In the hands of experienced staff, radiation dose to the fetus was minimal.

Role of interventional radiology in treating obstetric haemorrhages.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of selective uterine artery embolisation in patients with a high risk of haemorrhage due to obstetric issues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the angiographic examinations of 63 patients (average age ± SD, 32.6 years ± 4.8), affected by an obstetric disease with a high risk of haemorrhage (22 cases of ectopic pregnancy, 41 of postpartum haemorrhage) and treated with an interventional approach. In particular, we considered the rate of second treatment with interventional technique or conservative or radical surgery, the incidence of postprocedural complications, and the absorbed radiation dose. RESULTS: Immediate technical success, defined as the cessation of active bleeding, was achieved in all cases. Uterine artery embolisation was able alone to control the haemorrhage in 95.24 % of cases. Three patients required a second treatment to achieve haemostasis. No peri- or postprocedural complications were observed. At the 12-month follow-up after embolisation, 22/49 conservatively treated patients were found to be pregnant and successfully completed their pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Selective uterine artery embolisation allows for safe and complete control of haemorrhage in patients with obstetric disease, with a very low incidence of complications and preservation of fertility.

Massive bleeding from gastric submucosal arterial collaterals secondary to splenic artery thrombosis: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Gastric submucosal arterial collaterals (GSAC) secondary to splenic artery occlusion is an extraordinary rare and potentially life-threatening cause of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Here, we report a case of massive bleeding from GSAC successfully treated by means of a multidisciplinary minimally invasive approach. CASE SUMMARY: A 60-year-old non-cirrhotic gentleman with a history of arterial hypertension was admitted due to hematemesis. Emergent esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed pulsating and tortuous varicose shaped submucosal vessels in the gastric fundus along with a small erosion overlying one of the vessels. In order to characterize the fundic lesion, pre-operative emergent computed tomography-angiography was performed showing splenic artery thrombosis (SAT) and tortuous arterial structures arising from the left gastric artery and the left gastroepiploic artery in the gastric fundus. GSAC was successfully treated by means of a minimally invasive step-up approach consisting in endoscopic clipping followed by transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE). CONCLUSION: This was a previously unreported case of bleeding GSAC secondary to SAT successfully managed by means of a multidisciplinary minimally invasive approach consisting in endoscopic clipping for the luminal bleeding control followed by elective TAE for the definitive treatment.

Small bowel vascular disorders from arterial etiology and impaired venous drainage.

Intestinal ischemia of the small bowel represents an important diagnostic question to answer in an emergency. Although some findings could be appreciated with basic imaging methods, the MDCT as a modern noninvasive imaging method could be effective in evaluating intestinal disease caused by superior mesenteric artery or vein occlusion and making a diagnosis of ischemia from low-flow states. Looking at the features of the parietal layers with knowledge of the pathologic mechanism underlying the changes from the "normality" could be helpful in making a correct, prompt, and effective diagnosis of intestinal ischemia or disease from impaired venous drainage.

Endovascular occlusion of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations with the ArtVentive Endoluminal Occlusion System™.

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are vascular anomalies of the lung and carry the risk of cerebral thromboembolism, brain abscess, or pulmonary hemorrhage. We describe a 64-year-old male with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome) who presented with a five-year history of progressive effort dyspnea and a PAVM in the right upper lobe successfully treated by transcatheter embolization of feeding arteries using a new occlusion device, the ArtVentive Endoluminal Occlusion System™.

Endovascular Treatment of a Dissected Celiac Trunk Aneurysm Complicated with Consequent Pseudoaneurysm: Primary Treatment and Treatment Relapse after 5 Years.

We report on an asymptomatic 56-year-old male with incidental diagnosis of celiac trunk aneurysm, diagnosed during an ultrasound scan performed to control polycystic kidney disease. The CT scan revealed a 3.8 cm saccular aneurysm of the celiac artery dissected in the superior wall with a consequent 4.3 cm pseudoaneurysm; we adopted an endovascular approach to exclude the lesion by catheterizing the celiac trunk and positioning a vascular plug in the common hepatic artery and a covered stent in the splenic artery; finally we fulfilled the aneurysm sac with Onyx. 30-day control CT scan revealed procedural success. Five years later he came back to our department for an aneurysm relapse in the common hepatic artery. We performed a second endovascular approach with a superselective catheterization of the pancreaticoduodenal arcade in order to exclude the lesion with Onyx and microcoils. Nowadays the patient is in good clinical conditions. Endovascular approach is a valuable method to treat visceral aneurysms; however, long-term imaging follow-up is essential to monitor the risk of relapse.

A wire-loop technique for implantation of an iliac branched device in a patient with previous surgery for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

We described a modified technique for implanting a bridging stent-graft into an iliac branched device. A 79-year-old male who had received aortobiiliac synthetic graft surgery for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm six months earlier was admitted to our unit for treatment of a left common iliac aneurysm involving the origin of the hypogastric artery. A standard technique was unsuccessful at implanting the bridging stent-graft, and therefore a wire-loop guidewire over the graft bifurcation was used to stabilize the contralateral sheaths and to complete the implantation.

Arterial bleeding in pelvic trauma: priorities in angiographic embolization.

Vascular injuries are a major source of morbidity and mortality in patients with blunt pelvic trauma. Up to 40% of patients with pelvic fractures related to blunt traumatic injury experience intra-abdominal or intrapelvic bleeding, which is the major determining factor of mortality. Sources of hemorrhage within the pelvis include injuries to major pelvic arterial and venous structures and vascular damage related to osseous fractures. Among patients with pelvic fractures, up to 20% require emergent transcatheter embolization, depending on the type of injury. Angiography is the gold standard for the treatment of pelvic arterial hemorrhage associated with pelvic fractures. Transcatheter techniques provide direct identification of sources of bleeding. Selective catheterization and flow-directed particulate emboli can control bleeding from small arteries at sites of injury.

Chronic intestinal bleeding because of aneurysm of superior pancreaticoduodenal artery: embolization during angiography.

A case of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, associated with abdominal pain, in an 8-year-old child because of an arterial malformation of duodenum is reported. Selective arteriography showed the presence of an aneurismatic lesion of superior pancreaticoduodenal artery. The leakage of the vascular lesion during examination permitted the embolization by microcoils and cyanoacrylate glue. The follow-up by computed tomography scan revealed a complete occlusion of the lesion.

TIPS with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent: results of an Italian multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to describe the results of a multicenter prospective trial on the safety and efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) using the Viatorr stent-graft. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From 2001 to 2003, 114 patients (75 men and 39 women; mean age, 59.3 years) with portal hypertension underwent TIPS with the Viatorr stent-graft. Indications for treatment were variceal bleeding (n = 49, 43.0%), refractory ascites (n = 52, 45.6%), hypertensive gastropathy (n = 10, 8.8%), Budd-Chiari syndrome (n = 1, 0.9%), and hepatorenal syndrome (n = 2, 1.7%). Eight patients (7.0%) had Child-Pugh class A cirrhosis; 60 (52.6%), Child-Pugh class B; and 46 (40.4%), Child-Pugh class C. Patients were monitored by color Doppler sonography and phlebography. RESULTS: The procedure was successful in 113 (99.1%) of 114 patients; in one patient, creation of the track was not feasible. The mean portosystemic pressure gradient decreased from 21.8 to 8.7 mm Hg. Three minor immediate complications (2.6%) occurred (two cases of self-limiting hemoperitoneum and one extrahepatic portal puncture requiring covered stenting). At a mean follow-up of 11.9 months, the overall mortality rate was 31.0% (35/113), with a 30-day mortality rate of 8.8% (10/113). Mortality was significantly higher in patients in Child-Pugh class C with refractory ascites and with post-procedural encephalopathy. Cumulative primary patency rates were 91.9%, 79.9%, and 75.9% at 6, 12, and 24 months' follow-up, respectively. Restenosis occurred in 15 patients (13.3%) within the stent (n = 8, 53.3%) or at the ends of the portal (n = 1, 6.7%) or hepatic (n = 6, 40%) veins and was solved by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (n = 11), stenting (n = 3), or parallel TIPS (n = 1). The secondary patency rate was 98.2%. Post-procedural encephalopathy occurred in 27 patients (23.9%). CONCLUSION: The Viatorr stent-graft is safe and effective in TIPS creation, with high primary patency rates. Covering the entire track up to the inferior vena cava can increase patency.

Use of the Parodi anti-embolism system in carotid stenting: Italian trial results.

PURPOSE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of the Parodi anti-embolism system (PAES) in establishing flow reversal in the internal carotid artery (ICA) as a means of protecting against embolic phenomena during carotid stenting. METHODS: Seven centers participated in a nonrandomized, prospective trial of carotid angioplasty and stenting under PAES protection in 30 patients (22 men; mean age 72 years, range 49-88) with 15 symptomatic (>70%) and 15 asymptomatic (>80%) stenotic ICAs. Safety was defined as achieving sufficient brain oxygenation during flow reversal as determined by level of awareness and motor control. The presence of new or enhanced neurological deficits and death were endpoints. Performance was based on angiographic evidence of successful retrograde flow. RESULTS: The PAES was positioned in all 30 patients, but technical error and access-related difficulties prevented establishment of reversed flow in 2. Among the 28 (93%) patients treated under PAES protection, 1 patient developed aphasia after flow reversal, necessitating balloon deflation between subsequent stages of the procedure. Three other adverse events included 1 case of bradycardia and 2 cases of hypotension, with dysarthria and facial paresis in one and temporary loss of consciousness in the other. All events resolved with appropriate therapy, and there was no change from baseline in the neurological status or brain scans at 24 hours. There were no strokes or neurological deficits at 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: The PAES appears to be a safe and effective means of providing protection from embolic complications during carotid stenting.