Low-dose contrast-enhanced time-resolved MR angiography at 3T: diagnostic accuracy for treatment planning and follow-up of vascular malformations.

AIM: To assess the accuracy of low-dose contrast-enhanced time-resolved 3T magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for the morphological and functional assessment of vascular malformations (VM), and to evaluate its diagnostic potential for the depiction of treatment-induced changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients with known VM underwent MRA to evaluate the location and extent of lesions and their haemodynamic characteristics. Three-dimensional (3D) T1-weighted time-resolved sequences were acquired following the administration of 0.05mmol/kg of gadobenate dimeglumine. VM were classified according to their morphology and haemodynamic characteristics. All patients thereafter underwent conventional angiography to confirm the diagnosis and to treat the lesions (embolization or sclerotherapy). Follow-up MRA was performed 30 days after treatment to assess morphological and functional changes. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to clinically assess the severity of symptoms before and after therapy. RESULTS: Based on haemodynamic characteristics, VM were classified as predominantly arterial [4 (16%)], artero-venous [19 (76%)] or venous [2 (8%)]. Twenty-three (92%) lesions were classified as high-flow VM and two (8%) as low-flow VM. Intralesional thrombosis was present in 17 (68%) lesions before therapy and in 10 lesions (40%) after therapy. The median VAS scores were 5±1 before treatment and 4±2 after treatment. Very good correlation (Spearman's correlation coefficient: rho=0.87; p=0.000) was noted between the reduction of lesion size on follow-up MRA and pain relief as assessed by VAS. CONCLUSION: Low-dose contrast-enhanced time-resolved 3T MRA can be used to define morphological and functional aspects of VM accurately during treatment planning and follow-up, and can identify post-therapy changes that positively correlate with treatment outcome.

Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection in patients undergoing carotid artery stent.

Although several reports have correlated Chlamydophila pneumoniae (CP) infection with carotid endarterectomy and coronary stent, no data have been reported on the potential relationship between this pathogen and carotid artery stenting (CAS). Hence, we evaluated 47 subjects, 27 symptomatic and 20 asymptomatic, before CAS intervention and during the follow up, for the presence of CP DNA and anti-CP antibodies, including chlamydial HSP60 (Cp-HSP60). Before stent placement, CP DNA was detected exclusively in symptomatic patients, all of whom were also positive for CP IgG and IgA and 85.7 percent of them also had CP-HSP60 antibodies. At the follow-up, all CP DNA positive and 11 out of the 13 symptomatic patients with Cp-HSP60 antibodies became negatives. In contrast, no change was observed for CP- IgA antibodies. Despite the small number of patients, the present study advocates an important role of CP infection in symptomatic patients with carotid artery disease. Our findings also suggest that stent placement and/or therapy might have a role in favouring resolution of inflammation, though not affecting persistence of CP infection.

Nonsurgical treatment of staple line leaks after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is gaining popularity as a "per se" bariatric procedure due to its effectiveness on weight loss and comorbidity resolution. The most feared and life-threatening complication after LSG is the staple line leak and its management is still a debated issue. Aim of this paper is to analyze the incidence of leak and the treatment solutions adopted in a consecutive series of 200 LSG. METHODS: From October 2002 to November 2008, 200 patients underwent LSG. Nineteen patients (9.5%) had a body mass index (BMI) of >60 kg/m(2). A 48-Fr bougie is used to obtain an 80-120-ml gastric pouch. An oversewing running suture to reinforce the staple line was performed in the last 100 cases. The technique adopted to reinforce the staple line is a running suture taken through and through the complete stomach wall. RESULTS: Staple line leaks occurred in six patients (mean BMI 52.5; mean age 41.6 years). Leak presentation was early in three cases (first, second, and third postoperative (PO) day), late in the remaining three cases (11th, 22nd, and 30th PO day). The most common leak location was at the esophagogastric junction (five cases). Mortality was nihil. Nonoperative management (total parenteral nutrition, proton pump inhibitor, and antibiotics) was adopted in all cases. Percutaneous abdominal drainage was placed in five patients. In one case, a small fistula was successfully treated by endoscopic injection of fibrin glue only. Self-expandable covered stent was used in three cases. Complete healing of leaks was obtained in all patients (mean healing time 71 days). CONCLUSION: Nonoperative treatment (percutaneous drainage, endoscopy, stent) is feasible, safe, and effective for staple line leaks in patients undergoing LSG; furthermore, it may avoid more mutilating procedures such as total gastrectomy.

Chronic abdominal pain associated with intermittent compression of the celiac artery.

Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP), surely one of the most frequent causes of medical intervention, is frequently present in many gastrointestinal disease. Usually no structural and/or biochemical alterations can be demonstrated. This condition is, therefore, considered to be due to functional disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or functional dyspepsia. Previous observations suggest the presence of a rare alteration of celiac vessels among the possible causes of RAP. This pathological condition was known as Dunbar syndrome. We report 2 cases of chronic abdominal pain. The former reported weight loss and the latter anemia with iron deficiency. It is remarkable that patients with initial diagnosis of IBS can be affected by celiac disease (CD), which is the cause of their abdominal pain. Our patients were tested for CD; the former was negative and IBS was diagnosed, the latter was positive and a gluten free diet was prescribed. The presence of an epigastric bruit, accentuated during expiration, suggested a possible vascular alteration known as tripod celiac artery compression syndrome. Duplex Doppler sonography suggests the diagnosis of celiac arterial constriction due the diaphragmatic ligament. These cases show that tripod celiac artery compression syndrome might be a cause of RAP and that it may be evaluated and investigated when the clinical examination discloses an abdominal systolic bruit.

The "DEBELLUM"--lower limb multilevel treatment with drug eluting balloon--randomized trial: 1-year results.

AIM: The aim of the present paper was to make a report of the 12-month clinical outcomes of the DEBELLUM (Drug-Eluting-Balloon-Evaluation-for-Lower-Limb- mUltilevel-treatMent) randomized trial. METHODS: From September 2010 to March 2011, 50 patients were randomized between drug eluting balloon (DEB, N.=25) and conventional angioplasty balloon (PTA, N.=25). Patients were symptomatic for claudication and critical limb ischemia, with de novo stenosis or occlusion in the femoropopliteal (SFA) and infrapopliteal (BTK) region. Only in the SFA primary stenting was allowed and postdilatation performed with DEB or PTA depending on the assigned group. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-two lesions were treated: 92 (75.4%) SFA, 30 (24.6%) BTK. Twenty (40%) patients presented multilevel concomitant femoropopliteal and infra-popliteal lesions. Late lumen loss (LLL) was 0.64±0.9 mm in DEB group vs. 1.81±0.1 mm in the control group (P=0.01). In non-stented segment LLL was 0.63±0.9 mm (DEB) vs. 1.70±0.6 mm (PTA), P<0.01. In the stent subgroup was LLL 0.65±0.2 mm (DEB) vs. 1.91±0.3 mm (PTA), P<0.01. In the femoropopliteal region the overall LLL was 0.61±0.8 mm for DEB vs. 1.84±0.3 mm for PTA (P=0.02). BTK the overall LLL was 0.66±0.9 mm (DEB) vs. 1.69±0.5 mm (PTA) (P=0.03). The overall TLR was 12.2% for DEB and 35.3% for PTA (P<0.05). Amputation rate was 4% (DEB) vs. 12% (PTA), P=0.36. Thrombosis was 4% (DEB) vs. 8% (PTA), P≥0.05. Major adverse events 24% (DEB) vs. 60% (PTA), P<0.05. ABI improved more in the DEB group: 0.81±0.3 vs. 0.68±0.13 (P=0.02). Fontaine stage increased (from II b to I) 80% DEB vs. 56% PTA (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Results confirm and reinforce initial 6-month outcomes. In.Pact DEB balloons can be considered efficient to reduce restenosis rate.

Calcium burden assessment and impact on drug-eluting balloons in peripheral arterial disease.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to assess the effect of calcium on the efficacy of DEB during revascularization of steno-obstructive SFA lesions. METHODS: Sixty patients with de novo lesions of the superficial femoral artery underwent endovascular treatment with drug eluting balloons (DEB). DEB was selected according to vessel reference diameter (1:1). In case of residual stenosis > 50 % or flow-limiting dissection, postdilatation with conventional balloon or provisional stenting was done. Patients were classified into eight groups according to circumferential distribution of calcium on CT-angiography axial images (from 0° to 360°) and to its length (length < or > 3 cm) evaluated with digital-subtraction-angiography. Ankle-brachial index (ABI), late lumen loss (LLL), target lesion revascularization (TLR), primary (PP) and secondary (SP) patency, major adverse events (MAE), and Rutherford shift were evaluated at 1-year follow-up and correlated with the amount of calcium. RESULTS: Revascularization was successful in all cases. Flow-limiting dissection occurred in five cases (8.3 %) with a higher circumferential degree of calcium and solved in three cases with postdilatation and in the other two with provisional stenting. DEB effect was lower in patients with higher degree of calcium (>270° vs. <90°): ABI 0.71 ± 0.07 versus 0.92 ± 0.07; LLL 0.75 ± 0.21 versus 0.45 ± 0.1; PP 50 versus 100 %; SP 50 versus 100 %; TLR 25 versus 0 %; MAE 25 versus 0 %. CONCLUSIONS: Calcium represents a barrier to optimal drug absorption. Circumferential distribution seems to be the most influencing factor with the worst effect noticed in 360° calcium presence.

Stent graft in TIPS: technical and procedural aspects.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a nonoperative therapeutic option for the management of portal hypertension, variceal bleeding, recurrent ascites, Budd-Chiari syndrome. In view of the many issues surrounding the use of TIPS, in 1994 the US National Digestive Diseases Advisory Board convened a scientific conference to review the current data available and to establish the indications and controindications for this procedure. However there are still unsolved problems especially short primary patency of the shunt due to intimal hyperplasia, which causes a reduction of the shunt lumen thus favoring a return of the portal hypertension with recurrent variceal bleeding. Several study were performed in the last years to evaluate the efficacy of covered stent in order to reduce shunt disfunction secondary to intimal hyperplasia. PTFE seems to be more efficient in the prevention of restenoses. In our experience more then 100 patients were treated with the Viatorr stent-graft. After a follow-up ranging from 1 to 50 months we reported a 1- year primary patency rate of 83.8%. However the use of the stentgraft is correlate with a high rate of hepatic hencefalopathy (46.6 %). In case of hepatic hencefalopathy refractory to the conventional medical therapy, TIPS reduction should be performed.

Clinical experience with covered wallstents for biliary malignancies: 23-month follow-Up.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of partially covered metallic Wallstents to prevent tumoral ingrowth in patients with neoplastic obstruction of the biliary tract. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with malignant obstructive jaundice have been treated with Wallstents partially covered with a polyurethane polymer. In total, 36 covered stents (8 and 10 mm in diameter, 70 and 90 mm long) were deployed. All the stents were free from covering at both ends. RESULTS: Jaundice was successfully treated in 100% of cases. There were no problems related to the releasing system during stent positioning, no major complications, and no incompatibility reactions to the materials composing the endoprostheses. At 23-month follow-up, 6 patients are still alive and 15 are dead; of these 15 patients, 11 died in the first 6 months and the last 4 died between 6 and 23 months. Seven patients had an obstructed stent; in four of these, cholangioscopy showed the presence of tumoral ingrowth and in one it showed necrotic tissue with biliary pigments and inflammatory cells. No biopsy specimen was obtained in the remaining two patients with stent obstruction. The follow-up, ranging from 7 to 23 months, showed a primary patency of 46.8% and 24.6% and an assisted patency of 66.3% and 59% at 6 months and 23 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Covered metallic stents are effective and may produce improved survival in patients with malignant biliary obstruction (27. 8% at 23 months). Stent patency, however, is similar to that of uncovered stents. Modifications in the design of the covering membrane may reduce stent obstruction resulting from disruption of the plastic covering.

Metallic stents in benign biliary strictures: three-year follow-up.

Eighteen patients with recurrent benign biliary strictures (BBS) were selected for metallic stents placement because they failed to respond to percutaneous balloon dilatation. None were candidates for surgical corrections. We used "Z" single or double stents in 17 cases and a Wallstent in 1 case. After more than 3 years of follow-up (average period 37 months, range 30-41 months), 10 patients (55.5%) were asymptomatic without signs of bile stasis; 5 patients (27.7%) had recurrence of symptoms and were eventually retreated; and 3 patients (16.6%) died, 2 of obstructive jaundice and liver failure and 1 of metastatic gastric cancer. Recurrence was due to stent occlusion by tissue ingrowth in 3 cases, stent migration in 1 case, and an inflammatory lesion of the papilla of Vater in another case, with patency of the metallic stent. The overall patency rate, at 3-year follow-up was 68.7%. In our series, the main factor determining long-term patency of metallic stents has been reactive tissue ingrowth. Nevertheless, long-term results obtained with metallic stents in recurrent benign biliary strictures should be considered satisfactory. In selected patients, metallic stents may represent the only long-term treatment available for maintaining bile flow.

[Technical problems in interventional angiography (author's transl)]. / Problemi tecnici in angiografia intervenzionistica.

Interventional angiography has greatly developed recently, as a consequence of a better definition of clinical indications, the progress and the diffusion of the angiographic techniques and finally as a consequence of the technological improvements of angiographic material and accessories. A synthetic study of the actual technical knowledge and of the perspectives of further improvement, is presented, on the basis of a 10 years' experience, during which more than 500 therapeutical interventions have been performed by means of angiographic techniques.

[Nonvascular interventional radiology in the treatment of post-liver transplant complications. The clinico-radiological correlations and technical considerations]. / La radiologia interventistica non vascolare nel trattamento delle complicanze post-trapianto epatico. Correlazioni clinico-radiologiche e considerazioni tecniche.

Eleven patients, included in a series of 105 orthotopic liver transplant recipients, underwent interventional radiologic procedures for post-operative complications. Seven patients had obstructive jaundice, three patients had sepsis, and one patient was bleeding from the T-tube. Cholangiography, performed in 9/11 patients, demonstrated stenosis of the anastomosis in six cases, stenosis of the intrahepatic biliary tree in one case, and stenosis of both tracts in the remaining two cases. Four patients were treated with bilioplasty (from 1 to 5 sessions), using balloon catheters (8-10 mm) followed by stones removal in one case, and by the placement of a metallic stent in another case. The follow-up ranged from one to three years: no biliary stasis occurred, during that period, in these patients. Another patient with recurrent cholangiocarcinoma of the biliary anastomosis, treated with Carey-Coons endoprosthesis and brachytherapy, died four months later without jaundice. In the three patients with sepsis and in the patient with bleeding from the T-tube, intra- or extra-hepatic (in one case) multiple abscesses were demonstrated. The conservative treatment with the placement of percutaneous drainage catheters, associated with internal biliary drainage in two cases, allowed complete symptoms resolution. The technical success obtained in all patients confirmed the effectiveness of interventional radiology in the treatment of biliary complications after liver transplant, thus avoiding the need of surgical reintervention.

Recurrent benign biliary strictures: management with self-expanding metallic stents.

Self-expanding metallic stents of a modified Gianturco design were used to treat benign strictures of the biliary tree in 17 patients. Thirteen patients had undergone several unsuccessful surgical repairs, and four had not undergone surgery because of their clinical status. All patients had already undergone multiple percutaneous balloon dilations without success. Stents were placed percutaneously, through a transhepatic approach, without complications. Adequate caliber of the strictured segment, stable relief of symptoms, and normalization of liver function tests were achieved in 14 patients (82.4%). Partial primary success was obtained in one patient; initial success was achieved in two patients, but strictures recurred after 5 months. The average follow-up period was 8 months. Results suggest that placement of these stents might represent a permanent therapeutic solution for intractable recurrences. Extended follow-up and experimental studies to clarify long-term patency and biotolerance are needed.

Percutaneous management of benign biliary strictures with balloon dilation and self-expanding metallic stents.

Seventy patients with benign biliary strictures were treated by means of percutaneous balloon dilation and stenting. Patients with stenoses relapsing during catheter stenting (18/70) were treated with self-expanding metallic stents. Results were evaluated in 56 patients; in patients without sclerosing cholangitis (n = 47) the patency rate with both modalities of treatment was 96%, while in the patients with secondary sclerosing cholangitis (n = 9), it was 33%, for a total success rate of 86%. The average follow-up was 23 months (range 3-72 months). Major complications included one death for septic shock (1%), three severe hemorrhages (4%), two of which required arterial embolization, two pleural effusions (3%), and one liver abscess following arterial embolization. Moderate fever for 1-2 days was a common finding after percutaneous puncture and balloon dilation. Percutaneous management of benign biliary strictures so far has been attempted only in surgical failures or in complicated cases. In view of our midterm results it may well become the initial treatment in many patients.

[Use of a trans-brachial access during percutaneous treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms]. / Utilitàdi un accesso trans-brachiale durante il trattamento percutaneo degli aneurismi dell'aorta addominale.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the utility of a trans-brachial access during percutaneous treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Since September 1998, 43 patients with AAA, have been treated using different types of endoprosthesis. A right trans-brachial access was performed in each patient to facilitate catheterization of the controlateral iliac limb and to make the advancement of the aortic device easier and safer. Moreover an angiographic catheter was positioned at renal arteries through the trans-brachial access. Then several angiographic controls were performed to check if the position of the endoprosthesis was correct. The catheterization of the iliac stump was performed using the retrograde technique in 31 cases (72%) and the anterograde one in 12 cases (27.9%). RESULTS: The percutaneous trans-brachial access was performed successfully in 42/43 patients. Only one case required surgical exposure. The procedure time for the trans-brachial access ranged from 2-12 min (mean 4.5). Trans-brachial access proved extremely useful in facilitating the aortic device advancement when the iliac-femoral axis was sharply angulated. This access allowed an easier catheterization of controlateral iliac limb. It also permitted several angiographic controls to check the correct position of the endoprosthesis. No pseudoaneurysms, no oculo-cerebral disease, no ischemic phenomena were observed during a 29 month follow-up. Only in 2 cases (4.6%) a small hematoma was noticed the day after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Trans-brachial access proved to be safe and useful during stent-graft positioning.

Self-expandable nitinol stent for the management of biliary obstruction: long-term clinical results.

PURPOSE: Technical characteristics and clinical efficacy of a new metallic stent for the management of biliary obstruction were investigated in a clinical study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From February 1991 to January 1993, 35 self-expandable, nickel-titanium alloy wire-mesh stents (diameter, 10 mm; length, 6 cm) were placed in 19 patients with obstructive jaundice due to cholangiocarcinoma (n = 6), pancreatic carcinoma (n = 5), lymph node metastasis to the liver hilum (n = 5), gallbladder carcinoma (n = 2), and intraductal papillary mucosal hyperplasia (n = 1). RESULTS: Stent placement was successful in 18 of 19 patients. In one patient, stent dislodgement occurred after correct release; no other procedure-related complications or deaths occurred within 30 days following the procedure. Two (11%) of the remaining 18 patients are alive at 11 months; 16 (89%) died after a mean survival of 7.4 months. Two of three patients with stent obstruction underwent repeated intervention. Adequate palliation from jaundice was achieved without further intervention in 83% of cases. The mean stent patency was not less than 7 months. CONCLUSION: Use of these metallic stents reestablished bile flow in the occluded biliary tree. Their efficacy and patency rate were also adequate.

[Therapy of hepatic carcinoma by the intra-arterial injection of lipiodol, antineoplastic agents and gelfoam]. / Terapia degli epatocarcinomi mediante iniezione intra-arteriosa di lipiodol-antiblastici e gelfoam.

Chemoembolization by selective intra-arterial injection of lipiodol--chemotherapeutic agents (mitomycin and/or adriamycin)--followed by terminal embolization with gelfoam was performed on 20 inoperable patients with hepatic tumors: 13 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), 6 metastases from colorectal cancer, and one adenoma. A total of 29 embolizations were performed, 17 of them followed by gelfoam embolization. Significant decrease in tumor size or no tumor increase was shown in 8 patients--6 capsulated and well-limited HCC's, and 2 multinodular HCC's. Apart from occasional episodes of post-embolization syndrome (fever, vomit, abdominal pain), no significant complications were observed. Nine patients died at intervals ranging from 2 weeks to 37 months after the first embolization; in 6 patients the cause of death was not related to the advancing of the cancer, but to the complications of the underlying cirrhosis. In cirrhotic patients, damage to the rest of liver parenchyma can be limited by using superselective catheterization. Of the 6 patients with greater than 12 months follow-up, 4 are alive and 2 have died; 2 more patients are still alive 18 months after the first embolization. Finally, lipiodol was useful as radiopaque marker to detect lesion changes during the follow-up.

[Percutaneous treatment of benign biliary stenosis: bilioplasty and stenting]. / Trattamento percutaneo delle stenosi biliari benigne: bilioplastica e stenting.

We reviewed our personal experience in 46 patients with biliary strictures, who underwent percutaneous balloon dilatation between 1983 and 1988. The strictures were iatrogenic in 24% of the cases, anastomotic in 52%, inflammatory in 17%, and associated with sclerosing cholangitis in 7%. The treatment consisted in dilating the bile ducts with balloon catheters of different kinds and sizes ("bilioplasty") and placing an internal drainage catheter for a varying period of time ("stenting"). In 22 patients the catheter was removed after an average time of 7.7 months. The rate of stricture recurrence was 13.5% (average follow-up: 20 months). In the remaining 24 patients the stents are still in situ, waiting for removing. Major complication rate was 6.4% (2 pleural effusions and 1 hepatic artery bleeding). We also report our initial experience with metallic self-expanding stents which appear as a promising tool in the management of recurring strictures.

Prosthetic graft infection: diagnostic and therapeutic role of interventional radiology.

PURPOSE: Aortic graft infection is a rare complication of aortic surgery associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. The aim of the study was to evaluate the authors' experience with diagnostic and interventional procedures in the management of aortic graft infection. METHODS: Six patients with clinical signs suggestive of graft infection were studied. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) was performed in all patients. Diagnostic work-up was performed with perigraft puncture for fluid aspiration and contrast medium injection to confirm clinical signs or CT findings of graft infection, and to detect graft-enteric fistulas. Percutaneous drainage of the peri-prosthetic abscess was performed as attempted therapy in four patients. RESULTS: In four patients, CT examination findings were considered positive for graft infection. Culture and cytologic examination of aspirates revealed numerous white blood cells but did not show any growth. In three patients, direct contrast medium injection into the perigraft space allowed the detection of a graft-enteric fistula. In three patients, percutaneous drainage was performed as preoperative therapy, allowing improvement of the surgical outcome; in one patient the catheter was left in place as an attempt at definitive therapy, allowing a complete recovery. CONCLUSIONS: The percutaneous approach to prosthetic graft infection permits both the drainage and aspiration of the fluid in the perigraft area for laboratory studies. Percutaneous drainage can offer the possibility of definitive cure in patients for whom surgical management is considered too risky or, at least, represents a temporizing maneuver to improve the patient's general condition before surgery.