Irreversible electroporation of small renal masses: suboptimal oncologic efficacy in an early series.

PURPOSE: To report on the first short-term oncologic outcomes of percutaneous irreversible electroporation for small renal masses. METHODS: Patients with cT1a renal masses treated with irreversible electroporation from April 2013 through December 2016 were reviewed. Small, low complexity tumors were generally selected for irreversible electroporation using the NanoKnife® System (Angiodynamics, Latham, NY, USA). Surveillance imaging was performed post-operatively, and survival analysis was completed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: A total of 42 tumors in 41 patients underwent irreversible electroporation. Mean tumor size was 2.0 cm with a median R.E.N.A.L nephrometry score of 5. Twenty-nine patients (71%) were discharged the same day of the procedure and no major (Clavien grade II or higher) intraoperative or post-operative complications occurred. Initial treatment success rate was 93%; our three failures (7%) underwent salvage radiofrequency ablation. With a mean follow-up of 22 months, 2-year local recurrence-free survival was 83% for patients with biopsy confirmed renal cell carcinoma, 87% with biopsy confirmed or a history of renal cell carcinoma, and 92% for the intent-to-treat cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Although with low morbidity, in comparison to extirpation and conventional thermal ablation technologies, irreversible electroporation has suboptimal short-term local disease control results in this series of small, low complexity tumors. Larger series and longer follow-up will determine the durability of this modality.

Renal Salvage with Renal Artery Stenting Improves Long-term Survival.

BACKGROUND: The Cardiovascular Outcomes in Renal Atherosclerotic Lesions (CORAL) Trial cast doubt on the benefits of renal artery stenting (RAS). However, the outcomes for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) were not analyzed separately in the CORAL Trial. We hypothesized that patients who experienced a significant improvement in renal function after RAS would have improved long-term survival, compared with patients whose renal function was not improved by stenting. METHODS: This single-center retrospective study included 60 patients with stage 3 or worse CKD and renal artery occlusive disease who were treated with RAS for renal salvage. Patients were categorized as "responders" or "nonresponders" based on postoperative changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after RAS. "Responders" were those patients with an improvement of at least 20% in eGFR over baseline; all others were categorized as "nonresponders." Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify predictors of long-term survival. RESULTS: The median age of the cohort was 66 years (interquartile range [IQR], 60-73). Median preoperative eGFR was 34 mL/min/1.73 m2 (IQR, 24-45). At late follow-up (median 35 months, IQR, 22-97 months), 16 of 60 patients (26.7%) were categorized as "responders" with a median increase in postoperative eGFR of 40% (IQR, 21-67). Long-term survival was superior for responders, compared with nonresponders (P = 0.046 by log-rank test). Cox proportional hazards regression identified improved renal function after RAS as the only significant predictor of increased long-term survival (hazard ratio = 0.235, 95% confidence interval = 0.075-0.733; P = 0.0126 for improved versus worsened renal function after RAS). CONCLUSIONS: Successful salvage of renal function by RAS is associated with improved long-term survival. These data provide an important counter argument to the prior negative clinical trials that found no benefit to RAS.

Oncologic Efficacy of Radio Frequency Ablation for Small Renal Masses: Clear Cell vs Papillary Subtype.

PURPOSE: Current radio frequency ablation series do not distinguish renal cell carcinoma subtypes when reporting oncologic efficacy. Papillary neoplasms may be more amenable to radio frequency ablation than clear cell carcinoma because they are less vascular, which may limit heat energy loss. We report the long-term outcomes of patients treated with radio frequency ablation for small renal masses by renal cell carcinoma subtype. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of patients undergoing radio frequency ablation for small renal masses (cT1a) at 2 institutions from March 2007 to July 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were included in analysis if they had biopsy confirmed clear cell or papillary renal cell carcinoma histology. Patients had at least 1 contrast enhanced cross-sectional image following radio frequency ablation. Demographic data between tumor subtypes were compared using the paired t-test. Oncologic outcomes were determined by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and survivor curves were compared with the log rank test. RESULTS: A total of 229 patients met study inclusion criteria. There were 181 clear cell tumors and 48 papillary tumors. Median followup was 33.2 months. There was no difference between tumor groups based on patient age, tumor size or grade, or months of followup. Five-year disease-free survival was 89.7% for clear cell tumors and 100% for papillary tumors (p = 0.041). There was no significant difference in overall survival (88.4% vs 89.6%, p = 0.764). CONCLUSIONS: Radio frequency ablation outcomes seem to be determined in part by renal cell carcinoma subtype with clear cell renal tumors having less favorable outcomes. We hypothesize that this is due to differences in tumor vascularity. Our experience suggests that future tumor ablation studies should consider reporting outcomes based on tumor cell types.

Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Treatment of Small Renal Tumors with Irreversible Electroporation: A Single-Center Experience.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether irreversible electroporation (IRE) can be used as an ablation technique for small renal tumors (T1a cancers or small benign tumors) and to describe features after ablation on computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 20 patients (mean age, 65 y ± 12.8 y) underwent CT-guided IRE of T1a renal carcinoma (n = 13) or small benign or indeterminate renal masses < 4 cm in size (n = 7). Mean tumor size was 2.2 cm ± 0.7. The ablation area was verified with contrast-enhanced imaging performed immediately after the procedure to determine technical success. Imaging was performed 6 weeks (20 of 20 patients), 6 months (15 of 20), and 12 months (6 of 20) after ablation. Medical records and CT/MR imaging features of all patients were reviewed for recurrence, symptoms, and complications after treatment. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in all patients (100%); there were no major procedure-related complications. Minor complications occurred in 7 patients, including self-limiting perinephric hematomas, pain difficult to control, and urinary retention. Mean procedure time was 2.0 hours ± 0.7. At 6 weeks, 2 patients required salvage therapy because of incomplete ablation. At 6 months, all 15 patients with imaging studies available had no evidence of recurrence. At 1 year, 1 patient (1 of 6) was noted to have experienced recurrence. CT/MR imaging after IRE ablation demonstrated an area of nonenhancement in the treatment zone that involuted over ~6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Renal IRE appears to be a safe treatment for small renal tumors. Tumors treated with IRE demonstrated nonenhancement in the treatment zone with involution on follow-up CT/MR imaging.

Bleeding after laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy managed with cervical artery embolization. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative bleeding is a known complication after laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LASH), and trachelectomy is the traditional management of significant bleeding. CASE: We present the case of a patient with significant postoperative bleeding 1 month after LASH, resulting in symptomatic anemia requiring blood transfusion. Gelfoam embolization of the bilateral cervical arteries was successful in stopping the bleeding. The patient had no further bleeding and had resolution of anemia at 6 months postprocedure. CONCLUSION: Our case demonstrates a successful multidisciplinary and minimally invasive approach to management of postoperative bleeding with bilateral cervical artery embolization and should be considered as a potential treatment option.

Establishment of a multidisciplinary hepatocellular carcinoma clinic is associated with improved clinical outcome.

PURPOSE: To evaluate differences in overall survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after the establishment of a multidisciplinary clinic (MDC) for HCC. METHODS: Patient demographic and tumor characteristics of 355 patients diagnosed with HCC were collected between October 2006 and September 2011. Patients diagnosed after the initiation of the HCC MDC on October 1, 2010, were compared to patients diagnosed in the 4 years before. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment regimens, and overall survival were analyzed between the groups. RESULTS: A total of 105 patients were diagnosed in the time period after HCC MDC initiation compared to 250 patients in the previous 4 years. Patients diagnosed with HCC after the HCC MDC had fewer symptoms at presentation (64 vs. 78 %, p = 0.01) and earlier stage of tumor presentation [Barcelona Clinic for Liver Cancer (BCLC) A stage, 44 vs. 26 %, p = 0.0003; tumor, node, metastasis classification system stage 1, 44 vs. 30 %, p = 0.003) compared with patients diagnosed before MDC formation. The median time to treatment after diagnosis in the later period was significantly shorter than in the earlier time period (2.3 vs. 5.3 months, p = 0.002). On multivariate analysis, being seen in the HCC MDC remained independently associated with better overall survival (hazard ratio 2.5, 95 % confidence interval 2-3), after adjusting for BCLC stage and recipient of curative treatment. Patients diagnosed after HCC MDC initiation had a median survival of 13.2 months compared to the 4.8 months observed in patients diagnosed before MDC formation (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a MDC for the evaluation and treatment of patients with HCC is associated with improved overall survival.

Stent graft versus balloon angioplasty for failing dialysis-access grafts.

BACKGROUND: The leading cause of failure of a prosthetic arteriovenous hemodialysis-access graft is venous anastomotic stenosis. Balloon angioplasty, the first-line therapy, has a tendency to lead to subsequent recoil and restenosis; however, no other therapies have yet proved to be more effective. This study was designed to compare conventional balloon angioplasty with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene endovascular stent graft for revision of venous anastomotic stenosis in failing hemodialysis grafts. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, multicenter trial, randomly assigning 190 patients who were undergoing hemodialysis and who had a venous anastomotic stenosis to undergo either balloon angioplasty alone or balloon angioplasty plus placement of the stent graft. Primary end points included patency of the treatment area and patency of the entire vascular access circuit. RESULTS: At 6 months, the incidence of patency of the treatment area was significantly greater in the stent-graft group than in the balloon-angioplasty group (51% vs. 23%, P<0.001), as was the incidence of patency of the access circuit (38% vs. 20%, P=0.008). In addition, the incidence of freedom from subsequent interventions at 6 months was significantly greater in the stent-graft group than in the balloon-angioplasty group (32% vs. 16%, P=0.03 by the log-rank test and P=0.04 by the Wilcoxon rank-sum test). The incidence of binary restenosis at 6 months was greater in the balloon-angioplasty group than in the stent-graft group (78% vs. 28%, P<0.001). The incidences of adverse events at 6 months were equivalent in the two treatment groups, with the exception of restenosis, which occurred more frequently in the balloon-angioplasty group (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, percutaneous revision of venous anastomotic stenosis in patients with a prosthetic hemodialysis graft was improved with the use of a stent graft, which appears to provide longer-term and superior patency and freedom from repeat interventions than standard balloon angioplasty. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00678249.)

Long-term outcomes of renal tumor radio frequency ablation stratified by tumor diameter: size matters.

PURPOSE: Renal tumor size influences the efficacy of radio frequency ablation but identification of confident size cutoffs has been limited by small numbers and short followup. We evaluated tumor size related outcomes after radio frequency ablation for patients with adequate (greater than 3 years) followup. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 159 tumors treated with radio frequency ablation as primary treatment. Disease-free survival was defined as the time from definitive treatment to local recurrence, detection of metastasis or the most recent imaging showing no evidence of disease. Patients were evaluated with contrast enhancing imaging preoperatively, and at 6 weeks, 6 months and at least annually thereafter. RESULTS: Median tumor size was 2.4 cm (range 0.9 to 5.4) with a median followup of 54 months (range 1.5 to 120). Renal cell carcinoma was confirmed in 72% of the 150 tumors that had pre-ablation biopsy (94%). The 3 and 5-year disease-free survival was comparable at 92% and 91% overall, and was dependent on tumor size, being 96% and 95% for tumors smaller than 3.0 cm and 79% and 79%, respectively, for tumors 3 cm or larger (p=0.001). Most failures (14 of 18) were local, either incomplete ablations or local recurrences. This is an intent to treat analysis and, therefore, includes patients ultimately found to have benign tumors, although outcomes were comparable in patients with cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Radio frequency ablation treatment success of the small renal mass is strongly correlated with tumor size. Radio frequency ablation provides excellent and durable outcomes, particularly in tumors smaller than 3 cm. Of tumors 3 cm or larger, approximately 20% will recur such that alternative treatment techniques should be considered. However, most treatment failures are local and are often successfully treated with another ablation session.

Assessing outcomes to determine whether symptoms related to hypertension justify renal artery stenting.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of the study was to determine the blood pressure (BP) response to renal artery stenting (RAS) for patients with hypertension urgency, hypertension emergency, and angina with congestive heart failure (angina/congestive heart failure [CHF]). METHODS: Patients who underwent RAS for hypertension emergencies (n = 13), hypertension urgencies (n = 25), and angina/CHF (n = 14) were included in the analysis. By convention, hypertension urgency was defined by a sustained systolic BP ≥ 180 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥ 120 mm Hg, while the definition of hypertension emergency required the same BP parameters plus hypertension-related symptoms prompting hospitalization. Patient-specific response to RAS was defined according to modified American Heart Association reporting guidelines. RESULTS: The study cohort of 52 patients had a median age of 66 years (interquartile range 58-72). The BP response to RAS varied significantly according to the indication for RAS. Hypertension emergency provided the highest BP response rate (85%), while the response rate was significantly lower for hypertension urgency (52%) and angina/CHF (7%; P = .03). Only 1 of 14 patients with angina/CHF was a BP responder. Multivariate analysis showed that hypertension urgency or emergency were not independent predictors of BP response to RAS. Instead, the only independent predictor of a favorable BP response was the number of preoperative antihypertensive medications (odds ratio 7.5; 95% confidence interval 2.5-22.9; P = .0004), which is another indicator of the severity of hypertension. Angina/CHF was an independent predictor of failure to respond to RAS (odds ratio 118.6; 95% confidence interval 2.8-999.9; P = .013). CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension urgency and emergency are clinical manifestations of severe hypertension, but the number of preoperative antihypertensive medications proved to be a better predictor of a favorable BP response to RAS. In contrast, angina/CHF was a predictor of failure to respond to stenting, providing further evidence against the practice of incidental stenting during coronary interventions.

Longitudinal changes in kidney parenchymal volume associated with renal artery stenting.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the longitudinal changes in renal volume after renal artery stenting (RAS) to determine if renal mass is preserved by stenting. METHODS: The study cohort consisted of 38 patients with longitudinal imaging available for renal volume quantification before and after RAS. Renal volume was estimated as (kidney length) × (width) × (depth/2) based on preoperative renal imaging. For each patient, the clinical response of blood pressure (BP) and renal function to RAS was categorized according to modified American Heart Association guidelines. Changes in renal volume were assessed using paired nonparametric analyses. RESULTS: The cohort was a median age of 69 years (interquartile range [IQR], 60-74 years). A favorable BP response was observed in 11 of 38 patients (28.9%). At a median interval between imaging studies of 21 months (IQR, 13-32 months), ipsilateral renal volume was significantly increased from baseline (146.8 vs 133.8 cm(3);P = .02). This represents a 6.9% relative increase in ipsilateral kidney volume from baseline. A significant negative correlation between preoperative renal volume and the relative change in renal volume postoperatively (r = -0.42; P = .0055) suggests that smaller kidneys experienced the greatest gains in renal volume after stenting. It is noteworthy that the 25 patients with no change in BP or renal function-clinical failures using traditional definitions-experienced a 12% relative increase in ipsilateral renal volume after RAS. Multivariate analysis determined that stable or improved renal volume after stenting was an independent predictor of stable or improved long-term renal function (odds ratio, 0.008; 95% confidence interval, 0.000-0.206; P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: These data lend credence to the belief that RAS preserves renal mass in some patients. This benefit of RAS even extends to those patients who would be considered treatment failures by traditional definitions. Patients with stable or increased renal volume after RAS had more stable renal function during long-term follow-up, whereas patients with renal volume loss after stenting were prone to deterioration of renal function.

Salvage of angioplasty failures and complications in hemodialysis arteriovenous access using the FLUENCY Plus Stent Graft: technical and 180-day patency results.

PURPOSE: To review technical and 180-day clinical outcomes when stent grafts were used to treat dysfunctional arteriovenous (AV) hemodialysis access circuits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The FLUENCY Plus Stent Graft (Bard Peripheral Vascular, Tempe, Arizona) was used to salvage percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) technical failures and complications in AV access circuits over 2 years. There were 106 patients treated with 138 stent grafts. Indications for stent graft use included residual stenosis after PTA (n = 81), extravasation after PTA (n = 22), early recurrent stenosis (n = 14), pseudoaneurysms (n = 4), and "other" (n = 4). Data were retrospectively analyzed for complications and outcomes. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in all patients, and clinical success was achieved in 104 (98%) of 106 patients. At 180 days, postintervention primary patency (PIPP) was 47%, and postintervention secondary patency (PISP) was 79%. PIPP was 62% for autogenous fistulas (AVFs) and 35% for prosthetic grafts (AVGs) (P = .010). The 180-day PIPP for stent grafts 9-10 mm in diameter was 63% versus 38% for stent grafts 6-8 mm in diameter (P = .012). Implants that did not cross the elbow had a 180-day PIPP of 47% compared with 25% for implants across the elbow (P = .032). Technical complications were periprocedure AVG thromboses (n = 2), intraprocedural stent graft dislodgment (n = 1), venospasm (n = 2), and contrast agent-related hives (n = 1). One patient returned at 2 months with an infected AVG and stent graft in the outflow vein. CONCLUSIONS: The FLUENCY Plus Stent Graft was effective for maintenance of hemodialysis access circuit patency and was comparable or better than historical outcomes for PTA and bare stents. Factors that favored improved patency included larger diameter devices, use in AVFs, and avoiding placement across the elbow joint.

Predictors of outcome for renal artery stenting performed for salvage of renal function.

OBJECTIVE: To identify preoperative clinical features that predict a durable improvement in renal function with renal artery stenting (RAS). METHODS: Sixty-one patients with renal insufficiency (serum creatinine ≥ 1.5 mg/dL) underwent RAS for renal salvage. Patients were categorized as "responders" if estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at last follow-up was improved 20% or more over baseline. Patients with stable or worse renal function after RAS were labeled "non-responders." For the purpose of calculating changes in eGFR, patients on dialysis were represented by an eGFR of 10 ml/min/1.73 m(2). Renal volume was estimated as kidney length × width × depth/2. RESULTS: The median age of the cohort was 66 years (interquartile range [IQR], 60-73 years). Median preoperative serum creatinine was 1.8 mg/dL (IQR, 1.6-2.3), and median estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 34 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (IQR, 24-45). With stenting, 17 of 61 patients (27.9%) derived a durable improvement in renal function at a median follow-up of 24 months (IQR, 16-33 months). The largest proportion of stented patients (44.3%) had no improvement in renal function after stenting, while a subset (27.9%) experienced a decline in renal function. Responders enjoyed a 47% improvement in renal function from baseline, while non-responders had a 13% decrement in renal function (P < .0001). Responders had a higher baseline serum creatinine, lower eGFR, and a steeper decline in renal function prior to RAS, compared with non-responders. Kidney length, width, depth, and volume were not significantly different between responders and non-responders. Logistic regression analysis identified the rate of decline of renal function prior to stenting as the only independent preoperative predictor of improved renal function after RAS (odds ratio, 3.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.6 to 7.5; P = .0019). The rate of decline in eGFR per week was more than 20-fold greater for responders than non-responders (2.1% vs 0% decline in eGFR per week; P < .0001). No predictors of renal function deterioration after stenting were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The current study found that a steep decline in preoperative renal function portends a higher likelihood of renal salvage from RAS among patients with renal insufficiency. Incorporating this finding into patient selection may improve outcomes for RAS.

Clinical and kidney morphologic predictors of outcome for renal artery stenting: data to inform patient selection.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the current study was to identify clinical and kidney morphologic features that predict a favorable blood pressure (BP) response to renal artery stenting (RAS). METHODS: The study cohort consisted of 149 patients who underwent primary RAS over 9 years. Patients were categorized as "responders" based on modified American Heart Association guidelines: BP <160/90 mm Hg on fewer antihypertensive medications or diastolic BP <90 mm Hg on the same medications. All other patients were deemed "nonresponders." Renal volume was estimated as kidney length × width × depth/2 based on preoperative computed tomography or magnetic resonance scans. Median follow-up was 19 months (interquartile range [IQR] 10.0-29.5 months). RESULTS: The median age of the cohort was 68 years (IQR, 60-74 years). A favorable BP response was observed in 50 of 149 patients (34%). Multivariate analysis identified three independent predictors of a positive BP response: (1) requirement for four or more medications (odds ratio, 29.9; P = .0001), (2) preoperative diastolic BP >90 mm Hg (OR, 31.4; P = .0011), and (3) preoperative clonidine use (OR, 7.3; P = .029). The BP response rate varied significantly based on the number of predictors present per patient (P < .0001). Among patients with three-drug hypertension, a larger ipsilateral kidney (volume ≥150 cm(3)) increased the BP response rate more than threefold compared with patients with smaller kidneys (63% vs 18% BP response rate; P = .018). CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrated that three clinical predictors (≥4 antihypertensive medications, diastolic BP ≥90 mm Hg, and clonidine use) are preoperative predictors of BP response to RAS. Kidney volume may help in discriminating responders from nonresponders among those patients with three-drug hypertension. These parameters may assist clinicians in patient selection and provide more concrete data with which to counsel patients on the likely outcomes for RAS.

Common and rare collateral pathways in aortoiliac occlusive disease: a pictorial essay.

OBJECTIVE: The development of collateral pathways for arterial blood flow is common in the presence of atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries. The collateral pathways are divided into systemic-systemic and systemic-visceral pathways. MDCT is commonly used to evaluate aortic stenosis and the resulting collateral pathways. CONCLUSION: Common and rare arterial collateral pathways are reviewed by 3D volume-rendered CT images. Visceral and lower extremity arterial embryology is reviewed.

ACR-ABS-ACNM-ASTRO-SIR-SNMMI practice parameter for selective internal radiation therapy or radioembolization for treatment of liver malignancies.

PURPOSE: The American College of Radiology (ACR), American Brachytherapy Society (ABS), American College of Nuclear Medicine (ACNM), American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR), and Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) have jointly developed a practice parameter on selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) or radioembolization for treatment of liver malignancies. Radioembolization is the embolization of the hepatic arterial supply of hepatic primary tumors or metastases with a microsphere yttrium-90 brachytherapy device. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ACR -ABS -ACNM -ASTRO -SIR -SNMMI practice parameter for SIRT or radioembolization for treatment of liver malignancies was revised in accordance with the process described on the ACR website (https://www.acr.org/ClinicalResources/Practice-Parameters-and-Technical-Standards) by the Committee on Practice Parameters-Interventional and Cardiovascular Radiology of the ACR Commission on Interventional and Cardiovascular, Committee on Practice Parameters and Technical Standards-Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging of the ACR Commission on Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging and the Committee on Practice Parameters-Radiation Oncology of the ACR Commission on Radiation Oncology in collaboration with ABS, ACNM, ASTRO, SIR, and SNMMI. RESULTS: This practice parameter is developed to serve as a tool in the appropriate application of radioembolization in the care of patients with conditions where indicated. It addresses clinical implementation of radioembolization including personnel qualifications, quality assurance standards, indications, and suggested documentation. CONCLUSIONS: This practice parameter is a tool to guide clinical use of radioembolization. It focuses on the best practices and principles to consider when using radioemboliozation effectively. The clinical benefit and medical necessity of the treatment should be tailored to each individual patient.

Aortoiliac vascular injuries after misplacement of fixation screws.

PURPOSE: To report our experience with the diagnosis and treatment of aortoiliac vascular injuries caused by misplaced orthopedic fixation screws. MATERIALS: Six patients (age range, 35-60 years; mean, 52 years) were diagnosed with seven arterial injuries related to misplacement of fixation screws. The location of the injuries were thoracic aorta (n = 4) and common iliac arteries (n = 3). There was vessel wall penetration in five injuries resulting in active bleeding in two patients, contained penetrations in two patients, and vessel occlusion in one patient. One patient had associated inferior vena cava injury and pulmonary embolism. Two patients had asymptomatic impingement of the aortic wall by the screws. RESULTS: Vascular injuries resulted in death in one patient and limb amputation in another patient. Three patients were treated with placement of stent grafts and screw removal. Screw replacement was performed in one patient. Conservative observation was done in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: Vascular injuries related to misplacement of fixation screws are relatively infrequent but potential life and limb-threatening complications that require early recognition with prompt repair of vascular lesions and screw reposition.

Management of life-threatening hemoperitoneum with minimally invasive percutaneous superselective arterial embolization.

The management of spontaneous hemoperitoneum centers on clinical suspicion, fluid resuscitation, appropriate early imaging, and therapeutic intervention. Traditionally, explorative laparotomy has been the treatment of choice for idiopathic spontaneous intraabdominal hemorrhage, but as less invasive percutaneous techniques have matured, superselective arterial embolization may play a critical role in emergent treatment. This case report describes a 65-year-old woman with large-volume hemoperitoneum. At angiography, a single pseudoaneurysm of the middle colic artery was identified and treated with superselective endovascular methods.

Acute lung injury secondary to e-cigarettes or vaping.

As of October 2019, 1299 cases of "e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury" (EVALI) have been reported in the USA, with 26 deaths. Multiple patterns of lung injury have been reported, including lipoid pneumonia, organizing pneumonia, and acute eosinophilic pneumonia, with radiographic findings including diffuse pulmonary infiltrates. We report a case of lipoid pneumonia secondary to EVALI. Physicians should be alert to recognizing these patterns of lung injury, as well as emphasizing to patients the importance of e-cigarette cessation.

Gastric bleeding in giant cell arteritis.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a systemic vasculitis that classically affects large- and medium-sized vessels in the head and neck but can also manifest extracranially. We report the case of an elderly man who presented with sharp substernal pain, dizziness, and visual changes. He was initially hypotensive and anemic, and imaging showed hemoperitoneum with possible extravasation. Celiac and gastric angiography demonstrated findings consistent with vasculitis and focal extravasation from a left gastric branch. Subsequent embolization was performed. After the procedure, the patient informed the care team that he had biopsy-proven GCA. Extracranial, celiac/mesenteric arteriopathy is a less common manifestation of GCA, and few reported cases include hemoperitoneum or involvement of second-order branches.

Rapid cortisol assays improve the success rate of adrenal vein sampling for primary aldosteronism.

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that an adrenal vein sampling (AVS) algorithm incorporating rapid cortisol assays, which enables resampling of the adrenal veins, would improve the success rate by a team of radiologists. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: AVS is the most accurate means to localize aldosterone production in primary aldosteronism (PA). However, cannulation of the right adrenal vein (RAV) is difficult, and success is assumed from venography without the support of steroid assays. Furthermore, few institutions can assign all studies to 1 dedicated and experienced AVS interventional radiologist. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of patients with PA at our university hospitals who underwent AVS. We compared results for 30 AVS studies incorporating rapid cortisol assays with 30 conventional AVS studies. RESULTS: The success rate for the control period was 73% (22/30 studies). For the first 30 studies after incorporating rapid cortisol assay, the success rate increased to 97% (29/30 studies). Resampling the RAV was required for 2 studies, and prolonged sheath insertion did not cause any complications. CONCLUSIONS: High AVS success rates may be achieved by a team of interventional radiologists at 1 center using defined AVS protocols. Rapid cortisol assay allows for resampling of the RAV and improves AVS success rates.