Endovascular management of delayed post-pancreatectomy haemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the patient outcome after endovascular treatment of delayed post-pancreatectomy haemorrhage (PPH) as first-line treatment. METHODS: Between January 2005 and November 2013, all consecutive patients referred for endovascular treatment of PPH were included. Active bleeding, pseudoaneurysms, collections and the involved artery were recorded on pretreatment CT. Endovascular procedures were classified as technical success (source of bleeding identified on angiogram and treated), technical failure (source of bleeding identified but incompletely treated) and abstention (no abnormality identified, no treatment performed). Factors associated with rebleeding were analysed. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients (53 men) were included (mean 59 years old (32-75)). Pretreatment CT showed 27 (39 %) active bleeding. In 22 (32 %) cases, no involved artery was identified. Technical success, failure and abstention were observed in 48 (70 %), 9 (13 %) and 12 patients (17 %), respectively. Thirty patients (43 %) experienced rebleeding. Rebleeding rates were 29 %, 58 % and 100 % in case of success, abstention and failure (p < 0.001). Treatment failure/abstention was the only factor associated with rebleeding. Overall, 74 % of the patients were successfully treated by endovascular procedure(s) alone. CONCLUSION: After a first endovascular procedure for PPH, the rebleeding rate is high and depends upon the success of the procedure. Most patients are successfully treated by endovascular approach(es) alone. KEY POINTS: • After a first endovascular procedure for PPH the rebleeding rate is high • The rebleeding rate is significantly associated with initial technical success • Three-quarters of the patients are successfully treated by endovascular procedure(s) alone.

Anatomic Variability of the Upper Mediastinal Lymph Node Level VII.

OBJECTIVE: Lymph node level VII, between the sternal notch and the innominate artery, is a frequent site of lymph node metastases in thyroid cancer. The objective of this study was to determine the cranial-caudal dimensions of level VII in patients undergoing central neck dissection for thyroid cancer and its accessibility through a neck incision only. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing central neck dissection for thyroid cancer, with no previous neck dissection, mediastinal or thoracic surgery. The innominate artery was identified and the distance between the sternal notch and the upper border of the artery was measured to the nearest .5 mm. The sizes of level VII were compared with respect to age, sex, height, body mass index, type of neck dissection (therapeutic or prophylactic), and the incidence of previous thyroidectomy. RESULTS: One-hundred-one consecutive patients (65 women, 36 men, mean age 44 years (range 15-87) underwent prophylactic (n = 55) or therapeutic (n = 46) bilateral central compartment neck dissection. Level VII was accessible via the horizontal neck incision in all cases. Sizes of level VII ranged from 6 cm above the sternal notch to 35 mm below the sternal notch, with a mean distance of 3.5 mm below the sternal notch. The innominate artery was at the level of the sternal notch in 29 patients, and cranial to the sternal notch in 20 cases. No statistical relationship with age, sex, therapeutic/prophylactic neck dissection, previous surgery, body mass index or height was found. CONCLUSIONS: The maximal distance below the sternal notch was 35 mm. Level VII did not exist in 49 % of patients, and was less than 25 mm caudal to the sternal notch in 95 % of cases. Distinguishing level VII from level VI in thyroid cancer surgery may not be pertinent, due to the ease of access via a classic horizontal neck incision and the small sizes of level VII in the majority of patients.

Bilateral Second Carpal Row Duplication Associated with Multiple Epiphyseal Dysplasia.

We report a case of a 75-year-old woman presenting a hitherto undescribed condition of bilateral second carpal row duplication. She was diagnosed in childhood with both Marfan and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, with no clear evidence and no further medical follow-up. She presented throughout her life with various articular symptoms, which appeared to be compatible with a diagnosis of multiple epiphyseal dysplasia, and underwent several surgical procedures on her knees and hips. Most recently, she was reporting pain at the base of the fifth metacarpal bone of the left hand. X-ray images and computed tomography (CT) were obtained for exploration and showed a total second row duplication in both carpi, with a total number of 18 carpal bones in each wrist.