Status Report on the Integrated and Independent IR Residencies: Origins and Projections for the Future.

The field of interventional radiology (IR) has undergone a historic transformation since 2014, marked by the approval of the IR residency program. This paradigm shift has revolutionized the traditional training pathway, which previously comprised a 1-year vascular and IR fellowship after diagnostic radiology residency. The introduction of integrated and independent IR residencies, including the option for Early Specialization in Interventional Radiology (ESIR), has reshaped the landscape of IR training. The implementation of the IR residency has been exceptionally successful, with the IR residency continuing to be one of the most sought-after residencies for medical students. Additionally, the option for IR training in diagnostic radiology has been retained, accommodating both ESIR and non-ESIR residents. With the continuous growth of accredited programs and rising popularity of IR as a specialty, the future of IR appears limitless.

Predicting the Safety and Effectiveness of Inferior Vena Cava Filters (PRESERVE): Outcomes at 12 months.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and effectiveness of vena cava filters (VCFs). METHODS: A total of 1429 participants (62.7 ± 14.7 years old; 762 [53.3% male]) consented to enroll in this prospective, nonrandomized study at 54 sites in the United States between October 10, 2015, and March 31, 2019. They were evaluated at baseline and at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months following VCF implantation. Participants whose VCFs were removed were followed for 1 month after retrieval. Follow-up was performed at 3, 12, and 24 months. Predetermined composite primary safety (freedom from perioperative serious adverse events [AEs] and from clinically significant perforation, VCF embolization, caval thrombotic occlusion, and/or new deep vein thrombosis [DVT] within 12-months) and effectiveness (composite comprising procedural and technical success and freedom from new symptomatic pulmonary embolism [PE] confirmed by imaging at 12-months in situ or 1 month postretrieval) end points were assessed. RESULTS: VCFs were implanted in 1421 patients. Of these, 1019 (71.7%) had current DVT and/or PE. Anticoagulation therapy was contraindicated or had failed in 1159 (81.6%). One hundred twenty-six (8.9%) VCFs were prophylactic. Mean and median follow-up for the entire population and for those whose VCFs were not removed was 243.5 ± 243.3 days and 138 days and 332.6 ± 290 days and 235 days, respectively. VCFs were removed from 632 (44.5%) patients at a mean of 101.5 ± 72.2 days and median 86.3 days following implantation. The primary safety end point and primary effectiveness end point were both achieved. Procedural AEs were uncommon and usually minor, but one patient died during attempted VCF removal. Excluding strut perforation greater than 5 mm, which was demonstrated on 31 of 201 (15.4%) patients' computed tomography scans available to the core laboratory, and of which only 3 (0.2%) were deemed clinically significant by the site investigators, VCF-related AEs were rare (7 of 1421, 0.5%). Postfilter, venous thromboembolic events (none fatal) occurred in 93 patients (6.5%), including DVT (80 events in 74 patients [5.2%]), PE (23 events in 23 patients [1.6%]), and/or caval thrombotic occlusions (15 events in 15 patients [1.1%]). No PE occurred in patients following prophylactic placement. CONCLUSIONS: Implantation of VCFs in patients with venous thromboembolism was associated with few AEs and with a low incidence of clinically significant PEs.

Prediction of in-hospital deterioration in normotensive pulmonary embolism remains elusive: external validation of the calgary acute pulmonary embolism score.

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a frequently diagnosed condition. Prediction of in-hospital deterioration is challenging with current risk models. The Calgary Acute Pulmonary Embolism (CAPE) score was recently derived to predict in-hospital adverse PE outcomes but has not yet been externally validated. Retrospective cohort study of normotensive acute pulmonary embolism cases diagnosed in our emergency department between 2017 and 2019. An external validation of the CAPE score was performed in this population for prediction of in-hospital adverse outcomes and a secondary outcome of 30-day all-cause mortality. Performance of the simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI) and Bova score was also evaluated. 712 patients met inclusion and exclusion criteria, with 536 patients having a sPESI score of 1 or more. Among this population, the CAPE score had a weak discriminative power to predict in-hospital adverse outcomes, with a calculated c-statistic of 0.57. In this study population, an external validation study found weak discriminative power of the CAPE score to predict in-hospital adverse outcomes among normotensive PE patients. Further efforts are needed to define risk assessment models that can identify normotensive PE patients at risk for in hospital deterioration. Identification of such patients will better guide intensive care utilization and invasive procedural management of PE.

Optimal Medical Therapy Following Deep Venous Interventions: Proceedings from the Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation Research Consensus Panel.

The optimal medical management of patients following endovascular deep venous interventions remains ill-defined. As such, the Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation (SIRF) convened a multidisciplinary group of experts in a virtual Research Consensus Panel (RCP) to develop a prioritized research agenda regarding antithrombotic therapy following deep venous interventions. The panelists presented the gaps in knowledge followed by discussion and ranking of research priorities based on clinical relevance, overall impact, and technical feasibility. The following research topics were identified as high priority: 1) characterization of biological processes leading to in-stent stenosis/rethrombosis; 2) identification and validation of methods to assess venous flow dynamics and their effect on stent failure; 3) elucidation of the role of inflammation and anti-inflammatory therapies; and 4) clinical studies to compare antithrombotic strategies and improve venous outcome assessment. Collaborative, multicenter research is necessary to answer these questions and thereby enhance the care of patients with venous disease.

Antithrombotic Therapy After Venous Interventions: AJR Expert Panel Narrative Review.

Interventions for thrombotic and nonthrombotic venous disorders have increased with technical advances and more trained venous specialists. Antithrombotic therapy is essential to clinical and procedural success; however, postprocedural therapeutic regimens exhibit significant heterogeneity due to limited prospective randomized data and incomplete mechanistic understanding of the critical factors driving long-term patency. Postinterventional antithrombotic therapy for thrombotic venous disorders should adhere to existing venous thromboembolism management guidelines, which include 3-6 months of therapeutic anticoagulation at minimum and consideration of extended therapy in patients with higher risk of thrombosis because of procedural or patient factors. The added benefit of antiplatelet agents in the acute and intermediate period is unknown, having shown improved long-term stent patency in some retrospective studies. Dual- and/or triple-agent therapy should be limited based on individual risks of thrombosis and bleeding. The treatment of nonthrombotic disorders is more heterogeneous, though patients with limited flow, extensive stent material, or underlying prothrombotic states such as malignancy or chronic inflammation may benefit from single-agent or multiagent antithrombotic therapy. However, the agent, dose, and duration of therapy remain indeterminate. Future prospective studies are warranted to improve patient risk stratification and standardize postprocedural anti-thrombotic therapy in patients receiving venous interventions.

Mechanical aspiration thrombectomy for the treatment of pulmonary embolism: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: There are no randomized trials studying the outcomes of mechanical aspiration thrombectomy (MAT) for management of pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing literature to evaluate the safety and efficacy of MAT in the setting of PE. Inclusion criteria were as follows: studies reporting more than five patients, study involved MAT, and reported clinical outcomes and pulmonary artery pressures. Studies were excluded if they failed to separate thrombectomy data from catheter-directed thrombolysis data. Databases searched include PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science until April, 2021. RESULTS: Fourteen case series were identified, consisting of 516 total patients (mean age 58.4 ± 13.6 years). Three studies had only high-risk PE, two studies had only intermediate-risk PE, and the remaining nine studies had a combination of both high-risk and intermediate-risk PE. Six studies used the Inari FlowTriever device, five studies used the Indigo Aspiration system, and the remaining three studies used the Rotarex or Aspirex suction thrombectomy system. Four total studies employed thrombolytics in a patient-specific manner, with seven receiving local lysis and 17 receiving systemic lysis, and 40 receiving both. A random-effects meta-analyses of proportions of in-hospital mortality, major bleeding, technical success, and clinical success were calculated, which yielded estimate pooled percentages [95% CI] of 3.6% [0.7%, 7.9%], 0.5% [0.0%, 1.8%], 97.1% [94.8%, 98.4%], and 90.7% [85.5%, 94.3%]. CONCLUSION: There is significant heterogeneity in clinical, physiologic, and angiographic data in the currently available data on MAT. RCTs with consistent parameters and outcomes measures are still needed.

Predictive Value of Preprocedural Computed Tomography Angiography for the Technical Success of Transarterial Embolization of Type II Endoleaks Arising from the Lumbar Arteries.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of preprocedural computed tomography angiography (CTA) to predict the technical success of embolization of type II endoleak arising from a lumbar artery after endovascular aortic repair (EVAR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients at a single academic institution who underwent angiography with possible embolization for a post-EVAR lumbar-supplied type II endoleak from 2009 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who did not undergo CTA before the procedure were excluded. CTAs were reviewed for the ability to trace the entire course of a feeding vessel from the internal iliac artery (IIA) to the lumbar artery at the site of the endoleak. Procedural imaging was reviewed for technical success, defined as the catheterization and embolization of the aneurysm sac through a lumbar artery. RESULTS: Fifty-seven angiograms with a type II endoleak and suspected feeding lumbar artery were identified. On CTA acquired before the procedure, the arterial path supplying this lumbar artery could be traced from the IIA to the aneurysm sac in 18 (32%) patients. Embolization was technically successful in 16 of these 18 (89%) procedures compared with 10 of 39 (26%) procedures in which the supplying artery could not be traced using CTA (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: A potential catheter path from the IIA through the iliolumbar and lumbar arteries to the aneurysm sac can be traced on preprocedural CTA in the minority of lumbar-supplied type II endoleaks. The ability to trace these inflow vessels may predict technical success during embolization. The low rate of technical success when the feeding vessel could not be traced using CTA suggests that these patients should be considered for percutaneous or transcaval sac puncture.

Surgical management of pediatric renin-mediated hypertension secondary to renal artery occlusive disease and abdominal aortic coarctation.

BACKGROUND: Renovascular hypertension (RVH) associated with renal artery and abdominal aortic narrowings is the third most common cause of pediatric hypertension. Untreated children may experience major cardiopulmonary complications, stroke, renal failure, and death. The impetus of this study was to describe the increasingly complex surgical practice for such patients with an emphasis on anatomic phenotype and contemporary outcomes after surgical management as a means of identifying those factors responsible for persistent or recurrent hypertension necessitating reoperation. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of consecutive pediatric patients with RVH undergoing open surgical procedures at the University of Michigan from 1991 to 2017. Anatomic phenotype and patient risk factors were analyzed to predict outcomes of blood pressure control and the need for secondary operations using ordered and binomial logistic multinomial regression models, respectively. RESULTS: There were 169 children (76 girls, 93 boys) who underwent primary index operations at a median age of 8.3 years; 31 children (18%) had neurofibromatosis type 1, 76 (45%) had abdominal aortic coarctations, and 28 (17%) had a single functioning kidney. Before treatment at the University of Michigan, 51 children experienced failed previous open operations (15) or endovascular interventions (36) for RVH at other institutions. Primary surgical interventions (342) included main renal artery (136) and segmental renal artery (10) aortic reimplantation, renal artery bypass (55), segmental renal artery embolization (10), renal artery patch angioplasty (8), resection with reanastomosis (4), and partial or total nephrectomy (25). Non-renal artery procedures included patch aortoplasty (32), aortoaortic bypass (32), and splanchnic arterial revascularization (30). Nine patients required reoperation in the early postoperative period. During a mean follow-up of 49 months, secondary interventions were required in 35 children (21%), including both open surgical (37) and endovascular (14) interventions. Remedial intervention to preserve primary renal artery patency or a nephrectomy if such was impossible was required in 22 children (13%). The remaining secondary procedures were performed to treat previously untreated disease that became clinically evident during follow-up. Age at operation and abdominal aortic coarctation were independent predictors for reoperation. The overall experience revealed hypertension to be cured in 74 children (44%), improved in 78 (46%), and unchanged in 17 (10%). Children undergoing remedial operations were less likely (33%) to be cured of hypertension. There was no perioperative death or renal insufficiency requiring dialysis after either primary or secondary interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Contemporary surgical treatment of pediatric RVH provides a sustainable overall benefit to 90% of children. Interventions in the very young (<3 years) and concurrent abdominal aortic coarctation increase the likelihood of reoperation. Patients undergoing remedial surgery after earlier operative failures are less likely to be cured of hypertension. Judicious postoperative surveillance is imperative in children surgically treated for RVH.

Endovascular repair of left ventricular assist device outflow graft defect.

Outflow graft complications after left ventricular assist device placement are infrequent but highly morbid. In this case report, we describe endovascular repair of multiple outflow graft defects with external hemorrhage in a complex patient using overlapping stent grafts. This approach successfully stopped the outflow graft hemorrhage and temporized the patient for subsequent cardiac transplantation.

Death due to atypical urinothorax following percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Urinothorax is a cause of pleural effusion that is often missed due to its perceived rarity. Here, we present a case of urinothorax secondary to percutaneous nephrolithotomy resulting in lung collapse and death. This case highlights urinothorax as a cause of death, its biochemical profile, and diagnostic features on autopsy. A 39-year-old female presented to the ED with low back pain and dysuria. Abdominal and pelvic CT showed a large staghorn calculus in the right kidney which was then treated with percutaneous nephrolithotomy. On post-operative day (POD) 1, the patient was febrile, had decreased breath sounds, and complained of pain with deep inspiration. Chest x-ray revealed increased right pleural fluid. On POD 3, the patient continued to have difficulty breathing and was eventually found apneic. Resuscitation was unsuccessful. Autopsy revealed a collapsed right lung associated with a 1200 mL pleural effusion, which was cloudy, yellow, and smelled like urine. The cause of death was listed as complications of percutaneous nephrolitotomy, with urinothorax and collapse of lung. While rare, urinothoraces must be considered as a cause of pleural effusion due to risk of respiratory failure and death. Diagnosis relies on pleural fluid analysis and history, especially with regard to genitourinary obstruction and surgeries.

Endovascular Fenestration/Stenting First Followed by Delayed Open Aortic Repair for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection With Malperfusion Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Immediate open repair of acute type A aortic dissection is traditionally recommended to prevent death from aortic rupture. However, organ failure because of malperfusion syndrome (MPS) might be the most imminent life-threatening problem for a subset of patients. METHODS: From 1996 to 2017, among 597 patients with acute type A aortic dissection, 135 patients with MPS were treated with upfront endovascular reperfusion (fenestration/stenting) followed by delayed open repair (OR). We compared outcomes between the first and second decades and observed mortalities with those expected with an "upfront OR for every patient" approach, determined using prognostic models from the literature (Verona, Leipzig-Halifax, Stockholm, Penn, and GERAADA [German Registry for Acute Aortic Dissection Type A] models). RESULTS: Overall, in-hospital mortality improved between the 2 decades (21.0% versus 10.7%, P<0.001). In the second decade, for patients with MPS initially treated with fenestration/stenting, mortality from aortic rupture decreased from 16% to 4% ( P=0.05), the risk of dying from organ failure was 6.6 times higher than dying from aortic rupture (hazard ratio=6.63; 95% CI, 1.5-29; P=0.01), and 30-day mortality after OR for MPS patients was 3.7%. Compared to the expected mortalities with the upfront OR for every patient models, our observed 30-day and in-hospital mortalities (9% and 11%, respectively) of all patients with acute type A aortic dissection were significantly lower ( P≤0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Immediate OR is the strategy to prevent death from aortic rupture for the majority of patients with acute type A aortic dissection. However, relatively stable (no rupture, no tamponade) patients with MPS benefit from a staged approach: upfront endovascular reperfusion followed by aortic OR at resolution of organ failure.

Type A aortic dissection complicated by malperfusion syndrome.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Malperfusion is present in up to 40% of acute type A aortic dissections (ATAADs) and results in increased morbidity and mortality. This review presents different management strategies in patients with ATAAD and malperfusion to improve outcomes. RECENT FINDINGS: While the ideal management strategy of ATAAD complicated by malperfusion has yet to be determined, the literature provides evidence for additional techniques to be used in conjunction with central aortic repair to reduce mortality. SUMMARY: Recent findings support a role for initial reperfusion and delayed central aortic repair, although optimal management strategy remains debated.

Transvenous Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Intravascular or Perivascular Neoplasm: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis of 36 Patients.

Between September 2008 and August 2017, 36 patients (mean age 56 y; range, 30-89 y) underwent transvenous biopsy of suspected tumor thrombus or perivascular tumor. Intravascular biopsy was pursued because of inaccessible percutaneous access in 9 patients (25%) and as part of a planned revascularization procedure in 27 patients (75%). Histopathologic results showed malignancy in 26 patients (72%) and benign etiologies in 10 patients (28%). No patients required repeat biopsy. There were no complications related to the biopsy procedure. The present series suggests that transvenous biopsy is a safe and accurate method of intravascular and perivascular mass tissue sampling.

Medical Malpractice in Image-Guided Procedures: An Analysis of 184 Cases.

PURPOSE: To report types and outcomes of a small subset of malpractice lawsuits filed against physicians performing image-guided interventions in the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 1,312 cases involving common image-guided procedures were reviewed from the Westlaw and LexisNexis databases in the United States from 1963 to 2018. Social Security, disability, employment contract, product liability, criminal, and government employment claims were excluded. The final legal cohort comprised 184 (14.0%) cases. They were categorized into vascular (113/184; 61.4%), inferior vena cava filter (n = 22; 12.0%), neurointerventional (n = 13; 7.1%), gastrointestinal and genitourinary (n = 17; 9.2%), foreign body (n = 7; 3.8%), biopsy related (n = 9; 4.9%), and oncologic (n = 3; 1.6%) interventions. Claims were also organized by defendant type and by specialty, complication stage, verdict, and year. RESULTS: From 2001 to 2018, 58.7% of claims (n = 108) were reported. Procedural complications related to arteriography were most commonly litigated (63/113; 55.8%). Claims arising from intra-procedural and early post-procedural complications were common (84/184; 45.7%). Community hospitals were most often named as defendants (61/184; 33.2%). In reported outcomes, courts sided with defendants in 81.9% (104/127) of the cases, similar to national malpractice trends. Unreported outcomes comprised 31% (57/184) of the data. CONCLUSIONS: For the small subset of claims published within national legal databases, intra-procedural and early post-procedural complications after diagnostic arteriography were most commonly litigated. Most (81.9%) claims with reported outcomes sided with the defendant physician.

Endovascular iliocaval reconstruction for the treatment of iliocaval thrombosis: From imaging to intervention.

Thrombosis of the inferior vena cava and iliac veins, known as iliocaval thrombosis, is a common cause of significant morbidity. Patients with chronic iliocaval obstruction often present with life-limiting occlusive symptoms secondary to recurrent lower extremity deep venous thrombosis, swelling, pain, venous stasis ulcers, or phlegmasia. Endovascular iliocaval reconstruction is a technically successful procedure that results in favorable clinical outcomes and stent patency rates with few complications and is often able to relieve debilitating symptoms in affected patients. This review presents an approach to endovascular iliocaval stent reconstruction in patients suffering from chronic iliocaval thrombosis, including background, patient selection, timing of intervention, procedural steps, technical considerations, patient follow-up, and a brief review of outcomes. Schematic illustrations and clinical cases outlining iliocaval stent reconstruction and crossing chronic venous occlusions have been provided.

Pediatric lymphangiography, thoracic duct embolization and thoracic duct disruption: a single-institution experience in 11 children with chylothorax.

BACKGROUND: Interventional radiology treatment of chylothorax is well described in adults, with high technical and clinical success that decreases patient morbidity and mortality. However there is limited experience in children. OBJECTIVE: To report the technical and clinical success of lymphangiography, thoracic duct embolization and thoracic duct disruption in the pediatric population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 11 pediatric patients (7 boys, 4 girls; median weight 6.0 kg) who underwent lymphangiography and thoracic duct embolization from November 2015 to May 2017. All 11 (100%) children presented with chylothorax, with 1 (9%) having concomitant chylous ascites and 1 (9%) having concomitant chylopericardium. Ten (91%) children had traumatic chylothorax and one (9%) had congenital chylothorax. We recorded technical success, clinical success and complications. RESULTS: Twelve procedures were completed in 11 children. Bilateral intranodal lymphangiography was technically successful in all (100%) patients. Central lymphatics were visualized in eight (67%) procedures. Access to central lymphatics was attempted in eight procedures and successful in five (63%). In three (37%) of the eight procedures, disruption was performed when the central lymphatics could not be accessed. Clinical success was achieved in 7/11 (64%) children. Three minor complications were reported. No major complications were encountered. CONCLUSION: Lymphangiography, thoracic duct embolization and thoracic duct disruption are successful interventional strategies in children with chylothorax and should be considered as viable treatment options at any age.

Endovascular Iliocaval Stent Reconstruction for Inferior Vena Cava Filter-Associated Iliocaval Thrombosis: Approach, Technical Success, Safety, and Two-Year Outcomes in 120 Patients.

PURPOSE: To report technical success, outcomes, and patency of iliocaval stent reconstruction for inferior vena cava (IVC) filter-bearing iliocaval thrombosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 120 patients with 123 IVC filters and symptomatic iliocaval thrombosis underwent stent reconstruction. Mean patient age was 55 years (range, 19-88 y). Filters included 70 (57%) retrievable and 53 (43%) permanent filters. Symptoms included lower extremity swelling or pain (n = 93), ulcers (n = 8), phlegmasia (n = 7), back pain (n = 5), shortness of breath (n = 4), worsening renal function (n = 2), and stenosis identified during translumbar catheter placement (n = 1). Clinical success was defined as decrease in clinical, etiology, anatomy, and pathophysiology (CEAP) score of at least 1; resolution of presenting symptoms; or normalization of renal function in patients with juxtarenal or suprarenal thrombosis on presentation. Technical aspects of reconstruction, technical success, complications, 6-month clinical response, and 6-, 12-, and 24-month primary, primary-assisted, and secondary stent patency rates were recorded. RESULTS: Stent reconstruction was technically successful in all 120 patients, 63 of whom (53%) underwent thrombolysis. Thirty filters (24%) were retrieved, and 93 (76%) were excluded with stent placement across the indwelling filter. Six minor and 2 major complications occurred. Clinical success was achieved in 115 patients (96%) at 6 months. Six-, 12-, and 24-month primary iliocaval stent patency rates were 96.4%, 94.8%, and 87.2%, respectively. Twenty-four month primary-assisted and secondary patency rates were 90.3% and 94.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Iliocaval stent reconstruction is an effective treatment for filter-associated thrombosis with 100% technical success and 96% clinical success at 6 months. Technical and clinical outcomes in patients who underwent filter retrieval versus filter exclusion were similar.

Radiographic Findings of Distressed Venous Stents and Inferior Vena Cava Filters: Clinical Implications.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to describe an association between the radiographic appearance of distressed intravascular implants and venous stenosis or occlusion and to determine the success of reparative endovascular procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-eight patients with distressed stents or inferior vena cava (IVC) filters characterized by pursing (short-axis contracture), straightening, longitudinal contraction (long-axis contracture), or fracture were identified from retrospective review of a venous registry for the period from February 2004 to October 2016. Patients originally presented with superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome (n = 25), arm swelling (n = 16), iliocaval thrombosis (n = 21), and lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (n = 16), and stents were initially placed in 65 and filters in 13. Implants were located in the IVC (n = 24), subclavian vein (n = 16), brachiocephalic vein (n = 15), common iliac vein (n = 10), multiple veins (n = 4), axillary vein (n = 4), common femoral vein (n = 3), SVC (n = 1), and internal jugular vein (n = 1). Implants included Wallstents in 63 patients; Smart stents in two patients; and Celect Platinum, Denali, Greenfield, and Trapease IVC filters in two, three, two, and six patients, respectively. Venographic indication, distress type, time from initial normal placement to identification of distress, venographic finding (patent, mild stenosis, high-grade stenosis, or occlusion), treatment, revascularization outcome, and complications were recorded. RESULTS: The mean time to distress was 23 months. Fifty-two (67%) patients underwent venography for symptoms and 26 (33%) for surveillance. Forty-five (58%) implants were pursed; 19 (24%), straightened; nine (12%), contracted; and five (6%), fractured. Venography depicted 48 (62%) high-grade stenoses, 19 (24%) complete occlusions, and six (8%) mild stenoses. Of the 73 patients who underwent an intervention, 29 (40%) underwent angioplasty, 15 (21%) underwent angioplasty and stenting, 15 (21%) underwent sharp recanalization, and five (7%) underwent thrombolysis. Revascularization was successful in 67 (92%). Three minor complications occurred. CONCLUSION: Distressed intravascular implants are associated with high-grade venous stenosis or occlusion. Reparative interventions are usually technically successful.

Gianturco Z-Stent Fixation of a Modified Iliac Limb Stent-Graft Endoprosthesis for the Treatment of Malignant Superior Vena Cava Syndrome.

Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome, characterized by facial and arm swelling, is most frequently caused by intrathoracic malignancies. Decompression may be achieved with endovenous stent placement. Polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stents have shown to have higher long-term cumulative patency rates compared with uncovered stents for the treatment of malignant SVC syndrome. Unfortunately, polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stents are not readily available worldwide. Moreover, the existing armamentarium, including balloon-expandable iCAST stents (maximum diameter 10 mm) and heparin-coated Viabahn stent-graft endoprostheses (maximum diameter 13 mm), is too small to adequately treat malignant obstruction of the SVC. This report describes a patient with SVC syndrome and SVC tumor thrombus secondary to recurrent nonseminomatous germ cell carcinoma of the mediastinum treated with a Gianturco Z-stent-fixed modified EXCLUDER abdominal aortic aneurysm iliac limb endoprosthesis.