Selective intra-arterial embolization to treat hemorrhoids. / Embolización intraarterial selectiva como tratamiento de la patología hemorroidal.

OBJECTIVE: To present our results and describe the technique used for the endovascular treatment of hemorrhoids. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used right femoral artery or radial artery access to catheterize the inferior mesenteric artery, proceeding to the superior rectal artery with a 2.7F microcatheter to catheterize and embolize each distal branch distally with PVA particles (300-500µm) and proximally with coils (2-3mm). Patients were discharged 24hours after the procedure and clinically followed up at one month by anoscopy. RESULTS: We included 20 patients (4 women and 16 men; mean age, 61.85 years (27-81 years); mean follow-up, 10.6 months (28-2 months). Technical success was achieved in 18 (90%) patients and clinical success in 15 (83.4%); one patient required a second embolization of the medial rectal artery and two required surgery. Recovery was practically painless. At the one-month follow-up, all patients were very satisfied and anoscopy demonstrated marked improvement of the hemorrhoids. There were no complications secondary to embolization. CONCLUSIONS: Our initial results suggest that selective intra-arterial embolization is a safe and painless procedure that is well tolerated because it avoids rectal trauma and patients recover immediately.

The administration of contrast media: is there a risk of acute kidney injury? / Administración de medios de contraste. ¿Existe riesgo de daño renal agudo?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the intravenous administration of iodinated contrast material for computed tomography (CT) is associated with an increase in creatinine levels and acute kidney injury. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included all patients who presented at the emergency department between 2010 and 2015 with baseline creatinine measurement (C1) and follow-up creatinine measurement (C2) between 24 and 72hours later. The clinical research ethics committee approved the study. The exclusion criteria were age <18 years, creatinine ≤ 0.4mg/dl or ≥4.0mg/dl, and the administration of contrast media within the previous 6 months. The mean number of patients presenting at the emergency department was 105,435.6 per year. Patients who met the inclusion criteria were classified into three groups: those who underwent contrast-enhanced CT (n=6,642), those who underwent noncontrast CT (n=6,193), and those who did not undergo CT (n=33,802). We used the Acute Kidney Injury Network's (AKIN) and the Contrast-induced Nephropathy Consensus Working Panel's (CIN) criteria. Statistical analyses included bivariate statistics and logistic regression. Stata 15 was used for all statistical analyses. RESULTS: We analyzed 52,411 patients; after data cleansing: 46,637; mean age: 67.95 years; C1: mean 1.16mg/dl (SD: 0.61); C2: 1.14mg/dl (SD: 0.66). With AKIN and CIN criteria: contrast-enhanced CT was not associated with a greater probability of developing nephropathy (odds ratio [OR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.83-0.99] and [OR 0.89, 95% CI: 0.81-0.98], respectively). The propensity score matching study using both sets of criteria (AKIN+CIN) yielded OR 0.80 [95% CI: 0.77-0.84]. Glomerular filtration rates less than 30ml/min were not associated with increased kidney damage [OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.47-0.91]. CONCLUSION: The administration of intravenous contrast material in the patients studied is not associated with increased acute kidney injury.

Role of selective intra-arterial embolization in benign liver tumors. / Papel de la embolización selectiva intraarterial en los tumores hepáticos benignos.

OBJECTIVE: To present cases of symptomatic benign liver tumors diagnosed and treated with intra-arterial embolization before surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present the cases of 7 patients diagnosed with symptomatic benign liver tumors that required treatment: 1 focal nodular hyperplasia, 2 giant cavernous hemangiomas, 1 hepatic adenomatosis, and 3 hepatic adenomas. Once the feeding arteries were identified, tumors were embolized with polyvinyl alcohol particles (500µm-700µm) and then the feeding artery was plugged with coils if there was an arterial pedicle to ensure the total vascular exclusion of the tumor. The surgical intervention took place 4 to 7 days after embolization. RESULTS: All 7 patients were women (age range, 23-74 years); presurgical intra-arterial embolization was done in 6. In 1 patient with adenomatosis, embolization was done to control intraparenchymal hepatic hemorrhage. In the 6 patients who underwent surgery, the tumor was completely excised and no intraoperative bleeding events or postoperative complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Provided there is a consensus among the multidisciplinary team, embolization is a useful option in the perioperative management of giant and/or symptomatic benign liver tumors.

[Pelvic congestion syndrome: outcome after embolization with coils]. / El síndrome congestivo pélvico. Resultados tras la embolización con espirales.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical manifestations and findings at venography in patients with pelvic congestion syndrome and to evaluate the outcome after percutaneous embolization using coils. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 34 women referred to the vascular radiology unit from the vascular surgery department for clinical suspicion of pelvic congestion syndrome. All patients underwent venography to assess the competence of the ovarian veins and to detect other varicose pelvic veins. When pelvic varicose veins were detected, they were embolized with coils. Clinical outcomes were recorded after reviewing the clinical history and administering a questionnaire over the phone. RESULTS: In 22 of the 34 patients, signs of pelvic venous insufficiency were found. The symptoms were mainly pelvic and perineal heaviness (20/22) and pelvic pain (18/22). The technical success of venography and embolization was 100%, with three minor complications that did not require hospitalization. Pelvic heaviness improved in 14 patients (in 13 it was completely eliminated). Pain disappeared in 11 patients and was partially alleviated in another 2. CONCLUSION: In patients with pelvic congestion syndrome, the embolization of insufficient pelvic veins achieves clinical improvement with short hospital stays and few complications.

[Comparison of doxorubicin-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) with conventional transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma]. / Quimioembolización del hepatocarcinoma: partículas cargadas frente a quimioembolización convencional.

OBJECTIVE: To compare conventional transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with doxorubicin-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, evaluating the tumor response, complications after treatment, and survival. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present 72 patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma treated consecutively between January 2000 and December 2009. We studied 25 patients treated with TACE (Group A) and 47 patients treated with DEB-TACE (Group B); adriamycin (doxorubicin) was the chemotherapy agent used in both groups. All patients had compensated cirrhosis of the liver classified on the Child-Pugh score. The results were analyzed according to the RECIST criteria. Statistical analyses consisted of ANOVA, chi-square tests, Student's t-tests, and Kaplan-Meier log-rank tests. RESULTS: Patient's age, tumor size, number of tumors, and hepatic reserve were similar in the two groups. The mean number of sessions per patient was 1.32 ± 0.67 in Group A versus 2.13 ± 0.95 in Group B. The mean dose of adriamycin per patient was 50.60 ± 29.95 mg in Group A and 231.91 ± 110.2mg in Group B. A complete response of the tumor to treatment was observed in 5.6% of the patients in Group A and in 13.9% of those in Group B. According to the RECIST criteria, no significant differences were found. DEB-TACE was better tolerated and had fewer immediate complications (p=0.001). No significant differences were found in the survival of patients in the two groups (Group A: mean 686.24 days, median 709 days; Group B: mean 765.32 days, median 672 days. CONCLUSION: In patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma, DEB-TACE is safe and better tolerated than conventional TACE; moreover, it seems to lead to greater necrosis of the tumors.

[Severe hematuria caused by radiation cystitis. Selective percutaneous embolization as an alternative therapy]. / Hematuria grave debida a cistitis rádica. Embolización percutánea selectiva como alternative terapéutica.

Post-radiotherapy cystitis is a high morbidity entity that involves difficult-to-treat haematurias and sometimes results in death. Percutaneous arterial embolization is an accepted approach for haemorrhages of pelvic origin. Selective, percutaneous embolization of both vesical arteries could be an alternative treatment to control severe haematurias caused by radiation. Presentation of our experience in two cases and proposal of this approach as a valid option in post-radiotherapy haemorrhagic cystitis.