MELD-Na > 16 is associated with high peri-procedural and short-term mortality in patients with ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma treated with emergent transarterial embolization.

PURPOSE: To evaluate prognostic factors associated with peri-procedural (30 days) and short-term (90 days) mortality in the United States cohort of patients following emergent transarterial embolization for ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: Patients with ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma treated with emergent TAE between January 2001 and December 2019 were retrospectively identified (n = 24). Average age was 62 years (range, 23-78 year); 15 (62.5%) were men. Univariate and Cox proportional hazard modeling were used to determine independent predictors of overall survival (OS) following TAE. OS stratified by Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-Sodium score was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients (88%) died during a mean clinical follow-up period of 328 ± 139 days. MELD-Na score (HR 1.22 per 1-unit increase; 95% CI 1.06-1.46; p = 0.005) and pre-rupture ECOG PS score (HR 8.1; 95% CI 1.28-51.2; p = 0.026) were independent predictors of decreased overall survival. There was no significant association between overall survival and presence of cardiovascular co-morbidities (p = 0.60), hemorrhagic shock on presentation (p = 0.16), portal vein thrombus (p = 0.08), vasopressor support required (p = 0.79), intubation required (p = 0.40), acute kidney injury (p = 0.58), and number of packed red blood cell transfusions (p = 0.22). The median OS was 64 days. Median OS was significantly greater in patients with a MELD-Na score ≤ 16 as compared to those with a MELD-Na score > 16 (166.5 days vs 9 days, p = 0.011). Cumulative OS rates in those with a MELD-Na score ≤ 16 at 30, 60, 90, and 360 days were 79%, 64%, 64%, and 25%, respectively, vs 33%, 33%, 11%, and 0%, respectively, in those with a MELD-Na score > 16. CONCLUSION: MELD-Na > 16 is associated with very high peri-procedural (67% at 30 days) and short-term (89% at 90 days) mortality in patients with ruptured HCC treated with emergent transarterial embolization. A better understanding of these prognostic factors may help guide treatment decisions and provide realistic expectations when counseling patients and their families.

A case of a large leiomyomatous uterus with multiple arteriovenous malformations and subsequent high cardiac output state with severe four chamber cardiac enlargement.

Uterine arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare and potentially life-threatening. They can be congenital or acquired. Uterine artery embolization or hysterectomy are considered mainstays of management. AVMs can be associated with leiomyomas, and patients may require both procedures. We present a case of a 42-year-old woman with a massively enlarged leiomyomatous uterus supplied and drained by multiple large AVMs, leading to high cardiac output state with severe four chamber cardiac dilation. Management required a multidisciplinary team of interventional radiology, gynecologic oncology surgery, vascular surgery, cardiac anesthesiology, cardiology, and urology and a 2-day interventional approach of preoperative arterial embolization followed by hysterectomy.

Safety and Effectiveness of Palliative Tunneled Peritoneal Drainage Catheters in the Management of Refractory Malignant and Non-malignant Ascites.

PURPOSE: To determine the safety and effectiveness of tunneled peritoneal catheters in the management of refractory malignant and non-malignant ascites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An IRB-approved retrospective review was undertaken of patients who underwent ultrasound and fluoroscopy-guided tunneled peritoneal catheter placement for management of refractory malignant or non-malignant ascites between January 1, 2009, and March 14, 2014. RESULTS: A total of 137 patients (76 M/61 F, mean age 62.9 years) underwent tunneled peritoneal catheter placement for refractory malignant (N = 119; 86.9%) or non-malignant (N = 18; 13.1%) ascites. Technical success was 100% with no immediate complications. Nineteen patients (13.9%) experienced a total of 11 minor and 12 major complications. Nine patients developed a catheter-associated infection. The remaining complications included leakage at the dermatotomy site (N = 8), catheter dislodgement (N = 2), obstruction (N = 2), and groin pain (N = 2). Patients who developed a catheter-associated infection had a significantly longer catheter dwell time compared to those who did not develop an infection (median, 96.5 vs. 20 days; p < 0.01). Nine patients (6.6%) were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 128 patients, 125 died and the majority had a catheter in place (90.4%) at the time of death. There was one catheter-associated death (bacterial peritonitis; 0.8%). The median time from catheter placement to death was significantly shorter in patients with malignant versus non-malignant ascites (18.5 vs. 85 days; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Tunneled peritoneal drainage catheters are effective and relatively safe in the management of malignant and non-malignant ascites. Longer catheter dwell time may be a risk factor for catheter-associated infection, particularly in patients with a longer anticipated survival in the palliative setting.

The Timing and Presentation of Major Hemorrhage After 18,947 Image-Guided Percutaneous Biopsies.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to characterize the temporal and clinical manifestation of major bleeding events after biopsy to guide clinicians in the institution of appropriate surveillance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of percutaneous image-guided biopsies performed between September 1, 2005, and May 31, 2012, including 18,947 biopsy events. According to routine protocol, follow-up telephone calls were made to patients 24 hours after biopsy, and chart review was performed 3 months after biopsy. Bleeding complications were defined using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE, version 4.0) established by the National Cancer Institute. In patients with a grade 3 or greater bleeding complication, a retrospective chart review was performed to characterize the details of the complication including the timing of the complication and the primary clinical presentation of the event. RESULTS: Grade 3 hemorrhage was associated with 64 of 18,947 (0.3%) procedures, and there were three deaths associated with the biopsy event (0.02% or ≈ 2/10,000). Hemorrhage was most commonly associated with biopsy of a native kidney (17/1407, 1.2%). Twenty patients (31%) presented with a bleeding complication within 1 hour of biopsy. Twenty-seven patients (42%) presented within 2 hours of biopsy. Fifty-two patients (81%) presented within 24 hours, and the remaining 12 patients (19%) presented more than 24 hours after biopsy. Pain was the most common presentation of patients with bleeding complications, occurring in 39 (61%) patients. CONCLUSION: The incidence of major bleeding after percutaneous biopsies is very low, but delayed complications occur more frequently than anticipated. Pain is the most common clinical presentation of major bleeding complications.

Percutaneous cryoablation of stage T1b renal cell carcinoma: technique considerations, safety, and local tumor control.

PURPOSE: To describe the technical methods, safety, and local tumor control rate associated with percutaneous cryoablation of stage T1b renal cell carcinoma (RCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of a percutaneous renal ablation registry was used to identify 46 patients with a total of 46 biopsy-proven RCC lesions measuring 4.1-7.0 cm treated with cryoablation between 2003 and 2011. The main outcome parameters investigated were adjunctive maneuvers, complications, and local tumor progression, and cancer-specific survival rates. Complication rates were categorized and recorded using the Clavien-Dindo classification system. Progression-free and cancer-specific survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The mean treated RCC size was 4.8 cm (range, 4.1-6.4 cm). Prophylactic tumor embolization was performed in 7 patients (15%), ipsilateral ureteral stents were placed in 7 patients (15%), and hydrodisplacement of bowel was performed in the treatment of 16 tumors (35%). A single technical failure (2.2%) was observed at the time of ablation. Thirty-six tumors (78%) had follow-up imaging at 3 months or later following ablation, including a single recurrence at 9 months after ablation. The mean duration of follow-up for the 35 RCC tumors that did not recur was 2.0 years (range, 0.3-6.1 y). Estimated local progression-free survival rate at 3 years was 96.4%. Of the 46 cryoablation procedures, there were 7 complications (15.2%) of grade II or worse. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that cryoablation represents a valid treatment alternative for select patients with clinical stage T1b RCC. Complications are frequent enough that multidisciplinary patient management should be considered.

Open surgical removal of a tilted and dislodged inferior vena cava filter through a lumbar branch without cavotomy.

Retrievable inferior vena cava (IVC) filters decrease the risk of pulmonary embolism. Retrieval is recommended but device migration, tilting, or perforation of the IVC by the filter may prevent successful removal. We present a case of a tilted IVC filter with the retrieval hook lodged in a lumbar vein preventing endovascular removal. A subcostal incision was used for open removal. The thrombosed lumbar vein was encircled with vessel loops, facilitating collapse of the filter. No cavotomy was made. This technique, with minimal variation, can be used to remove most nonthrombosed retrievable filters from the IVC, without the need for venotomy.

Lumbar artery pseudoaneurysm caused by a Gunther Tulip inferior vena cava filter.

Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are widely used to decrease the risk of pulmonary embolism in patients with contraindications to anticoagulation. Complications include local hematoma, access site deep venous thrombosis (DVT), filter migration and embolization, leg penetration through the IVC wall, IVC occlusion, and filter fracture with embolization. Other rare complications include leg penetration into adjacent organs including duodenum and ureter. Lumbar artery pseudoaneurysms are rare and may be spontaneous, iatrogenic, or traumatic. To date, there have been 3 case reports of lumbar artery pseudoaneurysms caused by IVC filters. We present an additional case of a lumbar artery pseudoaneurysm caused by a Gunther Tulip IVC filter treated successfully with selective embolization.