Recent trends in central venous catheter placement: a comparison of interventional radiology with other specialties.

The authors determined changing trends and growth in tunneled and nontunneled central venous catheter placement procedures. With use of Medicare billing data for tunneled and nontunneled catheter placement, a comparison was made among interventional radiology (IR), surgery, anesthesia, and internal medicine. There has been substantial growth in the placement of central venous catheters. Currently, a minority of these procedures are performed in IR departments. However, there has been significant growth in the radiologic placement of both types of catheters.

Brachytherapy for the prevention of stenosis in a canine hemodialysis graft model: preliminary observations.

PURPOSE: To determine whether gamma brachytherapy can prevent in-stent stenosis in hemodialysis grafts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six-millimeter polytetrafluoroethylene arteriovenous grafts were created bilaterally in six dogs. After 1 month, Wallstents spanning the venous anastomosis were placed to accelerate restenosis. Gamma irradiation (12 Gy) was delivered endoluminally to one of the two grafts by using an iridium 192 source; thus, each animal served as its own control. Fistulography was performed monthly for 10 months or until graft thrombosis, with measurement of stenosis at each time point. At the conclusion of the study period, the treated area was examined histologically, and a computer model was used to calculate the volume of intimal hyperplasia. RESULTS: Delayed stent migration resulted in exclusion of one dog. In the remaining five dogs; maximum stenosis across all time intervals was less for the treated side (P < .04), and the volume of intimal hyperplasia was less for the treated side (P < .045). In one animal studied at 1 year, this trend reversed in terms of percentage stenosis but not total neointimal volume. CONCLUSION: Brachytherapy with 192Ir (gamma) delivered at the time of stent placement reduces restenosis in this hemodialysis graft model, but, depending on the parameter evaluated (stenosis vs total volume of neointima), the benefit may wane or even reverse with time.

Radiologic percutaneous gastrostomy: results in 56 patients with head and neck cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The establishment of a direct enteral feeding route is critical in the overall treatment of many patients with head and neck cancer. Use of radiologic percutaneous gastrostomy (RPG), the newest technique for gaining enteral access, has not been studied in such patients extensively. This study evaluated the indications, technique, success rate, and complications associated with RPG in patients with head and neck cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. METHODS: A comprehensive chart review was undertaken of 56 patients with head and neck cancer treated at a tertiary care institution who had undergone successful or attempted RPG at some point during their treatment course. RESULTS: Most study patients had advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The most frequent indications for RPG were dysphagia/aspiration following tumor resection (n = 26) and dysphagia following completion of single- or combined-modality therapy (n = 22). The success rate of attempted RPGs was 98.2%. The overall complication rate for RPG was 12.7% (10.9% minor and 1.8% major). CONCLUSIONS: RPG is a valuable tool for establishing enteral nutrition in patients with head and neck cancer. Advantages of RPG include high success rate despite obstructing lesions, low complication rate, time efficiency and scheduling ease compared with intraoperative percutaneous gastrostomy (PEG) by a second team, no reported tumor seeding of the tube site, and the fact that postoperative RPG allows for more accurate selection of patients who require a gastrostomy tube.

Incidence and management of arterial emboli from hemodialysis graft surgical thrombectomy.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence and significance of arterial emboli resulting from surgical thrombectomy/revision of hemodialysis grafts. This information may help in determining the significance and management of similar emboli resulting from percutaneous hemodialysis graft thrombolysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients undergoing surgical thrombectomy/revision of clotted hemodialysis grafts are studied with postoperative fistulography per institutional protocol whenever possible. For this retrospective study, all postoperative fistulograms from a 1-year period were reviewed for the presence of arterial emboli. Patients with documented arterial emboli were examined for evidence of hand/digital ischemia; only those patients with signs or symptoms of ischemia were treated. At clinical follow-up, repeated evaluation for hand/digital ischemia was performed. RESULTS: Ninety-one thrombectomy/revision procedures were performed during the study period. Postoperative fistulograms were obtained after 67 of these procedures in 32 patients. One patient complained of hand pain during dialysis prior to acquisition of the postoperative fistulogram. Arterial emboli were documented in eight patients (12%; brachial, n = 3; radial, n = 2; ulnar, n = 2; radial/ulnar, n = 1). The single symptomatic brachial embolus was percutaneously removed; no intervention was undertaken in the remainder. At mean follow-up of 14 months, no patient had developed hand or digital ischemia. Subsequent fistulograms demonstrated partial (n = 2) or complete (n = 2) resolution of the untreated emboli. CONCLUSION: Arterial emboli are a relatively common occurrence with surgical thrombectomy/revision. Conservative management appears to be indicated in asymptomatic patients.

Complex biliary stones: treatment with a small choledochoscope and laser lithotripsy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of a small choledochoscope and laser lithotripsy in the treatment of complex biliary stone disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five consecutive patients with complex biliary stone disease not amenable to surgical therapy, peroral endoscopic removal, or simple percutaneous retrieval techniques underwent 35 stone-removal procedures. A 3.4-mm endoscope and a pulsed dye coumarin green laser were used to pulverize and remove stones through preexisting, mature transhepatic biliary drain tracts (n = 18), t-tube tracts (n = 3), cholecystostomy tube tracts (n = 3), and a hepaticocutaneous enterostomy (n = 1). Procedures in 14 of the 25 patients (56%) were performed on an outpatient basis. RESULTS: Twenty-four of the 25 patients (96%) were cleared of their stone burden and underwent subsequent catheter therapy of strictures or abscesses as necessary. Complications of the stone removal included fever and chills in six patients (24%) and mild bleeding from a bile duct wall during removal of an adherent stone in one patient. CONCLUSION: Use of a small choledochoscope and a coumarin green pulsed dye laser is safe and effective in the management of complex biliary stone disease.

Long-term follow-up of the Palmaz stent for iliac occlusive disease.

BACKGROUND: Thirty-eight limbs with iliac occlusive disease were treated with Palmaz stents from 1987 through 1991. METHODS: Indications for stent utilization included dissection induced by percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTA) (10), restenosis after PTA (nine), post-PTA residual stenosis (nine), multiple stenoses or occlusion (five), and unfavorable location (five). RESULTS: The ankle/brachial pressure index increased from 0.53 +/- 0.27 to 0.8 +/- 0.26 after stent deployment. The intraluminal pressure gradient decreased from 31.9 +/- 16.3 to 0.9 +/- 2.2 mm Hg after stent deployment. Complications included pseudoaneurysm (one), arteriovenous fistula (one), iliac perforation (one), groin hematoma (two), and occlusion (two). Follow-up arteriogram showed stenosis proximal or distal (n = 4) or within the stents (n = 4). These were treated with PTA or stents. Two patients required an aortobifemoral graft. Nine patients have died. Life table analysis showed a 1-, 3-, and 5-year primary and secondary cumulative patency of 87% +/- 5.9%, 74% +/- 8.2%, and 63% +/- 10% and 91% +/- 5.1%, 91% +/- 5.6%, and 86% +/- 7.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Palmaz stents, often required to salvage a PTA failure, appear to maintain overall patency at a high level. However, intimal hyperplasia and the progression of atherosclerotic disease may result in a need for additional procedures to obtain this favorable outcome.

Biliary tract complications following laparoscopic cholecystectomy: imaging and intervention.

Radiologic studies and interventional procedures were performed in a series of 13 patients with biliary complications following laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and the results were evaluated. Two categories of ductal complication--minor and major--were found. Minor complications (n = 6) included bile leaks and bilomas; these were managed with percutaneous techniques or simple surgical repair. Major complications (n = 8), consisting primarily of common hepatic duct injuries or strictures, were markedly resistant to percutaneous therapy, requiring major surgical repair (hepaticojejunostomy). Percutaneous treatment of recurrent strictures after primary repair was undertaken in three patients. Diagnostically, radionuclide imaging appeared most helpful in screening for biliary complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, supplemented by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and/or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography for definitive diagnosis.

Use of a guard wire during transjugular liver biopsy with the Colapinto needle. Technical note.

The authors describe a simple modification of the Colapinto transjugular biopsy needle in which a 0.045-inch stainless steel guide wire is used. The technique allows easier and safer passage of the needle through the introducer sheath to avoid complications such as sheath puncture and expedite the procedure. The technique and successful results in seven patients are described.

Bleeding complications of femoral catheterization: CT evaluation.

Computed tomographic (CT) scans and clinical data were reviewed in 21 patients with significant hematoma occurring after catheterization. The procedures included percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (n = 15), cardiac catheterization (n = 2), peripheral angioplasty (n = 2), valvuloplasty (n = 1), and venous access catheterization (n = 1). Clinical data including medications, transfusion requirements, and sequelae were obtained by reviewing the patients' charts. Four distinct types of postcatheterization bleeding were identified at CT: retroperitoneal, intraperitoneal, groin and thigh, and abdominal wall hematomas. CT scans contributed to treatment in all patients by helping indicate the need for more intensive monitoring and by helping predict the potential need for surgery. Sequelae included the need for blood transfusions in 17 patients (mean of 5 units of blood in each patient receiving transfusion) and surgery in two patients for vessel repair.

Computed tomography of uterine sarcomas.

Uterine sarcomas are rare tumors, comprising only 2% of uterine malignancies. Abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (CT) of 14 patients with pathologically proven uterine sarcomas were reviewed. The average age of patients in our series was 64 years. The primary tumor measured between 4 and 30 cm. CT characteristics of uterine sarcomas included a low density mass within the uterine cavity in 12 of 14 cases. In two cases the mass was nearly isodense with uterus. Tumor necrosis was present in eight cases. Two patients presented with sarcomatosis, two demonstrated nodal spread, and one had liver metastases. Hydronephrosis was seen in three cases.