ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Severe haemorrhage is an uncommon but life-threatening complication of ulcerative colitis (UC). Superselective transcatheter embolization has shown to be an effective and safe therapeutic modality in patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding of various aetiologies; nevertheless, its role in UC-related acute bleeding is unknown. CASES PRESENTATION: Efficacy and safety of selective transcatheter arterial embolization in three consecutive UC patients diagnosed with massive haemorrhage admitted in a tertiary institution are reported. In all patients computed tomography scan showed active arterial haemorrhage from ascendant or sigmoid colon; subsequent arteriography demonstrated active arterial bleeding from colic branches of the superior or inferior mesenteric arteries, and selective transcatheter embolization was performed with immediate technical success in all three cases. Nevertheless, rebleeding requiring subtotal colectomy occurred between 5 h and 6 days after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Transcatheter arterial embolization is not an effective therapeutic approach in UC patients with severe, acute colonic haemorrhage. Colectomy should not be delayed in this setting.
Subject(s)
Colitis, Ulcerative/complications , Colonic Diseases/therapy , Embolization, Therapeutic , Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/therapy , Adult , Colectomy , Colon, Ascending/diagnostic imaging , Colonic Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Colonic Diseases/etiology , Embolization, Therapeutic/adverse effects , Female , Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/diagnostic imaging , Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology , Humans , Ileostomy , Recurrence , Sigmoid Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Sigmoid Diseases/etiology , Sigmoid Diseases/therapyABSTRACT
Data on microbiological management of withdrawn venous access ports (VAPs) are scarce. The aim of our study was to assess the validity of Gram stain and culture performed on VAPs to detect colonization and VAP-related bloodstream infection (VAP-RBSI). We prospectively performed cultures of the following: catheter tip (roll-plate and sonication), port content aspirate before and after sonication, port sonication fluid (PSF), and port internal surface biofilm (ISB). The gold standard of VAP colonization was positivity of at least 1 of the cultures mentioned above. We collected 223 VAPs in which no single culture had validity values reliable enough to predict colonization and VAP-RBSI. The best validity values were those obtained when cultures of catheter tip (roll-plate), PSF, and port ISB were combined. Cultures from several areas on the VAP are necessary to ensure suitable assessment of colonization and VAP-RBSI.