PHIL® (precipitating hydrophobic injectable liquid): retrospective multicenter experience on 178 patients in peripheral embolizations.

PURPOSE: This study aims to analyze safety and effectiveness of PHIL® (Microvention, CA-USA) in peripheral endovascular embolization procedures, both in elective and emergent scenarios. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a multicenter retrospective study, involving 178 patients from five interventional radiology departments from January 2017 to December 2021. Patients treated by an endovascular embolization with PHIL® were included; different PHIL® viscosities were adopted. Exclusion criteria were: neuroradiological endovascular interventions, other cohesive liquid embolics adopted during the same procedure, follow-up < 30 days. Technical success was intended as definitive target vessel occlusion without the need for other embolics after PHIL® injection. Clinical success was considered as restoration of hemodynamic status in case of emergent embolization and improvement of clinical conditions in case of elective procedures, without additional interventions at 30 days. RESULTS: Sixty-four women and 114 men, mean age 62 years (range 6-91), were evaluated. Sixty-three patients were in elective scenarios (AVMs, type-II endoleaks, tumors, varices, aneurysms, varicoceles) and 115 were in emergent settings (hemorrhage, pseudoaneurysms, hemoptysis, priapism); 190 procedures were performed in 178 patients. Overall technical and clinical success rates were 94.7% and 92.1%, respectively. The complications rate was 7.4% (6 grade-I, 7 grade-III, 1 grade-IV). PHIL®-25 was the more adopted viscosity; totally, 311 vials were injected (rate: 1.64 vial/procedure). CONCLUSION: In this series, PHIL® proved to be a safe and effective liquid embolic in peripheral embolizations, both in elective and emergent scenarios. The pre-filled syringe preparation allowed operators to use it even when unplanned at beginning of the intervention.

Minimally invasive procedure for removal of infected ventriculoatrial shunts.

BACKGROUND: Ventriculoatrial shunts were one of the most common treatments of hydrocephalus in pediatric and adult patients up to about 40 years ago. Thereafter, due to the widespread recognition of the severe cardiac and renal complications associated with ventriculoatrial shunts, they are almost exclusively implanted when other techniques fail. However, late infection or atrial thrombi of previously implanted shunts require removal of the atrial catheter several decades after implantation. Techniques derived from management of central venous access catheters can avoid cardiothoracic surgery in such instances. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated all the patients requiring removal of a VA shunt for complications treated in the last 5 years in our institution. RESULTS: We identified two patients that were implanted 28 and 40 years earlier. Both developed endocarditis with a large atrial thrombus and were successfully treated endovascularly. The successful percutaneous removal was achieved by applying, for the first time in this setting, the endoluminal dilation technique as proposed by Hong. After ventriculoatrial shunt removal and its substitution with an external drainage, both patients where successfully weaned from the need for a shunt and their infection resolved. CONCLUSION: Patients carrying a ventriculoatrial shunt are now rarely seen and awareness of long-term ventriculoatrial shunt complications is decreasing. However, these complications must be recognized and treated by shunt removal. Endovascular techniques are appropriate even in the presence of overt endocarditis, atrial thrombi, and tight adherence to the endocardial wall. Moreover, weaning from shunt dependence is possible even decades after shunting.

Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Secondary to Aggressive Giant Cell Arteritis.

Large artery stenosis of the arm or leg arteries or the cervical arteries has been described in giant cell arteritis (GCA); aortic involvement, nevertheless, is less frequent, even if imaging tools such as positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography have increased the frequency in the observation of aortic involvement. A 56-year-old female with a medical history of GCA presented to our emergency department with an unruptured voluminous thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA). The fluorodeoxyglucose PET demonstrated the presence of high inflammatory activity. The patient underwent endovascular correction using a "sandwich technique." The 3-month control CT scan shows complete aneurysm exclusion. In high risk for surgery patients with GCA, the endovascular treatment with parallel stent graft of TAAA is safe and feasible.

The combined use of stent retriever and neuro-aspiration as successful bail-out reperfusion strategy in a patient with embolic myocardial infarction.

Embolic myocardial infarction account for ≈3% of all ST-segment myocardial infarction and represents a challenge often left no-reperfused because current thrombectomy technologies are inefficient to grab thrombus wedged into distal coronary arteries. We present the case of a 34-year-old man who presented with anterior STEMI and a proximal left anterior descending coronary artery ulcerated plaque with a great thrombus burden, which led to distal embolization. Failure of several attempts of manual and rheolytic thrombectomy, led us to use the "Solumbra technique", the combined use of stent retriever and Penumbra catheter was successful in restoring patency and flow.

Under-dilated TIPS Associate With Efficacy and Reduced Encephalopathy in a Prospective, Non-randomized Study of Patients With Cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Portosystemic encephalopathy (PSE) is a major complication of trans-jugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt (TIPS) placement. Most devices are self-expandable polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent grafts (PTFE-SGs) that are dilated to their nominal diameter (8 or 10 mm). We investigated whether PTFE-SGs dilated to a smaller caliber (under-dilated TIPS) reduce PSE yet maintain clinical and hemodynamic efficacy. We also studied whether under-dilated TIPS self-expand to nominal diameter over time. METHODS: We performed a prospective, non-randomized study of 42 unselected patients with cirrhosis who received under-dilated TIPS (7 and 6 mm) and 53 patients who received PTFE-SGs of 8 mm or more (controls) at referral centers in Italy. After completion of this study, dilation to 6 mm became the standard and 47 patients were included in a validation study. All patients were followed for 6 months; Doppler ultrasonography was performed 2 weeks and 3 months after TIPS placement and every 6 months thereafter. Stability of PTFE-SG diameter was evaluated by computed tomography analysis of 226 patients with cirrhosis whose stent grafts increased to 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 mm. The primary outcomes were incidence of at least 1 episode of PSE grade 2 or higher during follow up, incidence of recurrent variceal hemorrhage or ascites, incidence of shunt dysfunction requiring TIPS recanalization, and reduction in porto-caval pressure gradient. RESULTS: PSE developed in a significantly lower proportion of patients with under-dilated TIPS (27%) than controls (54%) during the first year after the procedure (P = .015), but the proportions of patients with recurrent variceal hemorrhage or ascites did not differ significantly between groups. No TIPS occlusions were observed. These results were confirmed in the validation cohort. In an analysis of self-expansion of stent grafts, during a mean follow-up period of 252 days after placement, none of the PTFE-SGs self-expanded to the nominal diameter in hemodynamically relevant sites (such as portal and hepatic vein vascular walls). CONCLUSIONS: In prospective, non-randomized study of patients with cirrhosis, we found under-dilation of PTFE-SGs during TIPS placement to be feasible, associated with lower rates of PSE, and effective.

Percutaneous Transanastomotic Stent Graft Deployment to Salvage Dysfunctional Native Forearm Radiocephalic Fistulae: Feasibility and Primary Patency at 12 Months.

PURPOSE: To evaluate feasibility and efficacy of transanastomotic self-expandable polytetrafluoroethylene stent graft placement for salvage of radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulae (RCAVFs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2008 to 2016, 26 patients (21 male; age, 38-80 y) with dysfunctional RCAVFs for juxtaanastomotic lesions that were unresponsive to angioplasty underwent transanastomotic stent graft placement. Stenotic and thrombotic lesions were included. All were deemed unsuitable for surgical revision. Patency rates were calculated per Kaplan-Meier method. A Cox analysis was used to identify influencing factors. RESULTS: Thirty-two stent grafts (6 patients had 2 stents) were deployed. Anatomic and clinical success were achieved in all patients; no major complications occurred. Mechanical and/or pharmacologic thrombolysis was performed in 6 cases before stent graft deployment. During follow-up (median, 34.7 mo; range, 1.9-102.7 mo), 17 repeat interventions were required in 10 patients (43 procedures overall), for an endovascular intervention rate of 0.27 per year. At 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, primary patency (PP) rates were 96% ± 4 (95% CI, 75%-99%), 83% ± 7 (95% CI, 61%-93%), 78% ± 8 (95% CI, 55%-90%), and 69% ± 10 (95% CI, 46%-84%). The corresponding assisted PP rates were 96% ± 4 (95% CI, 76%-99%), 96% ± 4 (95% CI, 76%-99%), 92% ± 5 (95% CI, 71%-98%), and 82% ± 8 (95% CI, 60%-93%). Five AVFs were ultimately abandoned. Per Cox analysis, arterial diameter ≥ 4 mm was associated with better PP (P = .032). CONCLUSIONS: Transanastomotic stent graft placement for RCAVF salvage is feasible and safe, providing patency rates comparable with historical endovascular and surgical data. Its role should be evaluated in larger studies.

Covered stent assisted coil embolization of large Buhler aneurysm in setting of chronic celiac trunk occlusion.

BACKGROUND: The arc of Bühler (AOB) is a residual embryonal anastomosis between the celiac artery (CA) and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Although usually asymptomatic, it has clinical relevance when compensatory reverse flow between the SMA and the CA in response to celiac artery obstruction leads to aneurysm formation and bleeding. Endovascular coiling is the mainstay therapy because of the deep AOB retropancreatic location, which hinders open surgery. CASE PRESENTATION: We herein report a case of a 2.8-cm AOB saccular aneurysm and LAM compression of celiac trunk in a 47-year-old man during rehabilitation following motorcycle trauma and vertebral surgery. The patient was considered unsuitable for surgery. Neither conventional coiling nor bare-metal stent and balloon-assisted techniques for coiling were suitable because of the wide necked saccular shape of AOB aneurysm interposed between the SMA and the floor of celiac trunk. To exclude the aneurysm from direct SMA inflow and permit safe and efficient coiling to rule out retrograde sac perfusion, a 9-mm polytetrafluoroethylene stent graft (Viabahn; Gore, Phoenix, AZ, USA) was positioned in the mesenteric artery, followed by antegrade periprosthetic high-density packed coiling of the aneurysm. The AOB remained excluded from mesenteric perfusion. The patient's clinical condition and abdominal contrast-enhanced multislice computed tomographic findings were unremarkable at the 9-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: The 9 year long-term efficacy in our case raises the possibility that perigraft coiling following stent-graft deployment in the SMA may represent a valuable technical option for large Bühler aneurysms that are not amenable to stand-alone coiling.

Combined use of intraoperative ultrasound and indocyanine green fluorescence imaging to detect liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Surgical excision is the standard strategy for managing liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma. The achievement of negative (R0) margins is a major determinant of disease-free survival in these patients. Current imaging techniques are of limited value in achieving this goal. A new approach to the intraoperative detection of colorectal liver metastatic tissue based on the emission of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence was evaluated. METHODS: A total of 25 consecutive patients with liver metastases from primary colorectal cancers who were eligible for liver resection received a bolus of ICG (0.5 mg/kg body weight) 24 h before surgery. During surgery, ICG fluorescence, which accumulates around lesions as a result of defective biliary clearance, was detected with a near-infrared camera system, the Photodynamic Eye (PDE). Numbers of lesions detected by, respectively, PDE + ICG, intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) and preoperative computed tomography (CT) were recorded. RESULTS: The near-infrared camera plus ICG revealed a total of 77 metastatic liver nodules. Preoperative CT demonstrated 45 (58.4%) and IOUS showed 55 (71.4%). Preoperative CT and IOUS alone were inferior to the combined use of PDE + ICG and IOUS in the detection of lesions of ≤ 3 mm in size. CONCLUSIONS: This experience suggests that PDE + ICG, combined with IOUS, may represent a safe and effective tool for ensuring the complete surgical eradication of liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

U-bent Viabahn stent graft in the main left pulmonary artery in a hemodialysis patient after asymptomatic migration: Percutaneous removal and technical considerations.

BACKGROUND: Stent grafts (SG) have gained the highest level of evidence for superior management over angioplasty of arteriovenous graft (AVG) venous outflow stenosis, which increases their use in hemodialysis patients. Migration to the heart and lungs is the most feared complication of SG of the venous system. METHOD: We present a previously unreported case of asymptomatic migration of a 10-cm-long Viabahn lodged in a U-shaped configuration in the main left pulmonary artery after AVG intervention in a 50 year old male hemodialysis patient. RESULTS: Through a single femoral access percutaneous retrieval of migrated SG was accomplished. Technique of coaxial buddy snaring technique is described. CONCLUSION: Our technique may expand the endovascular likelihood of successful stent removal.

The Role of Cholangioscopy in Biliary Diseases.

Endoscopy plays a central role in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to biliary disease in both benign and malignant conditions. A cholangioscope is an endoscopic instrument that allows for the direct exploration of the biliary tree. Over the years, technology has improved endoscopic image quality and allowed for the development of an operative procedure that can be performed during cholangioscopy. Different types of instruments are available in this context, and they can be used in different anatomical access points according to the most appropriate clinical indication. The direct visualization of biliary mucosa is essential in the presence of biliary strictures of unknown significance, allowing for the appropriate allocation of patients to surgery or conservative treatments. Cholangioscopy has demonstrated excellent performance in discriminating malignant conditions (such as colangiocarcinoma) from benign inflammatory strictures, and more recent advances (e.g., artificial intelligence and confocal laser endomicroscopy) could further increase its diagnostic accuracy. Cholangioscopy also plays a primary role in the treatment of benign conditions such as difficult bile stones (DBSs). In this case, it may not be possible to achieve complete biliary drainage using standard ERCP. Therapeutic cholangioscopy-guided lithotripsy allows for stone fragmentation and complete biliary drainage. Indeed, other complex clinical situations, such as patients with intra-hepatic lithiasis and patients with an altered anatomy, could benefit from the therapeutic role of cholangioscopy. The aim of the present review is to explore the most recent diagnostic and therapeutic advances in the roles of cholangioscopy in the management of biliary diseases.

Report on an Italian survey of 72 stuck hemodialysis catheters.

BACKGROUND: Reports of stuck hemodialysis catheters have been on the rise in recent years. Aim of this work is to report how this complication has been managed and the relative outcomes in a multicente Italian survey. METHODS: Since 2012, the Italian Society of Nephrology (SIN) Project Group of Vascular Access has collected data among nephrologists on this complication. Data regarding 72 cases of stuck tunnelled central venous catheter (tCVC) in 72 patients were retrieved thanks to this survey. RESULTS: In 11 patients (15%) the stuck catheter was directly buried or left in place. Sixty-one cases were managed through advanced removal techniques. Among these, 47 (77%) stuck tunnelled central venous catheters were successfully removed, while 14 (23%) failed to be withdrawn. Considering removed tCVCs, the use of endoluminal balloon dilatation alone or in combination with other tools showed a percentage of success of 88%. The removal procedure involved numerous specialists. Some complications occurred, such as breakage of the line or bleeding, and two cases of haemopericardium during an advanced procedure. CONCLUSION: The survey shows how the stuck catheter complication was managed in different ways, with conflicting results. When utilized, endoluminal balloon dilatation proved to be the most effective and most often utilized technique, while some cases had suboptimal management or failure. This underlines how delicate the procedure is, and the need for both precise knowledge of this complication and timely organization of removal attempts.

Prevalence and Complications of Aberrant Subclavian Artery in Patients With Heritable and Nonheritable Arteriopathies.

BACKGROUND: An aberrant subclavian artery (ASA) (or lusoria) is the most common congenital anomaly of the aortic arch (0.5%-2.2%; female-to-male ratio 2:1 to 3:1). ASA can become aneurysmal and result in dissection, involving Kommerell's diverticulum when present and the aorta. Data of its significance in genetic arteriopathies are not available. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and complications of ASA in gene-positive and -negative nonatherosclerotic arteriopathies. MATERIALS: The series includes 1,418 consecutive patients with gene-positive (n = 854) and gene-negative arteriopathies (n = 564) diagnosed as part of institutional work-up for nonatherosclerotic syndromic and nonsyndromic arteriopathies. Comprehensive evaluation includes genetic counseling, next-generation sequencing multigene testing, cardiovascular and multidisciplinary assessment, and whole-body computed tomography angiography. RESULTS: ASA was found in 34 of 1,418 cases (2.4%), with a similar prevalence in gene-positive (n = 21 of 854, 2.5%) and gene-negative (n = 13 of 564, 2.3%) arteriopathies. Of the former 21 patients, 14 had Marfan syndrome, 5 had Loeys-Dietz syndrome, 1 had type-IV Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and 1 had periventricular heterotopia type 1. ASA did not segregate with genetic defects. Dissection occurred in 5 of 21 patients with genetic arteriopathies (23.8%; 2 Marfan syndrome and 3 Loeys-Dietz syndrome), all with associated Kommerell's diverticulum. No dissections occurred in gene-negative patients. At baseline, none of the 5 patients with ASA dissection fulfilled criteria for elective repair according to guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of complications of ASA is higher in patients with genetic arteriopathies and is difficult to predict. In these diseases, imaging of the supra-aortic trunks should enter baseline investigations. Determination of precise indications for repair can prevent unexpected acute events such as those described.

Repeated radiofrequency ablation for management of patients with cirrhosis with small hepatocellular carcinomas: a long-term cohort study.

UNLABELLED: In most patients with cirrhosis, successful percutaneous ablation or surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is followed by recurrence. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has proven effective for treating HCC nodules, but its repeatability in managing recurrences and the impact of this approach on survival has not been evaluated. To this end, we retrospectively analyzed a prospective series of 706 patients with cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class ≤ B7) who underwent RFA for 859 HCC ≤ 35 mm in diameter (1-2 per patient). The results of RFA were classified as complete responses (CRs) or treatment failures. CRs were obtained in 849 nodules (98.8%) and 696 patients (98.5%). During follow-up (median, 29 months), 465 (66.8%) of the 696 patients with CRs experienced a first recurrence at an incidence rate of 41 per 100 person-years (local recurrence 6.2; nonlocal 35). Cumulative incidences of first recurrence at 3 and 5 years were 70.8% and 81.7%, respectively. RFA was repeated in 323 (69.4%) of the 465 patients with first recurrence, restoring disease-free status in 318 (98.4%) cases. Subsequently, RFA was repeated in 147 (65.9%) of the 223 patients who developed a second recurrence after CR of the first, restoring disease-free status in 145 (98.6%) cases. Overall, there were 877 episodes of recurrence (1-8 per patient); 577 (65.8%) of these underwent RFA that achieved CRs in 557 (96.5%) cases. No procedure-related deaths occurred in 1,921 RFA sessions. Estimated 3- and 5-year overall and disease-free (after repeated RFAs) survival rates were 67.0% and 40.1% and 68.0 and 38.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: RFA is safe and effective for managing HCC in patients with cirrhosis, and its high repeatability makes it particularly valuable for controlling intrahepatic recurrences.

The infection risk after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt: A multiple competing risk analysis from a tertiary care center.

BACKGROUND: Infections following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement have been poorly described. We aim to investigate the rate and the potential predictors of infections occurring after TIPS placement. METHODS: Single center, retrospective, observational study. All patients who had undergone TIPS placement in the last 10 years with a minimum 1-year FU, were considered. Multiple competing risk analyses were performed to identify infection risk factors and a multivariable Cox proportional-hazard regression model to evaluate the predictors of death. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were considered. Among these, 23 (46%) developed at least 1 infection during the FU, at a median time of 237.7 days (IQR 151.5) from the TIPS placement. We did not find any predictor of infection, while MELD score and cancer were associated with death (p = .04; HR 1.14; CI 1.00- 1.30). CONCLUSION: We found a high rate of all-type infections during the FU times. However, most of these infections occurred as late-onset infections and were caused by Gram-positive microorganisms. Thus, TIPS procedure itself does not seem to be burdened with high infectious perioperative risk.

Green Tattoo Pre-Operative Renal Embolization for Robotic-Assisted and Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy: A Practical Proof of a New Technique.

(1) Background: Our aim is to describe a new mixed indocyanine-non-adhesive liquid embolic agent (Onyx-18) pre-operative renal embolization technique for assisted-robotic and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with near-infra-red fluorescence imaging. (2) Methods: Thirteen patients with biopsy-proven renal tumors underwent pre-operative mixed indocyanine-ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) embolization (Green-embo) between June 2021 and August 2022. All pre-operative embolizations were performed with a super selective stop-flow technique using a balloon microcatheter to deliver an indocyanine-EVOH mixture into tertiary order arterial branch feeders and the intra-lesional vascular supply. Efficacy (evaluated as complete embolization, correct tumor mapping on infra-red fluorescence imaging and clamp-off surgery) and safety (evaluated as complication rate and functional outcomes) were primary goals. Clinical and pathological data were also collected. (3) Results: Two male and eleven female patients (mean age 72 years) received pre-operative Green-embo. The median tumor size was 29 mm (range 15-50 mm). Histopathology identified renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in 9 of the 13 (69%) patients, oncocytoma in 3 of the 13 (23%) patients and sarcomatoid RCC in 1 of the 13 (8%) patients. Lesions were equally distributed between polar, meso-renal, endo- and exophytic locations. Complete embolization was achieved in all the procedures. A correct green mapping was identified during all infra-red fluorescence imaging. All patients were discharged on the second day after the surgery. The median blood loss was 145 cc (10-300 cc). No significant differences were observed in serum creatinine levels before and after the embolization procedures. (4) Conclusions: The Green-tattoo technique based on a mixed indocyanine-non-adhesive liquid embolic agent (Onyx-18) is a safe and effective pre-operative embolization technique. The main advantages are the excellent lesion mapping for fluorescence imaging, reduction in surgical time, and definitive, complete and immediate tumor devascularization based on the deep Onyx-18 penetration, leading to a very low intra-operative blood loss.

Testicular artery originating from the inferior mesenteric artery: an alert for interventionalists - A case report.

Testicular arteries usually arise from the abdominal aorta. During an elective embolization of superior rectal arteries for hemorrhoidal disease performed in a 52-year-old male patient, a previously unreported vascular variant was identified. On selective angiography, the inferior mesenteric artery split into left colic artery and left testicular artery, without any evidence of vascular supply to the hemorrhoidal cushions. Superior rectal arteries were embolized after catheterization of the median sacral artery. A thorough knowledge of vascular variations is essential for interventional radiologists in order to recognize them and avoid potential complications.