Multidisciplinary Management of Complicated Pancreatitis: What Every Interventional Radiologist Should Know.

Management of acute pancreatitis is challenging in the presence of local complications that include pancreatic and peripancreatic collections and vascular complications. This review, targeted for interventional radiologists, describes minimally invasive endoscopic, image-guided percutaneous, and surgical procedures for management of complicated pancreatitis and provides insight into the procedures' algorithmic application. Local complications are optimally managed in a multidisciplinary team setting that includes advanced endoscopists; pancreatic surgeons; diagnostic and interventional radiologists; and specialists in infectious disease, nutrition, and critical care medicine. Large symptomatic or complicated sterile collections and secondary infected collections warrant drainage or débridement. The drainage is usually delayed for 4-6 weeks unless clinical deterioration warrants early intervention. If collections are accessible by endoscopy, endoscopic procedures are preferred to avoid pancreaticocutaneous fistulas. Image-guided percutaneous drainage is indicated for symptomatic collections that are not accessible for endoscopic drainage or that present in the acute setting before developing a mature wall. Peripancreatic arterial pseudoaneurysms should be embolized before necrosectomy procedures to prevent potentially life-threatening hemorrhage. Surgical procedures are reserved for symptomatic collections that persist despite endoscopic or interventional drainage attempts. Understanding these procedures facilitates their integration by interventional radiologists into the complex longitudinal care of patients with complicated pancreatitis.

Ultrasound First for Removal of Nonpalpable Contraceptive Implants.

The Sound Judgment Series consists of invited articles highlighting the clinical value of using ultrasound first in specific clinical diagnoses where ultrasound has shown comparative or superior value. The series is meant to serve as an educational tool for medical and sonography students and clinical practitioners and may help integrate ultrasound into clinical practice.

Lumbar Artery Pseudoaneurysms Presenting as a Novel Complication of Severe, Necrotizing Pancreatitis.

Splanchnic artery pseudoaneurysms are a known complication of necrotizing pancreatitis. Lumbar artery pseudoaneurysms are rare and usually associated with trauma, renal biopsy, or spinal procedures. We present a rare case of lumbar artery pseudoaneurysms as a complication of necrotizing pancreatitis. A 55-year-old man initially presented with necrotizing biliary pancreatitis complicated by peripancreatic necrotic fluid collections and walled-off necrosis requiring multiple endoscopic ultrasound-guided necrosectomies. Inferoposterior extension of collections to the retroperitoneum caused lumbar artery pseudoaneurysms, leading to hemorrhagic shock from retroperitoneal and intraperitoneal hemorrhages.

Interventional radiology procedural volume changes during COVID-19 initial phase: A tertiary level Midwest health system experience.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate Interventional Radiology (IR) procedural volume changes at a large Midwest health system between March 17, 2020 and April 30, 2020 following a state-mandated shutdown of nonessential procedures during the initial phase of COVID-19. METHODS: IR procedural volumes were compiled, stratified by location and compared with Diagnostic Radiology (DR) volumes during the same timeframe. Procedure volume was categorized by type, including oncology, dialysis interventions, and drainage procedures with comparisons made using Z-score test for proportions. IR and system-wide surgical procedural volume was compared with baseline values. RESULTS: System-wide IR procedural volume decreased by 35%, with a 41% decrease in outpatient and a 25% decrease in inpatient volume during the state-mandated order. DR volume decreased by 45%, with a 57% decrease in outpatient and a 22% decrease in inpatient volume. Total IR procedural volume during the mandate was 1077 versus 1518 during the preceding six weeks. The proportion of Interventional Oncology and dialysis interventions showed no significant change (p > 0.05) while that of drainage procedures increased (p < 0.05). Compared to baseline values, system-wide procedural volumes for IR, Vascular Surgery, Urology, General Surgery, Gastroenterology and Gynecology decreased by 3%, 11%, 25%, 20%, 38% and 31% in March 2020 and 25%, 47%, 68%, 63%, 79% and 73% in April 2020 respectively. CONCLUSION: Outpatient IR volumes were less impacted compared to DR during the initial phase of COVID-19. Oncology, dialysis and drainage interventions may be considered essential procedures due to their stability. IR volumes were less affected compared to other procedural specialties.

Incidence and interventions for post-thrombotic syndrome.

Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a venous stress disorder that develops from long-term effects from a previous deep venous thrombosis (DVT). The morbidity associated with PTS may be significant and patients can present with edema, chronic pain, swelling, skin changes, and heaviness of the affected limb. PTS can eventually lead to a decreased quality of life and to a marked burden for the healthcare system. This article elaborates on clinical aspects of PTS including the pathophysiology, diagnostic work-up and management of the disease with a particular focus on endovascular options.

Percutaneous Management of Malignant Biliary Obstruction.

Malignancy resulting in impaired biliary drainage includes a number of diagnoses familiar to the interventional radiologist. Adequate drainage of such a system can significantly improve patient quality of life, and can facilitate the further treatment options and care of such patients. In the setting of prior instrumentation, cholangitis can present as an urgent indication for drainage. Current initial interventional management of malignant biliary duct obstruction frequently includes endoscopic or percutaneous intervention, with local practices and preprocedural imaging guiding interventional approaches and subsequent management. This article addresses the indications for percutaneous drainage, technical considerations in performing such drainage, and specific techniques useful in attempting to achieve clinical end points in patients with malignant biliary duct obstruction.