Combined transarterial chemoembolization and thermal ablation in candidates to liver transplantation with hepatocellular carcinoma: pathological findings and post-transplant outcome.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluating the pathological response and the survival outcomes of combined thermal ablation (TA) and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) as a bridge or downstaging for liver transplantation (LT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) > 3 cm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review encompassed 36 consecutive patients who underwent combined TA-TACE as bridging or downstaging before LT. Primary objectives included necrosis of the target lesion at explant pathology, post-LT overall survival (OS) and post-LT recurrence-free survival (RFS). For OS and RFS, a comparison with 170 patients subjected to TA alone for nodules <3 cm in size was also made. RESULTS: Out of the 36 patients, 63.9% underwent TA-TACE as bridging, while 36.1% required downstaging. The average node size was 4.25 cm. All cases were discussed in a multidisciplinary tumor board to assess the best treatment for each patient. Half received radiofrequency (RF), and the other half underwent microwave (MW). All nodes underwent drug-eluting beads (DEB) TACE with epirubicin. The mean necrosis percentage was 65.9% in the RF+TACE group and 83.3% in the MW+TACE group (p-value = 0.099). OS was 100% at 1 year, 100% at 3 years and 94.7% at 5 years. RFS was 97.2% at 1 year, 94.4% at 3 years and 90% at 5 years. Despite the different sizes of the lesions, OS and RFS did not show significant differences with the cohort of patients subjected to TA alone. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the effectiveness of combined TA-TACE for HCC>3 cm, particularly for bridging and downstaging to LT, achieving OS and RFS rates significantly exceeding 80% at 1, 3 and 5 years.

Successful endovascular thrombectomy with the ClotTriever System for acute subclavian vein thrombosis in venous thoracic outlet syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The case describes a successful endovascular thrombectomy using the ClotTriever System for an acute subclavian thrombosis in venous thoracic outlet syndrome. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report on use of Inari ClotTriever for acute upper extremity deep venous thrombosis due to venous thoracic outlet syndrome. The rapid technical and clinical success of our intervention may be an interesting cue for interventional radiologist colleagues. CASE PRESENTATION: Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis in the setting of venous thoracic outlet syndrome generally occurs in young adults after excessive arm activity and can sometimes be managed with anticoagulation. In this case, a 29-year-old male diagnosed with acute effort-induced thrombosis of the left subclavian vein and persistent symptoms following low-molecular-weight heparin therapy underwent mechanical thrombectomy. Successful thrombectomy was completed with > 90% thrombus burden reduction and no complication. The patient experienced immediate symptom relief and vein patency was confirmed via imaging 3 months post procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Mechanical thrombectomy is a promising treatment technique for thrombosis associated with venous thoracic outlet syndrome.

Effectiveness and Safety of Different Vascular Closure Devices: Multicentre Prospective Observational study.

AIM: The aim of this prospective, multicentre, observational study was to compare the efficacy and safety of balloon-based and non-balloon-based vascular closure devices (VCDs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2021 to May 2022, 2373 participants from 10 different centres were enrolled. Among them, 1672 patients with 5-7 Fr accesses were selected. Successful haemostasis, failure and safety were evaluated. Successful haemostasis was defined as the possibility to obtain complete haemostasis with the use of VCDs, without any complication. Failure management was defined as the need of manual compression. Safety was defined as the rate of complications. Cases of haematomas/pseudoaneurysms (PSA) and artero-venous fistula (AVF) were collected. RESULTS: VCDs mechanism of action is statistically significant associated with the outcome. Non-balloon-based VCDs demonstrated a statistically significant better outcome: successful haemostasis was obtained in 96.5% vs. 85.9%, of cases when compared to balloon occluders (p < 0.001). The incidence of AVF was statistically more frequent using non-balloon occluders devices (1.57% vs 0%, p: 0.007). No significant statistical difference was found in comparing haematoma and PSA occurrence. Thrombocytopenia, coagulation deficit, BMI, diabetes mellitus and anti-coagulation were demonstrated to be independent predictors of failure management. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests a better outcome with the same complication rate, except that for AVF incidence for non-balloon collagen plug device if compared to balloon occluders vascular closure devices.

Percutaneous closure of accidentally subclavian artery catheterization: time to change first line approach?

PURPOSE: To present our experience and provide a literature review dissertation about the use of a suture-mediated percutaneous closure device (Perclose Proglide -PP- Abbott Vascular Inc., Santa Clara, CA, USA) to achieve hemostasis for unintended subclavian arterial catheterization during central venous line placement. MATERIALS & METHODS: Since October 2020, we have successfully treated four consecutive patients with a central venous catheter (8 to 12 French) in the subclavian artery. In each patient, we released a PP, monitoring its efficacy by performing a subclavian angiogram and placing, as a rescue strategy, an 8 mm balloon catheter near the entry point of the misplaced catheter. Primary outcome is technical and clinical success. Technical success is defined as absence of bleeding signs at completion angiography, while clinical success is a composite endpoint defined as absence of hematoma, hemoglobin loss at 12 and 24 h, and absence of procedure-related reintervention (due to vessel stenosis, pseudoaneurysm or distal embolization). RESULTS: Technical success was obtained in 75% of cases. In one patient a mild extravasation was resolved after 3 min of balloon catheter inflation. No early complications were observed for all patients. CONCLUSIONS: PP showed a safe and effective therapeutic option in case of unintentional arterial cannulation. It can be considered as first-line strategy, as it does not preclude the possibility to use other endovascular approaches in case of vascular closure device failure.

The Role of Immediate Post-Procedural Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) in Predicting the Early Radiologic Response of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Nodules to Drug-Eluting Bead Transarterial Chemoembolization (DEB-TACE).

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of unenhanced cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) performed at the end of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) in predicting HCC nodules' early radiologic response to treatment, assessed using mRECIST criteria with a 30−60 day four-phase contrast-enhanced CT follow-up. Fifty-nine patients (81 lesions) subjected to DEB-TACE as exclusive treatment for HCC lesions (naive/relapse) between February 2020 and October 2021 were prospectively enrolled. In a post-interventional unenhanced CBCT procedure, two experienced radiologists evaluated for each lesion the overall intensity of the contrast media deposit, the homogeneity of the enhancement, and the presence of smooth and complete margins. The univariate analysis found that lesions with complete response (CR+) had a significantly higher incidence of clear and complete margins than CR− lesions (76.9% vs. 17.2%, p = 0.003) and a higher intensity score (67.3% vs. 27.6%, p = 0.0009). A Dmax <30 mm was significantly more common among CR+ than CR− lesions (92.3% vs. 69%, p = 0.01). These features were confirmed as significant predictors for CR+ by multivariate binary logistic regression. The homogeneity of the enhancement did not affect the DEB-TACE outcome. Post-interventional unenhanced CBCT is effective in predicting early radiological response to DEB-TACE, since the presence of an intense contrast media deposit with clear and complete margins in treated HCC lesions is associated with CR.