Sympathetic nerve hyperactivity in high-renin hypertension effects of saralasin infusion.

We found increased levels of catecholamines in some patients who had high-renin hypertension. To study relations between angiotensin and the sympathetic nerves further, we infused saralasin, a blocker of angiotensin II, into 11 hypertensive patients being evaluated for renovascular hypertension. There were variable responses of mean arterial pressure, plasma renin activity, and norepinephrine levels. When high-renin hypertensive patients with increased levels of norepinephrine were compared with those having high renin and normal levels of norepinephrine, they showed a lesser decrease in mean arterial pressure--5 +/- 5% versus 14 +/- 4%, P less than 0.05--a decrease in plasma renin activity of 20 +/- 17% versus an increase of 77 +/- 24% (P less than 0.01), and a decrease in norepinephrine levels of 42 +/- 7% versus an increase of 10 +/- 23% (P less than 0.05) (means +/- SE). The evidence suggests that patients with high-renin levels are heterogeneous and that the primary mediator of the hypertension is sympathetic tone hyperactivity in those with increased levels of norepinephrine and angiotensin excess in those with normal levels of norepinephrine.

Parathyroid hormone clearance in man.

The role of the kidney, liver, and bone and/or muscle, in the metabolic clearance of parathyroid hormone (PTH), has been examined in man. Serum was obtained from the femoral artery and the renal, hepatic, and femoral veins of nine hyperparathyroid patients undergoing selective venous catheterization. The concentration of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (IPTH) was measured in the samples by radioimmunoassay using an antiserum predominantly specific for the aminoterminal (N-terminal) portion of the PTH molecule. Gel filtration of hyperparathyroid sera demonstrated this antiserum to measure essentially only intact PTH. The mean arteriovenous (AV) difference measured across the liver was 44%; across the kidney, 34%; and across the leg, 16%. These arteriovenous differences were all statistically significant (p less than 0.005). A significant positive correlation was found between the AV difference in IPTH across the kidney and the serum calcium concentration (r = 0.50, p less than 0.05). These studies suggest that both the liver and the kidney play major roles in the clearance of PTH in man and indicate that PTH is cleared by bone and/or muscle as well. The correlation observed between the serum calcium concentrations and the AV differences in IPTH across the kidney suggest that the rate of clearance of PTH in man may be modulated by changes in the concentration of serum calcium.

Diagnosis and control of posttraumatic pelvic hemorrhage. Transcatheter angiographic embolization techniques.

Fourteen patients with posttraumatic pelvic hemorrhage underwent therapeutic transcatheter embolization of bleeding vessels. Six of them were victims of blunt trauma, six had penetrating trauma, and two had iatrogenic hemorrhage. Eleven patients had a celiotomy prior to angiographic embolization, and large retroperitoneal hematomas were evident in nine patients. Bleeding persisted postoperatively. It was initially controlled by embolization in all patients, but two rebled and were successfully reembolized. Two patients died because of traumatic injuries. There were no complications directly associated with the embolization procedures. Transcatheter embolization is a safe, effective method for controlling pelvic hemorrhage in patients with unstable or multiple pelvic fractures whose conditions fail to respond to more conventional forms of therapy.

Staging laparotomy and splenectomy for Hodgkin's disease.

The major objective of diagnostic laparotomy in Hodgkin's disease is to define the extent of involvement not detectable by nonoperative means. Fifty patients in this institution had operative staging procedures; six for recurrent disease three to 11 years after initial therapy. Twenty-four patients had nodular sclerosis, 23 mixed cellularity, and three had other types. The clinical stages were advanced in 13 patients and decreased in seven patients. Two patients (both had mixed cellularity and systemic symptoms) had positive wedge biopsy of the liver, whereas direct needle biopsy was negative. Nineteen spleens contained Hodgkin's disease but only three could be palpated on physical examination. About half the patients with abnormal lymphangiograms had positive periaortic nodes; lymphangiogram had a false negative rate of 12%. Additional procedures performed included appendectomy, oophoropexy, and resection of Meckel's diverticulum. There was no mortality and only one case had severe postoperative Salmonella septicemia. Our findings are comparable with those reported in the literature.

Angiography for mass lesions of bone, joint, and soft tissue.

Information can be acquired from the angiogram that would aid the surgeon in his approach. Such problems as the site of biopsy, the size and extent of the growth, and variant anatomical situations can be known beforehand. The extent of major vessel involvement is also important. Knowledge that a tumor may be difficult to excise without compromising a vital neuromuscular structure is worthy of consideration. We have endeavored to summarize our experience as it relates to mass lesions of the musculoskeletal system. Certain signs -- arteriovenous shunting, hypervascularity -- appear to indicate that the mass is malignant, whereas five other features can be seen in any of the conditions reviewed. As with any invasive procedure, the risks must be weighed against the information gained. At the time of this writing we consider angiography to be a worthwhile procedure.

Angiographic demonstration of an acquired internal mammary-to-pulmonary artery fistula.

A patient with a continuous murmur due to flow through an internal mammary-to-pulmonary artery fistula is described. Previously reported cases have been thought to be congenital in origin. A history of an anteriorly placed chest tube suggests an acquired etiology for this malformation.

Transcatheter occlusion of the arterial supply to arteriovenous fistulas with Gianturco coils.

Transcatheter occlusive therapy is finding widespread clinical application. Numerous types of occlusive devices have been described. This report details the first three cases of occlusion of the arterial supply to arteriovenous fistulas with Gianturco stainless steel coils. Patients benefiting from this approach include those who refuse or cannot tolerate surgery, those in whom previous surgery failed, and those with chronic fistulas in whom surgery is likely to fail. The angiographer should make sure the coil is completely within the desired vessel, the feeding vessel is smaller than the coil to prevent passage through the fistula, and there is adequate collateral flow to distal organs to prevent infarction after occlusion of a major artery. This technique is useful as a nonsurgical treatment for a variety of arteriovenous fistulas and is within the capability of any experienced angiographer.

Traumatic laceration of the ascending aorta: angiographic assessment.

Radiographic evaluation of ascending aortic injuries is rare because they are almost always immediately fatal. We report three cases of ascending aortic laceration studied by angiography, with a review of the literature and discussion of mechanisms of injury. The type of deceleration trauma resulting in ascending aortic laceration differs from the usual driver deceleration injury in that no attenuation of force on the victim occurs at the time of impact. Traction-torsion forces on the aorta at points of fixation and increased intraluminal aortic pressure are the likely mechanisms of rupture. Adequate angiographic evaluation of these patients requires visualizing the entire aortic arch from aortic valve to diaphragm.

Renal artery laceration secondary to percutaneous nephrostomy catheter placement.

Renal artery hemorrhage secondary to placement of percutaneous nephrostomy catheters can lead to major operations and even nephrectomy. We recently treated a woman who suffered a renal artery laceration during percutaneous nephrostomy catheter placement using interventional radiographic techniques. The perforation site was identified using angiography and treated using selective embolization. The patient was able to avoid a surgical procedure with its inherent risks.

Safety and efficacy of transcatheter embolization of axillary and shoulder arterial injuries.

The authors performed 13 transcatheter embolizations (TCEs) within the axilla and shoulder in nine patients with major trauma to one or more vessels in these regions. Indications for TCE included active hemorrhage, pseudoaneurysms, arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) caused by penetrating trauma, and a postsurgical AVF. Embolizations were performed within branches of the subclavian, axillary, and brachial arteries in nine male patients aged 20-38 years. All procedures were performed with use of either Gianturco coils or Hilal wires, with or without gelatin sponge pledgets or autologous clot. Nine of 11 procedures in eight patients resulted in successful treatment of active bleeding, pseudoaneurysms, and AVFs, thus enabling avoidance of surgery. After two embolizations in the ninth patient, TCE failed to occlude an AVF, necessitating surgical treatment. Only one complication (asymptomatic pulmonary embolization with Gianturco coils) was encountered in this series. No neurologic sequelae occurred. The authors' experience demonstrates the safety and efficacy of TCE in the nonsurgical management of axillary and shoulder hemorrhage and vascular injuries secondary to penetrating trauma and surgical complications.

Transcatheter embolization of an aortocaval fistula caused by residual renal artery stump from previous nephrectomy: a case report.

An arteriovenous fistula between the renal artery and vein is a rare complication of nephrectomy. We report the first case of direct inferior vena cava to renal artery fistula after nephrectomy. In addition, this was the first use of the Amplatz "spider," a vascular obstructing device used to trap coils during transcatheter embolization of a high-flow fistula. The patient's fistula was embolized successfully, with immediate improvement of symptoms and without pulmonary embolization.

Spontaneous hepatic hemorrhage in preeclampsia: treatment with hepatic arterial embolization.

Four patients with spontaneous rupture of the liver due to preeclampsia of pregnancy underwent diagnostic angiography followed by successful transcatheter embolization of the hepatic artery with gelatin particles. All patients stopped bleeding and were discharged in good condition. Transcatheter embolization of the hepatic artery may be an attractive alternative to surgery for control of spontaneous rupture of the liver in preeclampsia.

Microcatheter embolization of non-neurologic traumatic vascular lesions.

PURPOSE: The authors report their experience over a 28-month period with embolization of 23 non-neurologic traumatic vascular lesions in 21 patients with use of a coaxial microcatheter coil delivery system. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The injuries included pseudoaneurysms (n = 17), arteriovenous fistulas (n = 3), and sites of extravasation (n = 3) and were caused by gunshot, shotgun, and stab wounds, as well as motor vehicle accidents and iatrogenic trauma. All microcatheter embolizations except one were performed with 2.2-F Tracker-18 catheters inserted coaxially through 5.0-5.5-F guiding catheters. In one case, a coaxial 3-F Teflon catheter was used. In all cases platinum microcoils (almost all non-fibril) and/or straight platinum embolization wires (with fibrils) were used. RESULTS: Twenty-one (91%) of 23 vascular lesions were successfully occluded with use of the microcatheter system. The two cases in which microcatheter embolization failed were successfully managed by using larger catheters and steel coils. Two patients with hepatic vascular lesions (one site of extravasation and a pseudoaneurysm) and one patient with a lower extremity arteriovenous fistula required two procedures each for successful treatment. Procedures were life-saving in at least two patients. Two lesions recurred during follow-up ranging from 3 days to 17 months. Both of these recurrences were successfully treated with transcatheter embolization, in one case with use of microcatheters. CONCLUSION: Microcatheter embolization with platinum coils and wires is an effective means for treating traumatic vascular lesions. A coaxial microcatheter system allows for easier, more rapid coil/wire delivery to smaller, spasm-prone arteries in such cases.

Reliability of selective pulmonary arteriography in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

To test the reliability of conventional selective pulmonary arteriography in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, three angiographers reviewed the arteriograms of a series of 60 patients retrospectively, independently, and without benefit of additional data. Pulmonary arteriograms had been interpreted as positive for pulmonary embolism in 25 of these patients during their hospitalizations. Angiographers A, B, and C judged the arteriograms of 24, 29, and 25 patients, respectively, as positive for pulmonary embolism. Mean interobserver agreement was 86%. Interobserver agreement was not associated significantly with the quality of the arteriogram or with selective injection of a lobar vs a pulmonary artery, but was associated strongly with the magnitude of thromboembolism. All angiographers agreed that the arteriograms were positive in 18 cases of pulmonary embolism graded as massive, lobar, or segmental, but agreed in only two of 15 cases graded as subsegmental. We conclude that conventional selective pulmonary arteriography is reliable in the detection of embolus in segmental or larger pulmonary arteries. Observer disagreement becomes considerable for embolus limited to subsegmental pulmonary arteries, indicating that emboli of this size are at the resolution limit of the technique.

Thrombosis of Björk-Shiley aortic valve prostheses.

Though thromboembolic complications are reportedly minimal in patients with Björk-Shiley aortic valve prostheses, massive thrombosis remains a major and often fatal problem. The authors observed massive thrombosis in 3 patients, only one of whom survived. In all three instances, the disk of the prosthesis was relatively radiolucent. With valves manufactured after late 1975, which contain a tantalum foil hoop, cineradiography is the most rapid and accurate method of showing the disk. A simple method of calculating the valve opening angle from the cineradiograph is described. It is suggested that serial cineradiographs might be useful in detecting lesser degrees of thrombosis and partial immobilization of the disk.

Intraarterial administration of lidocaine for analgesia in hepatic chemoembolization.

Hepatic chemoembolization (HCE) routinely results in severe pain requiring massive doses of intravenously administered narcotics. This study examines the efficacy and safety of lidocaine administered intraarterially for analgesia in HCE. In 45 HCE procedures, lidocaine was injected into hepatic arterial branches just prior to and during chemoembolization. Adjunctive analgesic doses given during the procedure and the need for a morphine sulfate drip infusion for postprocedural pain control were recorded and compared with those in 20 procedures performed previously without lidocaine. In procedures with lidocaine, an average of 0.13 mg of morphine sulfate and 1.3 mg of midazolam were required. This is significantly lower than the 11.7 mg of morphine sulfate and 3.7 mg of midazolam used during procedures without lidocaine. A postprocedural morphine drip infusion was required for control of severe pain in 16 of 20 (80%) procedures performed without lidocaine compared with nine of 45 (20%) of those performed with lidocaine. Peripheral blood levels of lidocaine were well below the toxic level, and no complications referable to lidocaine toxicity occurred. Marked reductions in the amount of narcotic analgesia in HCE procedures may be safely achieved with the administration of intraarterial lidocaine.