Monopolar Radiofrequency Energy Delivered by a Conductive Endovascular Basket or Guidewire Leads to Thermal Occlusion in a Swine Model.

PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility of inducing vascular occlusion by application of radiofrequency (RF) energy via conductive endovascular wires or baskets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrievable nitinol basket and stainless steel guidewire with a platinum tip were evaluated as conductors for endovascular application of RF energy. Tissue-mimicking thermochromic gel phantoms that change color with heating were cast with 2-, 5-, and 7-mm-diameter lumens and filled with 37 oC saline. After ablation, the phantoms were sectioned, and the thermal footprints were evaluated. Six castrated male domestic swine underwent endovascular ablation using the basket in iliac arteries and guidewires in renal arteries. Post-procedural angiography was performed, and postmortem arterial segments were resected for histopathologic analysis. RESULTS: In the phantom, the depth of thermal change in the 5- and 7-mm lumens averaged 6.3 and 6.0 mm along the basket, respectively, and in the 2- and 5-mm lumens, the depth of thermal change averaged 1.9 and 0.5 mm along the wire, respectively. In the swine, RF energy delivery led to angiographic occlusion at 12 of 13 sites. Thermal injury and occlusion were similar at the proximal, middle, and distal basket treatment zone, whereas injury and occlusion decreased from the proximal to the distal end of the 5-cm wire treatment zone. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular delivery of RF energy via a conductive basket in medium-sized arteries or a guidewire in small arteries led to acute angiographic and histologic occlusion. The potential to induce stasis might be useful in settings where rapid occlusion is desirable.

Oclusión de la vena safena con cianocrilato, una alternativa para el tratamiento de insuficiencia venosa crónica. Experiencia inicial en el Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social ­ IGSS / Occlusion of the saphenous vein with cyanoacrylate, an alternative for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. Initial experience at the Guatemalan Social Security Institute - IGSS

Las técnicas de termo ablación han revolucionado el tratamiento de la insuficiencia venosa crónica, siendo actualmente el estándar de tratamiento. Con el avance tecnológico han surgido nuevas técnicas quirúrgicas, no térmicas, no tumescentes; como el uso de cianocrilato para la oclusión venosa, el cual ha demostrado ser seguro y eficaz en el tratamiento, y tener menos complicaciones posoperatorias. Objetivo: Describir la experiencia en nuestro hospital con el uso de cianocrilato para la oclusión de vena safena mayor para el tratamiento de insuficiencia venosa crónica. Describir la eficacia a corto y mediano plazo del cierre, las complicaciones y la mejoría de la sintomatología utilizando el cuestionario CIVIQ-20 y EVA. Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo observacional. Entre enero y diciembre de 2019 que incluye a pacientes con insuficiencia de unión safeno femoral, sintomáticos. Con diagnóstico mediante clasificación CEAP y ultrasonido Doppler. Seguimiento clínico y ecográfico valorando oclusión de los segmentos tratados y presencia de venas varicosas a los 3 y 6 meses. Se trataron 5 pacientes con oclusión venosa con cianocrilato (100% mujeres). Valoramos la calidad de vida mediante cuestionario CIVIQ-20 y EVA (Escala Analógica Visual) previo y un mes después del procedimiento. También se describe la tasa de éxito y complicaciones inmediatas y tardías. Resultados: La totalidad de los procedimientos se realizaron con anestesia local, siendo bien tolerados. Con un éxito inmediato del 100 % sin necesidad de conversión. Solo se presentó como complicación urticaria en un paciente en el trayecto de la vena tratada con cianocrilato, la cual se trató con esteroides y resolvió. El CIVIQ-20 mostró mejoría global pasando de 35 a 29 puntos en promedio; siendo el parámetro de actividad física el que mostró una mejoría mayor. EVA demostró que la pesadez (principal síntoma) se redujo un 67%. Durante el seguimiento, ningún caso presento repermeabilización o recanalizaciones segmentarias. Conclusiones: El tratamiento endovenoso de la insuficiencia venosa crónica con las nuevas técnicas no térmicas, no tumescentes es seguro y efectivo. A corto-mediano plazo ofrecen resultados similares a las técnicas termoablativas obviando el inconveniente de la tumescencia y el uso de medias compresivas en el posoperatorio, evitando lesiones térmicas y observándose mejoría en la sintomatología. (AU)

Thermo ablation techniques have revolutionized the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency, being currently the standard of treatment. With technological advancement, new non-thermal, non-tumescent surgical techniques have emerged; such as the use of cyanoacrylate for venous occlusion, which has been shown to be safe and effective in treatment, and have fewer postoperative complications. Objective: To describe the experience in our hospital with the use of cyanoacrylate for occlusion of the greater saphenous vein for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. Describe the shortand medium-term efficacy of closure, complications, and symptom improvement using the CIVIQ-20 questionnaire and VAS. Material and methods: Retrospective observational study. Between January and December 2019 that includes patients with symptomatic saphenous femoral junction insufficiency. With diagnosis by CEAP classification and Doppler ultrasound. Clinical and ultrasound follow-up evaluating occlusion of the treated segments and the presence of varicose veins at 3 and 6 months. 5 patients with venous occlusion were treated with cyanoacrylate (100% women). We assessed the quality of life using the CIVIQ-20 questionnaire and VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) before and one month after the procedure. The immediate and late success rate and complications are also described. Results: All the procedures were performed under local anesthesia, being well tolerated. With immediate 100% success without the need for conversion. Urticaria only presented as a complication in a patient in the path of the vein treated with cyanoacrylate, which was treated with steroids and resolved. The CIVIQ-20 showed global improvement, going from 35 to 29 points on average; being the physical activity parameter the one that showed the greatest improvement. VAS showed that heaviness (main symptom) was reduced by 67%. During follow-up, no case presented segmental recanalization or recanalization. Conclusions: Endovenous treatment of chronic venous insufficiency with new non-thermal, non-tumescent techniques is safe and effective. In the short-medium term, they offer results similar to thermoablative techniques, avoiding the inconvenience of tumescence and the use of compression stockings in the postoperative period, avoiding thermal injuries and observing improvement in symptoms. (AU)