Real-World Evaluation of the Off-the-Shelf Precannulated Inner-Branched Endograft for Pararenal Aortic Aneurysms.

PURPOSE: To analyze the early performance and efficacy of the first commercially available off-the-shelf precannulated multibranched endograft in the endovascular repair of pararenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (PAAAs). The device received European marketing approval in late 2020. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2021 and June 2023, a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from all consecutive patients with pAAAs undergoing implantation of the E-nside precannulated inner-branched endograft was conducted in 2 centers. The primary outcome measure was technical success defined as the composite endpoint of successful (1) delivery of the 24F endograft, (2) use of the precannulation tubes, and (3) implantation of the bridging stent-grafts (BSGs) to the target vessels. Main secondary endpoints were mortality, target vessel instability (TVI), absence of type I or III endoleak, reintervention, spinal cord ischemia, and supra-celiac aortic coverage. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients (20 men, mean age: 71 years) were included in this study with a mean follow-up of 14±7.7 months. Nine patients had a symptomatic aneurysm (43%). Technical success amounted to 95% (in one patient, an iliofemoral conduit was necessary to advance the device). One out of 112 BSGs (1%, right renal artery) occluded at 30 days, resulting in freedom from TVI and reintervention rate at 12 months of 95%. No type I or III endoleaks were identified during follow-up. One patient (5%) died at 13 months due to non-aneurysm-related death, and 1 patient (5%) developed spinal cord ischemia. No other major perioperative complications were observed. Mean supra-celiac aortic coverage reached 52±8%. CONCLUSIONS: Given the imperative need for an off-the-shelf endograft tailored to address PAAAs, the E-nside stent-graft demonstrated encouraging outcomes in this study. Nevertheless, it is essential to emphasize that the extent of aortic coverage mandates the production of a truncated variant. CLINICAL IMPACT: The endovascular repair of urgent pararenal aortic aneurysms remains still an unsolved problem in the endovascular era since there are no available off-the-shelf dedicated fenestrated or branched endografts. This paper confirms the safety and efficacy of the off-the-shelf precannulated inner branched endograft for this specific indication.

Comparison of second-generation stents for application in the superficial femoral artery: an in vitro evaluation focusing on stent design.

PURPOSE: To examine and compare in an ex vivo study different nitinol stent designs intended for the superficial femoral artery (SFA) with regard to the appearance of fracture. METHODS: Seven different 8-×40-mm nitinol stents were evaluated (Misago, Absolute, Smart, Luminexx, Sentinol, Lifestent NT, and Sinus-Superflex). Finite element analysis (FEA) was used for digitalized stent design comparison; the strain during stent movement was calculated for bending, compression, and torsion. Additional mechanical fatigue tests for bending (70°), compression (40%), and torsion (twisted counterclockwise by 180°) were performed up to 650,000 cycles or until a fracture was observed. RESULTS: The FEA bending test showed that only the Misago, LifeStent, and Absolute stents presented no zones of high strain; in the torsion test, the Smart stent also had no zones of high strain. Macroscopic evaluation after mechanical bending indicated that the LifeStent performed the best (no stent fracture after 650,000 cycles). Misago and Absolute stents showed fractures at 536,000 cycles and 456,667 cycles, respectively (range 320,000-650,000 cycles). After compression and torsion testing, Misago showed no stent fracture after 650,000 cycles. The worst performing stent was Luminexx during all test cycles. CONCLUSION: The 7 SFA stents showed differences in the incidence of high strain zones, which indicates a potential for stent fracture, as demonstrated by the mechanical fatigue tests. Differences in stent design might play a major role in the appearance of stent strut fracture related to restenosis and reocclusion.

Embolic protection devices for peripheral application: wasteful or useful?

Distal embolization following percutaneous intervention is a universal phenomenon that has been reported in various vascular beds. Distal emboli are also very common during lower extremity percutaneous peripheral interventions. Some data from case reports and registries are currently available. Clinical data have shown that the application of an embolic protection device in the lower limb arteries is safe. Prospective and, ideally, randomized trial data are warranted to justify the increased use of filters in lower extremity interventions, despite the obvious benefits that these devices provide. However, the clinical relevance of distal embolization in the lower extremity remains unquantified.

Total percutaneous endovascular aneurysm repair with the dual 6-F Perclose-AT preclosing technique: a case-control study.

PURPOSE: To determine the safety and efficacy of total percutaneous access closure for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair with a suture-mediated preclosing technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred thirty-two femoral access sites in 70 patients who underwent endovascular aortic aneurysm repair were closed percutaneously with off-label use of two F-6 Perclose AT devices preapplied at a 90 degrees angle. Femoral access sizes ranged from 12 to 24 F. Technical success, complications, and procedure and access closure times were evaluated. Follow-up with computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging was scheduled at 1-4 days and 3, 6, and 12 months and used to obtain groin hematoma and scar severity scores (grades 1-3). Data were compared with those from a cohort of 67 patients who underwent endovascular aortic aneurysm repair with surgical femoral cutdown. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved with the preclosing technique in 127 of the 132 arteries (96.2%). Two to four closure devices were used per groin. Five technical failures were managed intraoperatively with surgical suture. There was no access-related mortality and no late groin complications. The mean procedure duration was 91 minutes +/- 32, and the mean access closure time was 12 minutes +/- 9. For surgical management, the mean procedure time was 153 minutes +/- 112 (P < .05), and the mean closure time was 12 minutes +/- 13 (not statistically significant). Hematoma severity score at 1-4 days was 1.8 for total percutaneous endovascular aneurysm repair and 2.1 for surgical closure. Scar severity scores at 3, 6, and 12 months were 1.1, 1.0, and 1.0 for total percutaneous endovascular aneurysm repair and 2.4, 2.4, and 2.3 for surgical management, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Total percutaneous endovascular aneurysm repair with a dual 6-F-Perclose preclosing technique is safe and effective. Compared with femoral cutdown, there are fewer late groin complications and scar tissue formation is less severe.

[Endovascular treatment of atherosclerotic arterial stenoses and occlusions of the supraaortic arteries: mid-term results from a single center analysis]. / Endovaskuläre Behandlung arteriosklerotisch bedingter arterieller Stenosen und Okklusionen der Aortenbogengefässe: Mittelfristige Ergebnisse einer Ein-center-Analyse.

OBJECTIVE: To determine mid-term patency rates after endovascular treatment of supraaortic atherosclerotic arterial stenoses and occlusions using percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and stent placement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During a period of 83 months, 48 patients (18 female, 30 male; mean age 61 years, range 31-82 years) were included into this prospective single-center study. Fifty-five lesions of the brachial and cephalic arteries (subclavian/axillary artery n = 42, innominate artery n = 7, origin common carotid artery n = 6) were treated using PTA (n = 38), PTA plus stent (n = 11) or primary stent placement (n = 6). For anticoagulation, patients received a bolus of heparin (5000 IU) intraarterially during the intervention followed by intravenous application for 24h. At discharge, life-time application of ASA (100mg/day) was initiated. Follow-up protocol included clinical examination, colour-coded duplex ultrasound and intraarterial angiography in case of re-stenosis. RESULTS: PTA and stent placement were technically successful in all patients (100%). No major complications occurred. Of seven patients presenting with total occlusions, six were treated with stent placement. Stent implantation was also performed in all lesions located at the origin of the supraaortic arteries (n = 6). In 38 lesions, the result of PTA was satisfactory. Mean follow-up time is 22 months (range 1-83 months). During follow-up examinations, re-stenoses occurred in 10 cases (at 1 month n = 2, at 6 months n = 2, at 12 months n = 3, at 24 months n = 3). In 9 lesions, re-interventions were performed (PTA n = 7; PTA plus stent n = 2). According to Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis, cumulative primary and primary assisted patency rates are 69.5% (patients at risk n = 15; standard error 9%) and 90.6% (patients at risk n = 16; standard error 6.3%) at 20 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment of atherosclerotic obstructive disease in brachial and cephalic arteries is a safe procedure showing promising mid-term patency rates.

Influence of various cell-detachment solutions on endothelial cells after catheter abrasion for prosthesis colonization prior to implantation.

We (1) evaluated the effectiveness of different media on the detachment of endothelial cells (ECs) from a catheter brush (Cragg thrombolytic catheter system) that was previously used for endothelial cell abrasion in 10 cm human umbilical vein (HUV) segments; (2) tested the practicability of endovascular catheter brush abrasion followed by EC detachment from the catheter brush, in vitro culture of harvested ECs, and finally endothelialization of a prosthesis; and (3) analyzed the defect created by the catheter brush in HUV segments after endovascular catheter abrasion. Best results in detachment of ECs from the catheter brush were obtained with a mixture of phosphate-buffered saline + 1% human albumin. EC vitality was time-dependent in the collected HUV segments postdelivery. Harvested EC viability decreased from (26.28 +/- 5.76)% (0-3 h postdelivery) to (17.29 +/- 4.56)% (after 4-8 h). ECs were easily cultured ex vivo within 2-3 weeks; seeded on nitinol stents, they grew to confluency and formed a monolayer on the stent surface (determined by scanning electron microscopy - SEM). Histological and SEM analysis of HUV segments that had undergone previous catheter brush abrasion revealed slight disruption of the intima but intact subintimal layers. Our findings indicate an advantageous method of capturing and culturing primary ECs for gene therapy or for the analysis and diagnosis of certain blood vessel diseases, especially in cases in which endovascular intervention is performed anyway. Moreover, and of high relevance to the biomaterial field, theoretically the procedure could be used to endothelialze a prosthesis ex vivo for implantation into the patient from whom the ECs were harvested, to reduce the inherent thrombogenicity of the prosthesis.

Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma and the danger of misdiagnosis: report of a case.

Malignant hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE) is a rare malignant tumor of vascular origin. Nonspecific symptoms and the absence of experience of surgeons, radiologists, and histopathologists due to the rarity of HEHE make the diagnosis of this entity very challenging. Misdiagnosis is not a rare event, and the consequences of such an event are catastrophic. We report a case of a patient suffering from HEHE in which the initial diagnosis was hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The presence of normal laboratory values, liver function tests, tumor markers along with the absence of a chronic liver disease, or any other predisposing factors for HCC, was in contrast with the diagnosis of HCC. Clinical suspicion drove us to the repetition of a liver biopsy and the reevaluation of the sample by a more experience histopathology department in liver tumors. The last biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of HEHE, and the patient escaped any unnecessary treatment for a nonexisting HCC.

Leash your guiding catheter: or how to obtain a stable catheter position for crossover iliac embolization procedures.

We present a safe and quick technique for crossover embolization procedures of the internal iliac artery with high-profile guiding catheter systems, after a pull-through maneuver with establishment of a crossover catheter-snare system. The attached snare is used to stabilize and direct the guiding catheter.

Percutaneous intraluminal recanalization of long, chronic superficial femoral and popliteal occlusions using the Frontrunner XP CTO device: a single-center experience.

The purpose of this study was to examine the safety and efficacy of the Frontrunner XP CTO (chronic total occlusion) Catheter (Cordis) for recanalization of long femoropopliteal artery occlusions. A Frontrunner catheter was used to treat 26 CTOs in SFA after guidewire failure (68.3 +/- 8.8 years). Sixty-seven percent of patients had severe claudication. Critical lower limb ischemia with rest pain or minor tissue loss was present in three and eight patients, respectively. All the lesions were considered complex (TASC B, C, and D); 68% of the lesions were heavily calcified. The mean lesion length was 17.6 cm (range, 10-42 cm). The initial attempt to cross the occlusion with the CTO guidewire V18 was unsuccessful in 26 of 76 limbs (34.26%). A secondary attempt using the Frontrunner catheter (crossover approach, 27%; antegrade, 73%) performed in all 26 failed cases was successful in 17 limbs (65.38%), increasing the technical success rate to 88.12%. The main reasons for failure with the Frontrunner were inability to cross the lesion due to heavy calcification (six of nine) and inability to re-enter the true lumen after subintimal passage of the occluded segment (three of nine). The mean fluoroscopy time was 22.9 min. Minor complications included one distal extension of the dissection with involvement of the first popliteal segment and one perforation in the occluded segment. No major complications were seen. In conclusion, recanalization with the Frontrunner CTO catheter is a simple and safe method with a high technical success rate in the endovascular treatment of long superficial femoral artery occlusions and should be an alternative method after guidewire failure.

Final results of the protected superficial femoral artery trial using the FilterWire EZ system.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of debris-capture for distal protection using the FilterWire EZ Embolic Protection System (Boston Scientific, Mountain View, CA) with the additional aim to further define the incidence of distal embolization during superficial femoral artery (SFA) interventions. A prospective, single-centre registry was designed to evaluate the performance of the FilterWire EZ in capturing debris during standard SFA percutaneous intervention. The PRO-RATA study included 30 patients suitable for PTA (Fontaine IIb to III or Rutherford I to II classification). The primary end points were occurrence of distal embolization or decreased runoff, improvement in ankle-brachial index ankle-brachial index (ABI) after the procedure, and number of filters containing emboli. Secondary end points included major adverse events (i.e., procedure- or device-related death and/or clinical target lesion revascularisation), device delivery, deployment success, and incidence of embolic recovery (patients with device success exhibiting embolic protection in the filter). Procedural success was determined as ≤30% residual stenosis with no worsening of distal runoff as determined on angiography. A total of 29 patients (age 66.2 ± 12 years; total no. of limbs = 30; total no. of lesions = 30) suitable for PTA were enrolled in the study between February 2007 and March 2008. There were 26 patients with claudication (Fontaine IIB) and 3 patients with stage IV peripheral vascular disease. In one patient, lesions in both legs were treated. No procedural or device-related complications occurred. The average degree of stenosis was 86 ± 7%. Stenosis length ranged from 8 to 88 mm. The average degree of residual stenosis was 10 ± 10%. ABI improved from 0.56 ± 0.16 to 0.92 ± 0.19 (P < 0.05). No restenosis or dissection was seen at 1-month ultrasound follow-up. Macroscopic debris was found in 27 of 30 filters of all distal protection devices used in all 29 patients. Debris particle size ranged from 90 to 2000 µm (1200 ± 640). Histological debris analysis showed platelets, erythrocytes, inflammatory cells, extracellular matrix, and cholesterol as being the major components of emboli. Additional immunochemistry showed no correlation between lesion morphology and debris components. The FilterWire EZ is easy and safe to handle. The system caused no complications. In all cases, macroscopic debris was captured. Using a distal protection device during femoropopliteal interventions has the potential to prevent migration of debris, which may be important for high-risk patients with limited distal runoff.

MISAGO 1: first-in-man clinical trial with Misago nitinol stent.

AIMS: To evaluate a newly developed self-expanding Misago (Terumo Corp., Tokyo, Japan) nitinol stent with rapid exchange delivery catheter for the treatment of stenotic or occluded superficial femoral (SF) or popliteal arteries. METHODS AND RESULTS: MISAGO 1 clinical trial enrolled 55 patients undergoing percutaneous intervention of totally occluded or stenotic lesions in SF or popliteal arteries treated with the implantation of 81 stents in five centres across Europe. Primary endpoint was restenosis rate at six months assessed by duplex sonography. Patients (67% male) were 68+/-9 years old, 60% were smokers and 31% had diabetes. Clinical symptoms of ischaemia were present in all patients. Average lesion length was 85+/-50 mm, 64% were totally occluded and 38% classified as TASC C or D. The technical success rate was 100% while the procedural success rate was 98.2% without death, MI, stroke, or major bleeding. At six months follow-up the restenosis rate was 8.5%. One patient (1.8%) died of bronchial carcinoma and two (3.6%) underwent target vessel revascularisation. Mean ankle brachial index improved from 0.70 at baseline to 0.95 at six months while walking capacity on treadmill test improved with an average of 147 m. Rutherford index at six months demonstrated improvement of 72%, without any patients having symptom deterioration. One case of stent fracture was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this first-in-man study indicate good safety and short to medium term efficacy profile of the Misago nitinol stent.

Reduction of cerebral embolization in carotid angioplasty: an in-vitro experiment comparing 2 cerebral protection devices.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficiency of 2 distal filtration devices designed for cerebral protection during carotid angioplasty in an in-vitro bench-top model. METHODS: After positioning the respective protection devices (RX Accunet and DynaCap) 5 cm distal to the bifurcation, embolization from carotid angioplasty was simulated by injecting polyvinyl alcohol particles in groups of small (150 to 250-microm diameter, approximately 500 particles), medium (250 to 355-microm diameter, approximately 200 particles), and large (700 to 1000-microm diameter, approximately 80 particles). Five milligrams of each group were injected separately into the internal carotid artery (ICA) model proximal to the protection filters. Particles passing the protection devices were caught in 100-microm filters and weighed. RESULTS: For small particles, the amount in the effluent of the ICA was 0.34+/-0.12 mg (6.8%) for the RX Accunet and 0.51+/-0.16 mg (11.2%) for the Occam DynaCap (p<0.05). For the other particle sizes, there was no statistical difference between the filters (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: In all test runs, neither of the tested devices prevented embolization completely, with approximately 3% to 6% of particles penetrating. For small particles, the lowest amount of particles passing the protection device was achieved using the RX Accunet system.

Comparison of carotid stents: an in-vitro experiment focusing on stent design.

PURPOSE: To examine and compare different carotid stent designs with regard to flexibility, adaptability (adjustability), conformability (compliance) to the vessel, and scaffolding to reduce plaque prolapse and embolization. METHODS: Six stents of different design were compared (Precise, Acculink, Protégé, Xact, Wallstent, and Cristallo Ideale). Optical microscopy was used to determine exact dimensions and scaffolding of each stent. Radial force was tested using a parallel plate setup, and flexibility (torsion and bending) was measured in water at body temperature. Particle penetration simulation was performed using plastic spheres from 1.5- to 6.0-mm outer diameter. RESULTS: Stent dimensions met the manufacturers' data; none of the products showed any failure during the test program. Cell sizes in the middle part of the stents ranged from 1.36 mm(2) (Wallstent) to 15.10 mm(2) (Acculink). Bending forces at 20 degrees /30 degrees ranged from 0.063 N / 0.074 N (Cristallo Ideale) to 0.890 N / 0.616 N (Xact); forces to achieve torsion at 10 degrees /15 degrees ranged from 0.032 N / 0.043 N (Acculink) to 0.905 N / 1.071 N (Xact). According to the parallel plate method, mean lowest force was measured for Xact (0.765 N), while the Wallstent had the highest force (2.136 N). Mean radial force measurements were lowest for Cristallo Ideale (9.06 N at mid part) and highest for Protégé (24.09 N). The Cristallo Ideale stent at mid part resisted penetration by all but the smallest plastic spheres (1.5-mm spheres penetrated only at 0.65 N); the Precise and Protégé stent had the highest variation in sphere penetration (1.5- to 4.0-mm spheres). Only the Acculink let 6-mm spheres penetrate. CONCLUSION: Despite comparable stent sizes, these carotid stents showed differences in behavior due to stent design. The open-cell design displayed the greatest flexibility and adaptability to the vessel but easily allowed particle penetration due to the open structure. Closed-cell designs had low flexibility and thus low adaptability to the vessel but high resistance to particle penetration due to the closed-cell design and high scaffolding. The hybrid stent design (Cristallo Ideale) was able to combine both the flexibility of an open-cell structure and the resistance to particle penetration of closed-cell structures.

Treatment of acute pulmonary embolism: local effects of three hydrodynamic thrombectomy devices in an ex vivo porcine model.

PURPOSE: To report an ex vivo study on the local effects of hydrodynamic thrombectomy for the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism (off-label use). METHODS: Three devices (6-F AngioJet Xpeedior and 6-F and 8-F Oasis) were used for hydrodynamic thrombectomy inside the arteries of 24 inflated and perfused porcine lung explants. Each system was used at multiple positions inside 4 intact and 4 embolized lungs in vessels measuring 2 to 4 mm, 4 to 6 mm, 6 to 8 mm, and 8 to 10 mm. Angiograms prior to, during, and after catheter positioning and system operation were used to detect arterial wall trauma and to measure local clot removal per 30-second cycle. A total of 21 vessel wall samples were subjected to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate non-perforating lesions. RESULTS: All systems were able to remove clot material. The average recanalized vessel length normalized to 30 seconds for vessel diameters of 2 to 4 and 8 to 10 mm, respectively, was 1.17 and 1.75 cm (AngioJet), 0.97 and 0.25 cm (6-F Oasis), and 2.2 and 1.05 cm (8-F Oasis). Perforations occurred during positioning of the 6-F Oasis (4/78 maneuvers) and 8-F Oasis (13/60), but not the AngioJet (0/89); perforations were also seen during system operation (AngioJet: 21/89 activations, 6-F Oasis: 4/78, and 8-F Oasis: 9/60; all lesions inside vessels <6 mm in diameter). SEM showed 35 lesions, 14 with perforation (contrast extravasation) and 21 without perforation (induced by the tip of the guidewire). CONCLUSION: The AngioJet was most efficient in clot removal, followed by the 8-F Oasis. The 6-F Oasis was least efficient, but had fewest complications. According to these experiments, the tested hydrodynamic thrombectomy devices may cause perforations in vessels <6 mm in diameter. Changes in catheter design to reduce system-specific complication rates or to improve the efficacy of clot removal are warranted.

Stent placement with the monorail technique for treatment of mesenteric artery stenosis.

PURPOSE: To analyze the immediate and midterm success of stenting of mesenteric arteries by a monorail technique in patients with chronic mesenteric ischemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective case series, 19 patients (11 male, 8 female; mean age, 62.9 +/- 10.4 y; range, 36-82 y) with 23 symptomatic stenoses of mesenteric arteries were treated with stent placement by a monorail technique in a radiologic intervention center over a period of 4.5 years. Clinical examinations and duplex sonography were used to evaluate the stents' patency and clinical success. Kaplan-Meier graphs were calculated to analyze the patency and freedom-from-symptom rate. RESULTS: Initial technical success rate was 22/23 (96%). Mean follow-up was 17 months (range, 1-58 mo). Primary patency and primary clinical success rates were 82% and 78%, respectively. According to Kaplan-Meier tables, the patency rates were 96%, 87%, 76%, and 61% at 0, 1, 15, and 24 months, respectively, and the freedom-from-symptom rates were 95%, 90%, 72%, and 54% at 0, 1, 24, and 30 months, respectively. No peri-interventional complications occurred. Two patients died of cardiac failure in the hospital within 30 days after intervention; deaths were not related to the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Stent placement by a monorail technique in mesenteric arteries is an effective and safe treatment for symptomatic stenoses in patients with chronic mesenteric ischemia after a mean follow-up of 17 months.

Volumetric interpolated contrast-enhanced MRA for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in an ex vivo system.

PURPOSE: To implement a three-dimensional gradient-recalled echo (GRE) volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) sequence for pulmonary contrast-enhanced MRA (CE-MRA) in an experimental setup. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight porcine lungs were intubated, inflated inside a chest phantom, and examined at 1.5 T during slow perfusion (2-300 mL/minute). Three-dimensional-MRA was performed with and without contrast agent using three-dimensional-GRE (VIBE) with TR/TE = 4.5/1.9 msec, TA = 23 seconds, FOV = 390 mm, FA = 12 degrees /30 degrees, as well as a standard three-dimensional-GRE sequence and T2 fast spin-echo (FSE) sequences. Four of the eight lungs were embolized with autologous blood clots. By consensus readings, two observers evaluated the detectability of peripheral vessels, signal intensity over vessels and lung, and visualization of emboli. Digital subtraction angiograms served as a control to document vessel patency. RESULTS: Prior to contrast administration, three-dimensional-VIBE/12 degrees yielded the best results for lung parenchyma signal and visualization of small vessels (third-order, P < 0.01); however, no emboli were detected (due to lack of contrast). After administration of contrast agent, three-dimensional-GRE (VIBE) at FA = 30 degrees provided significantly better results (fifth-order branches, documentation of subsegmental occlusions [fourth order], P < 0.01). T2-FSE images documented water uptake into the lungs. Digitally subtracted angiography (DSA) confirmed the patency of seventh-order branches. CONCLUSION: This ex vivo study confirms the potential advantages of using a dual MR investigation for pulmonary embolism, combining three-dimensional-GRE (VIBE) at FA = 12 degrees to image lung parenchyma and at FA = 30 degrees for CE-MRA..