Chest imaging in patients with acute respiratory failure because of coronavirus disease 2019.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review aims to explore the different imaging modalities, such as chest radiography (CXR), computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, PET/CT scan, and MRI to describe the main features for the evaluation of the chest in COVID-19 patients with ARDS. RECENT FINDINGS: This article includes a systematic literature search, evidencing the different chest imaging modalities used in patients with ARDS from COVID-19. Literature evidences different possible approaches going from the conventional CXR and CT to the LUS, MRI, and PET/CT. SUMMARY: CT is the technique with higher sensitivity and definition for studying chest in COVID-19 patients. LUS or bedside CXR are critical in patients requiring close and repeated monitoring. Moreover, LUS and CXR reduce the radiation burden and the risk of infection compared with CT. PET/CT and MRI, especially in ARDS patients, are not usually used for diagnostic or follow-up purposes.

Fluid-dynamic control microcatheter used with glue: preliminary experience on its feasibility and safety.

PURPOSE: To evaluate feasibility, safety, and success of peripheral embolization procedures carried out using anti-reflux microcatheter with N-butyl-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) as an embolic agent. METHODS: We retrospectively described 11 patients that suffered from active bleeding in different body districts, who underwent embolization procedure using SeQure microcatheter (Guerbet, France) with NBCA glue (Glubran II, GEM Italy) as an embolic agent. The treatments required NBCA volumes ranged from 0.1 to 0.6 mL, with different dilutions with ethiodized oil (Lipiodol, Guerbet, France), depending on the entity of the bleeding. Technical success, clinical success, and complications were evaluated. RESULTS: The procedures were successfully concluded in the totality of the patients, achieving full technical and clinical success. In one patient (9.1%), a small upstream of embolic material was encountered, without any consequence. CONCLUSION: This preliminary experience shows that the use of SeQure is feasible and safe with NBCA.

PET/MRI assessment of lung nodules in primary abdominal malignancies: sensitivity and outcome analysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate PET/MR lung nodule detection compared to PET/CT or CT, to determine growth of nodules missed by PET/MR, and to investigate the impact of missed nodules on clinical management in primary abdominal malignancies. METHODS: This retrospective IRB-approved study included [18F]-FDG PET/MR in 126 patients. All had standard of care chest imaging (SCI) with diagnostic chest CT or PET/CT within 6 weeks of PET/MR that served as standard of reference. Two radiologists assessed lung nodules (size, location, consistency, position, and [18F]-FDG avidity) on SCI and PET/MR. A side-by-side analysis of nodules on SCI and PET/MR was performed. The nodules missed on PET/MR were assessed on follow-up SCI to ascertain their growth (≥ 2 mm); their impact on management was also investigated. RESULTS: A total of 505 nodules (mean 4 mm, range 1-23 mm) were detected by SCI in 89/126 patients (66M:60F, mean age 60 years). PET/MR detected 61 nodules for a sensitivity of 28.1% for patient and 12.1% for nodule, with higher sensitivity for > 7 mm nodules (< 30% and > 70% respectively, p < 0.05). 75/337 (22.3%) of the nodules missed on PET/MR (follow-up mean 736 days) demonstrated growth. In patients positive for nodules at SCI and negative at PET/MR, missed nodules did not influence patients' management. CONCLUSIONS: Sensitivity of lung nodule detection on PET/MR is affected by nodule size and is lower than SCI. 22.3% of missed nodules increased on follow-up likely representing metastases. Although this did not impact clinical management in study group with primary abdominal malignancy, largely composed of extra-thoracic advanced stage cancers, with possible different implications in patients without extra-thoracic spread.

In-stent restenosis associated with dual-layer Roadsaver carotid artery stent: a retrospective single-center study.

AIM: To evaluate the incidence of in-stent restenosis (ISR) at 12-month follow-up, in patients treated with new dual-layer Roadsaver (Terumo Corp, Tokyo, Japan) carotid artery stent (CAS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients underwent CAS and received a Roadsaver. Neurological examination was performed in all patients. Carotid stenosis was revealed by Doppler ultrasound (DUS) and multidetector CT (MDCT) scan. Four patients presented a peak systolic velocity (PSV) between 130 and 150 cm/s, six a PSV between 150 and 180 cm/s, and three a PSV > 180 cm/s. MDCT gave further anatomic information. Direct stenting was performed in 11 (84.6%) cases, whereas in 2 (15.4%) cases predilatation was required. In all cases postdilatation was performed. Technical and clinical success and safety were evaluated. Stent patency was evaluated during the 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in all cases. In three patients a nonsignificant residual stenosis < 30% has been reported. No major complications during or after the procedure occurred. One patient (7.7%) showed a transitory bradycardia during angioplasty. One (7.7%) local bleeding at the puncture site treated conservatively occurred. All the neurological examinations performed 24 h and 30 days after the procedure were negative. No significant ISR was registered. In 2 patients, < 30% ISR was revealed at DUS performed after 6 months and confirmed at 12 months. In both patients CEUS and MDCT denied the presence of significant stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: Roadsaver stent seems to be durable. Further studies with longer-term outcome are necessary to confirm our results.

DEB-TACE: a standard review.

Drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) is a relative new endovascular treatment based on the use of microspheres to release chemotherapeutic agents within a target lesion with controlled pharmacokinetics. This aspect justifies the immediate success of DEB-TACE, that nowadays represents one of the most used treatments for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. However, there is no consensus about the choice of the best embolotherapy technique. In this review, we describe the available microspheres and report the results of the main comparative studies, to clarify the role of DEB-TACE in the hepatocellular carcinoma management. We underline that there is no evidence about the superiority of DEB-TACE over conventional TACE in terms of efficacy, but there may be some benefits with respect to safety especially with the improvement of new technologies.

Computed-Tomography-Guided Lung Biopsy: A Practice-Oriented Document on Techniques and Principles and a Review of the Literature.

Computed tomography (CT)-guided lung biopsy is one of the oldest and most widely known minimally invasive percutaneous procedures. Despite being conceptually simple, this procedure needs to be performed rapidly and can be subject to meaningful complications that need to be managed properly. Therefore, knowledge of principles and techniques is required by every general or interventional radiologist who performs the procedure. This review aims to contain all the information that the operator needs to know before performing the procedure. The paper starts with the description of indications, devices, and types of percutaneous CT-guided lung biopsies, along with their reported results in the literature. Then, pre-procedural evaluation and the practical aspects to be considered during procedure (i.e., patient positioning and breathing) are discussed. The subsequent section is dedicated to complications, with their incidence, risk factors, and the evidence-based measures necessary to both prevent or manage them; special attention is given to pneumothorax and hemorrhage. After conventional CT, this review describes other available CT modalities, including CT fluoroscopy and cone-beam CT. At the end, more advanced techniques, which are already used in clinical practice, like fusion imaging, are included.

Role of Flex-Dose Delivery Program in Patients Affected by HCC: Advantages in Management of Tare in Our Experience.

Background: Introduced in the latest BCLC 2022, endovascular trans-arterial radioembolization (TARE) has an important role in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a "bridge" or "downstaging" of disease. The evolution of TARE technology allows a more flexible and personalized target treatment, based on the anatomy and vascular characteristics of each HCC. The flex-dose delivery program is part of this perspective, which allows us to adjust the dose and its radio-embolizing power in relation to the size and type of cancer and to split the therapeutic dose of Y90 in different injections (split-bolus). Methods: From January 2020 to January 2022, we enrolled 19 patients affected by unresectable HCC and candidates for TARE treatment. Thirteen patients completed the treatment following the flex-dose delivery program. Response to treatment was assessed using the mRECIST criteria with CT performed 6 and 9 months after treatment. Two patients did not complete the radiological follow-up and were not included in this retrospective study. The final cohort of this study counts eleven patients. Results: According to mRECIST criteria, six months of follow-up were reported: five cases of complete response (CR, 45.4% of cases), four cases of partial response (PR, 36.4%), and two cases of progression disease (PD, 18.2%). Nine months follow-up reported five cases of complete response (CR, 45.4%), two cases of partial response (PR, 18.2%), and four cases of progression disease (PD, 36.4%). No intra and post-operative complications were described. The average absorbed doses to the hepatic lesion and to the healthy liver tissue were 319 Gy (range 133-447 Gy) and 9.5 Gy (range 2-19 Gy), respectively. Conclusions: The flex-dose delivery program represents a therapeutic protocol capable of "saving" portions of healthy liver parenchyma by designing a "custom-made" treatment for the patient.

Portal hypertension-like pattern in coronavirus disease 2019 acute respiratory distress syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Although respiratory failure is the most common feature in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), abdominal organ involvement is likewise frequently observed. To investigate visceral and thoracic circulation and abdominal organ damage in COVID-19 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A monocentric observational study was carried on. In COVID-19 patients affected by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (n = 31) or mild pneumonia (n = 60) thoracoabdominal circulation was evaluated using Doppler-ultrasound and computed tomography. The study also included non-COVID-19 patients affected by ARDS (n = 10) or portal hypertension (n = 10) for comparison of the main circulatory changes. RESULTS: Patients affected by COVID-19 ARDS showed hyperdynamic visceral flow and increased portal velocity, hepatic artery resistance-index, and spleen diameter relative to those with mild-pneumonia (p = 0.001). Splanchnic circulatory parameters significantly correlated with the main respiratory indexes (p < 0.001) and pulmonary artery diameter (p = 0.02). The chest and abdominal vascular remodeling pattern of COVID-19 ARDS patients resembled the picture observed in the PH group, while differed from that of the non-COVID ARDS group. A more severe COVID-19 presentation was associated with worse liver dysfunction and enhanced inflammatory activation; these parameters both correlated with abdominal (p = 0.04) and chest imaging measures (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: In COVID-19 ARDS patients there are abdominal and lung vascular modifications that depict a portal hypertension-like pattern. The correlation between visceral vascular remodeling, pulmonary artery enlargement, and organ damage in these critically ill patients is consistent with a portal hyperlfow-like syndrome that could contribute to the peculiar characteristics of respiratory failure in these patients. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: our data suggest that the severity of COVID-19 lung involvement is directly related to the development of a portal hyperflow-like syndrome. These observations should help in defining the need for a closer monitoring, but also to develop dedicated therapeutic strategies.

CIRSE Standards of Practice on Varicocele Embolisation.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous embolisation is an effective, minimally invasive means of treating a variety of benign and malignant lesions and has been successfully used to treat varicoceles since the late 1970s, with refined and expanded techniques and tools currently offering excellent outcomes for varicocele embolisation. PURPOSE: This document will presume that the indication for treatment is clear and approved by the multidisciplinary team (MDT) and will define the standards required for the performance of each modality, as well as their advantages and limitations. CIRSE Standards of Practice documents are not intended to impose a standard of clinical patient care, but recommend a reasonable approach to, and best practices for, the performance of percutaneous varicocele embolisation. METHODS: The writing group was established by the CIRSE Standards of Practice Committee and consisted of five clinicians with internationally recognised expertise in embolisation of male varicoceles. The writing group reviewed the existing literature on varicocele embolisation, performing a pragmatic evidence search using PubMed to search for publications in English and relating to human subjects published from 2006 to 2021. The final recommendations were formulated through consensus. CONCLUSION: Embolisation has an established role in the successful management of male varicoceles. This Standards of Practice document provides up-to-date recommendations for the safe performance of varicocele embolisation.

Advances in Imaging Guidance During Percutaneous Ablation of Renal Tumors.

Currently, minimally invasive ablative techniques for the treatment of renal tumors have become a more common and feasible treatment option. New imaging technologies have been implemented and successfully merged with each other to improve the guidance of tumor ablation. In the present review, an overview of the real-time fusion of multiple imaging modalities, robotic and electromagnetic navigation and the application of artificial intelligence software, in field of tumor renal ablation treatment, are analyzed.

Percutaneous Microwave Ablation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with "Double Fusion" Technique: Technical Note and Single-Center Preliminary Experience.

Percutaneous image-guided thermal ablation is included in most society guidelines for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The results of this treatment in terms of efficacy depend on the ability to precisely place the device into the target tumor. Ultrasound (US) is a commonly used imaging guidance modality for its real-time feedback. However, an accurate device deployment remains challenging in some clinical scenarios, including cases of tumors that are undetectable or not clearly visible by US. To overcome this problem, fusion imaging techniques have been developed, which combine images from different modalities. The most widely known technique combines pre-procedural contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with real-time US scans. Cone beam CT (CBCT) is a technology that can provide intra-procedural cross-sectional images, which can be registered to images from other modalities, including preprocedural CT/MR scans. The aim of our study is to report the preliminary experience on percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) of patients with HCC that were treated using the "double fusion" technique, which combines the use of US fusion imaging and CBCT fusion imaging. We describe the technical details, feasibility, safety and short-term efficacy of this technique in a small series of eight patients with 11 HCCs.

Performance and Safety of a Reflux-Control Microcatheter Used to Perform DEB-TACE with LUMITM Beads in HCC Patients: Preliminary Experience.

PURPOSE: The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the anti-reflux microcatheter during DEB-TACE with DC Bead LUMITM (radiopaque beads) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We performed an observational longitudinal prospective monocentric study to analyze all patients with HCC who underwent to DEB-TACE with DC Bead LUMITM and anti-reflux microcatheter. Technical success, the presence of residual disease, and clinical success were evaluated. The performance of the anti-reflux microcatheter on the basis of the percentage of tumor covered and the non-target embolization (NTE) was also evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty patients underwent DEB-TACE with DC Bead LUMITM and an anti-reflux microcatheter. Technical success was achieved in all cases. Residual disease in the target tumor was observed in 11/20 (55%) of cases and no residual disease was found in 9/20 (45%) of cases. The clinical response at 1-month follow-up was of PD 4/20 (20%), SD 7/20 (35%), and CR 9/20 (45%). No major complications were recorded, and 10% of cases had minor complications. The distribution of beads on post-procedural CBCT, classified according to the percentage of target nodule coverage, was ≥50% in 70% (14/20) of cases and between 30-50% in 30% of cases (6/20). NTE was never registered.

Virtual Treatment Zone From Cone Beam CT Commonly Alters Treatment Plan and Identifies Tumor at Risk for Under-Treatment in US or US Fusion-Guided Microwave Ablation of Liver Tumors.

Tumor ablation is included in several major cancer therapy guidelines. One technical challenge of percutaneous ablation is targeting and verification of complete treatment, which is prone to operator variabilities and human imperfections and are directly related to successful outcomes, risk for residual unablated tumor and local progression. The use of "Prediction Ablation Volume Software" may help the operating Interventional Radiologist to better plan, deliver, and verify before the ablation, via virtual treatment zones fused to target tumor. Fused and superimposed images provide 3-dimensional information from different timepoints, just when that information is most useful. The aim of this study is to evaluate the technical success and efficacy of an ablation treatment flowchart provided by a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) "Prediction Ablation Volume Software." This is a single-center retrospective study. From April 2021 to January 2022, 29 nonconsecutive evaluable patients with 32 lesions underwent liver ablation with Prediction Ablation Volume Software. Each patient was discussed in a multidisciplinary tumor board and underwent an enhanced computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging approximately 1 month before the procedure, as well as ∼1 month after. Technical success was defined as treatment of the tumor according to the protocol, covered completely by the Prediction Ablation Volume. Technical efficacy was defined as assessment of complete ablation of the target tumor at imaging follow up (∼1 month). Technical success, technical efficacy, and procedural factors were studied. Technical success was achieved in 30 of 32 liver lesions (94%), measuring 20 mm mean maximum diameter. The antenna was repositioned in 16 of 30 (53%) evaluable target lesions. Residual tumor was detected at 1 month imaging follow up in only 4 of 30 (13%) of the treated lesion. Technical efficacy was of 87% in this retrospective description of our process. The implementation of a CBCT Prediction Ablation Volume Software and flowchart for the treatment of liver malignancies altered the procedure, and demonstrated high technical success and efficacy. Such tools are potentially useful for procedural prediction and verification of ablation.

Percutaneous Application of High Power Microwave Ablation With 150†W for the Treatment of Tumors in Lung, Liver, and Kidney: A Preliminary Experience.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and short-term effectiveness of a high-power (150 W) microwave ablation (MWA) device for tumor ablation in the lung, liver, and kidney. METHODS: Between December 2021 and June 2022, patients underwent high-power MWA for liver, lung, and kidney tumors. A retrospective observational study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The MWA system utilized a 150-W, 2.45-GHz microwave generator (Emprint™ HP Ablation System, Medtronic). The study assessed technical success, safety, and effectiveness, considering pre- and post-treatment diameter and volume, lesion location, biopsy and/or cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) usage, MWA ablation time, MWA power, and dose-area product (DAP). RESULTS: From December 2021 to June 2022, 16 patients were enrolled for high-power MWA. Treated lesions included hepatocellular carcinoma (10), liver metastasis from colon cancer (1), liver metastasis from pancreatic cancer (1), squamous cell lung carcinoma (2), renal cell carcinoma (1), and renal oncocytoma (1). Technical success rate was 100%. One grade 1 complication (6.25%) was reported according to CIRSE classification. Overall effectiveness was 92.8%. Pre- and post-treatment mean diameters for liver lesions were 19.9 mm and 37.5 mm, respectively; for kidney lesions, 34 mm and 35 mm; for lung lesions, 29.5 mm and 31.5 mm. Pre- and post-treatment mean volumes for liver lesions were 3.4 ml and 24 ml, respectively; for kidney lesions, 8.2 ml and 20.5 ml; for lung lesions, 10.2 ml and 32.7 ml. The mean ablation time was 48 minutes for liver, 42.5 minutes for lung, and 42.5 minutes for renal ablation. The mean DAP for all procedures was 40.83 Gcm2. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study demonstrates the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of the new 150 W MWA device. Additionally, it shows reduced ablation times for large lesions.

Robotics in Interventional Radiology: Review of Current and Future Applications.

This review is a brief overview of the current status and the potential role of robotics in interventional radiology. Literature published in the last decades, with an emphasis on the last 5 years, was reviewed and the technical developments in robotics and navigational systems using CT-, MR- and US-image guidance were analyzed. Potential benefits and disadvantages of their current and future use were evaluated. The role of fusion imaging modalities and artificial intelligence was analyzed in both percutaneous and endovascular procedures. A few hundred articles describing results of single or several systems were included in our analysis.

Ablative Therapies for Breast Cancer: State of Art.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy among women. In the past two decades, new technologies and BC screening have led to the diagnosis of smaller and earlier-stage BC (ESBC). Therefore, percutaneous minimally invasive techniques (PMIT) were adopted to treat patients unfit for surgery, women who refuse it, or elderly patients with comorbidities that could make surgery a difficult and life-threatening treatment. The target of PMIT is small-size ESBC with the scope of obtaining similar efficacy as surgery. Minimally invasive treatments are convenient alternatives with promising effectiveness, lower morbidity, less cost, less scarring and pain, and more satisfying cosmetic results. Ablative techniques used in BC are cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, high-intensity focused ultrasound (US), and laser ablation. The aim of our study is to discuss the current status of percutaneous management of BC, evaluate the clinical outcomes of PMIT in BC, and analyze future perspectives regarding ablation therapy in BC.

Efficacy and Safety of Transarterial Chemoembolization with DC Beads LUMI in the Treatment of HCC: Experience from a Tertiary Centre.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe the safety and efficacy profiles of TACE using DC Beads LUMI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 90 patients with HCC who underwent TACE with DC Bead LUMI™ between November 2018 and November 2020 at Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Policlinico Hospital in Milan, Italy. Patient- and tumour-related factors were registered, including the number of treated lesions, dose of DC Beads LUMI™, dose of Epirubicin, DC Beads LUMI™ target tumour coverage (LC) according to the percentage of target nodule involvement (LC1-0%-25%, LC2-25%-50%, LC3-50%-75%, LC4 75%-100%). Treatment efficacy was obtained through reviewing the follow-up imaging for evidence of response in target lesion(s), according to modified response criteria in solid tumours (mRECIST) criteria with the following outcomes: complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD). Safety assessment was based on the quantitative and qualitative recording of the adverse events, classified according to CIRSE classification. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients were enrolled, and 95 procedures were carried out. We observed a target tumour response rate at 1 month with CR in 68%, PR in 10.3% 11.8%, SD in 13%, PD in 7.2%, and an overall tumour(s) (whole liver) response at 1 month with CR in 58.9%, PR in 12.6%, SD in 10.5% and PD in 18%. We found a significant association (p < 0.01) between tumour response CR or CR + PR and the number of the target lesion(s). CIRSE classification grade I and grade II complications were recorded, respectively, in 11 (11.6%) and 6 (6.3%) procedures. No grade III-IV-V complications occurred. CONCLUSION: TACE using DC Beads LUMI is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with HCC.

Clinical Impact of a Protocol Involving Cone-Beam CT (CBCT), Fusion Imaging and Ablation Volume Prediction in Percutaneous Image-Guided Microwave Ablation in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Unsuitable for Standard Ultrasound (US) Guidance.

PURPOSE: to evaluate the clinical impact of a protocol for the image-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that includes cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), fusion imaging and ablation volume prediction in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma unsuitable for standard ultrasound (US) guidance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: this study included all patients with HCC treated with MWA between January 2021 and June 2022 in a tertiary institution. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A, treated following the protocol, and Group B, treated with standard ultrasound (US) guidance. Follow-up images were reviewed to assess residual disease (RD), local tumor progression (LTP) and intrahepatic distant recurrence (IDR). Ablation response at 1 month was also evaluated according to mRECIST. Baseline variables and outcomes were compared between the groups. For 1-month RD, propensity score weighting (PSW) was performed. RESULTS: 80 consecutive patients with 101 HCCs treated with MWA were divided into two groups. Group A had 41 HCCs in 37 patients, and Group B had 60 HCCs in 43 patients. Among all baseline variables, the groups differed regarding their age (mean of 72 years in Group A and 64 years in Group B, respectively), new vs. residual tumor rates (48% Group A vs. 25% Group B, p < 0.05) and number of subcapsular tumors (56.7% Group B vs. 31.7% Group A, p < 0.05) and perivascular tumors (51.7% Group B vs. 17.1% Group A, p < 0.05). The protocol led to repositioning the antenna in 49% of cases. There was a significant difference in 1-month local response between the groups measured as the RD rate and mRECIST outcomes. LTP rates at 3 and 6 months, and IDR rates at 1, 3 and 6 months, showed no significant differences. Among all variables, logistic regression after PSW demonstrated a protective effect of the protocol against 1-month RD. CONCLUSIONS: The use of CBCT, fusion imaging and ablation volume prediction during percutaneous MWA of HCCs provided a better 1-month tumor local control. Further studies with a larger population and longer follow-up are needed.

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.

Woven EndoBridge in Wide-Neck Bifurcation Aneurysms: Digital Subtraction Angiography at 3-Year Follow-Up.

INTRODUCTION: The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device is a self-expanding intrasaccular braided-wire device for the treatment of wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms (WNBAs). Even though this device has an excellent safety profile and a low risk of rebleeding, little is known about its long-term effects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients treated with WEB due to ruptured WNBAs were subjected to follow-up digital subtraction angiography (DSA) at 2 and 3 years after device deployment. The degree of residual neck was assessed through BOSS, Lubicz, and WEBCAST scales. Data on modified Rankin scale (mRS), bleeding events, and ischemic events occurring during this time period were collected as well. Lastly, overall and procedure-related mortality rates were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients were treated between 1 January 2016, and 31 December 2018. DSA demonstrated a patency grade of 57.1% and 61.1% at 2 and 3 years, respectively. The overall 2-year mortality rate due to causes unrelated to the aneurysm was 14.3%. None of the patients were retreated between the 2- and the 3-year follow-up. No rebleeding or stroke events occurred during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: WEB-treated ruptured aneurysms showed an excellent degree of stability over time. The overall mortality rate-unrelated to the procedure-observed in our sample was higher than what reported in the literature, a possible bias associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.