Management of gastric varices unsuccessfully treated by balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration: long-term follow-up and outcomes.

Our aim was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of percutaneous transhepatic obliteration (PTO) alone and combined with balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) for gastroesophageal varices refractory to BRTO alone. Between July 1999 and December 2010, 13 patients with gastroesophageal varices refractory to BRTO were treated with PTO (n = 6) or a combination of PTO and BRTO (n = 7). We retrospectively investigated the rates of survival, recurrence, or worsening of the varices; hepatic function before and after the procedure; and complications. The procedure achieved complete obliteration or significant reduction of the varices in all 13 patients without major complications. During follow-up, the varices had recurred in 2 patients, of which one had hepatocellular carcinoma, and the other died suddenly from variceal rebleeding 7 years after PTO. The remaining 11 patients did not experience worsening of the varices and showed significant improvements in the serum ammonia levels and prothrombin time. The mean follow-up period was 90 months, and the cumulative survival rate at 1, 3, and 5 years was 92.9%, 85.7%, and 85.7%, respectively. Both PTO and combined PTO and BRTO seem as safe and effective procedures for the treatment of gastroesophageal varices refractory to BRTO alone.

Changes in pelvic and systemic platinum concentrations during negative-balance isolated pelvic perfusion: correlation between platinum concentration and method of administration in a pig model.

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of altering the method of administration during negative-balance isolated pelvic perfusion (NIPP) on the platinum concentration in the pelvic or systemic circulation. METHODS: Twenty female pigs were used in this study. The abdominal aorta and the infra-renal vena cava were occluded with two balloon catheters and blood in the extracorporeal circuit was circulated with twin rotary pumps. NIPP was then performed with cisplatin (5 mg/kg) in 15 pigs. Three types of NIPP administration method (group A: 1 bolus, B: 2 same doses boluses, C: 3 same doses boluses) were used, five pigs being subjected to each treatment. The remaining five pigs were administered cisplatin systemically as a control study (group D). The platinum concentrations in the pelvic and systemic circulation were measured and compared. RESULTS: (1) Pelvic circulation: There was a tendency for the platinum concentration to increase as the bolus time decreased. The platinum concentration in groups A and B was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that in group C. Significant differences (P < 0.05) between groups A and B until 10 min after the start of NIPP. (2) Systemic circulation: Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed between NIPP groups and D during NIPP. The platinum concentration in group D was five times higher than that in group C. (3) Plasma pelvic to systemic exposure ratio: there were no significant differences among the three NIPP groups. CONCLUSIONS: The platinum concentrations in the pelvic and systemic circulation increased as the bolus time decreased. The plasma pelvic to systemic exposure ratio was not influenced by bolus time.

Successful embolization of the left gastric artery aneurysm obtained in preoperative diagnosis: a report of 2 cases.

Gastric artery aneurysm is rare and accounts for fewer than 5% of all splanchnic artery aneurysms. The diagnosis is usually established during emergent surgery or at autopsy because warning signs or symptoms are vague, absent, or unrecognized. Nearly 80% of the patients reported with gastric artery aneurysm die. Preoperative diagnosis of gastric artery aneurysm is an essential contribution to treat safely and effectively the aneurysms and to reduce the high mortality rate. We report a successful treatment with transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of two cases of a left gastric artery aneurysm diagnosed using contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Case 1 was a ruptured aneurysm with shock. Embolization was successfully performed as the left gastric artery aneurysm was diagnosed by computed tomography at rupture. Case 2 had multiple hepatocellular carcinomas, and a left gastric artery aneurysm was diagnosed by follow-up computed tomography. Embolization was successfully performed for the left gastric artery aneurysm, and chemoembolization was repeatedly performed for multiple hepatocellular carcinomas after embolization of the aneurysm.

Evaluation of the relationship between hepatocellular carcinoma location and transarterial chemoembolization efficacy.

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between the location of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). METHODS: We evaluated 115 patients (127 nodules), excluding recurrent nodules, treated with TACE between January 2011 and June 2014. TACE efficacy was evaluated according to mRECIST. The HCC location coefficient was calculated as the distance from the central portal portion to the HCC center (mm)/liver diameter (mm) on multiplanar reconstruction images rendered (MPR) to visualize bifurcation of the right and left branches of the portal vein and HCC center. The HCC location coefficient was compared between complete response (CR) and non-CR groups in Child-Pugh grade A and B patients. RESULTS: The median location coefficient of HCC among all nodules, the right lobe, and the medial segment was significantly higher in the CR group than in the non-CR group in the Child-Pugh grade A patients (0.82 vs 0.62, P < 0.001; 0.71 vs 0.59, P < 0.01; 0.81 vs 0.49, P < 0.05, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in the median location coefficient of the HCC in the lateral segment between in the CR and in the non-CR groups (0.67 vs 0.65, P > 0.05). On the other hand, in the Child-Pugh grade B patients, the HCC median location coefficient in each lobe and segment was not significantly different between in the CR and in the non-CR groups. CONCLUSION: Improved TACE efficacy may be obtained for HCC in the peripheral zone of the right lobe and the medial segment in Child-Pugh grade A patients.

Two cases of subacute combined degeneration: magnetic resonance findings.

We report two cases of subacute combined degeneration. Both patients had undergone total gastrectomy. The chief complaints were numbness in both upper extremities in case 1 and numbness in both the upper and lower extremities and gait disturbance in case 2. The pain, temperature, and vibration senses of both patients were decreased. Laboratory examinations showed macrocytic anemia and a decreased serum vitamin B12 level in both cases. In both cases T2-weighted magnetic resonance images showed an area of hyperintensity in the dorsal columns of the cervical spinal cord. The patients were treated with vitamin B12. The abnormal signals had disappeared on follow-up magnetic resonance examination 1 year later in case 1 and 3 months later in case 2. These patients showed neurological improvement, but the numbness in the upper extremities persisted even after the area of abnormal signal intensity had disappeared in case 1.

Successful Coil Embolization of an Aneurysm in the Arc of Bühler.

In the present report, we describe a case of a patient with an asymptomatic aneurysm in the arc of Bühler (AOB), which was successfully treated by transcatheter arterial embolization. The patient presented with severe stenosis of the celiac trunk, which was suspected to be due to median arcuate ligament syndrome. Arteriography of the superior mesenteric artery indicated a rapid stream in an aneurysm in the AOB. Hence, embolization was carefully performed using detachable coils and microcoils. An arteriography performed after embolization did not show any aneurysm, and the hepatic artery and splenic artery could be detected via the pancreatic arcade, originating from the superior mesenteric artery. The AOB is a persistent embryonic ventral anastomosis present between the superior mesenteric artery and the celiac artery. This anastomotic artery is independent of the gastroduodenal artery and the dorsal pancreatic artery, and is extremely rare, with an incidence of <4%. Aneurysms of the AOB are even more uncommon, and such cases have been reported in association with stenosis or occlusion of the celiac trunk. Open surgical aneurysmectomy, with or without reconstruction, is the conventional treatment for such aneurysms. However, rapid advances in interventional radiology have enabled the safe and effective treatment of visceral aneurysms via transcatheter arterial embolization. Based on the current findings, we believe that transcatheter arterial embolization is a minimally invasive and valuable method that may serve as an initial treatment option for aneurysms of the AOB.

Transcatheter arterial embolization of anomalous systemic arterial supply to the basal segment of the lung.

We describe the case of a 67-year-old woman with an anomalous systemic arterial supply to the basal segment of the lung, which was managed successfully by transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with microcoils. Her chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed diffuse ground-glass opacity in the left lower lobe, no bronchial abnormalities, and blood supply from an anomalous artery originating from the descending thoracic aorta, with drainage to the normal pulmonary vein. We successfully performed TAE under balloon occlusion of the anomalous artery, without complications. TAE is a minimally invasive, safe, and valuable method, and could be used as first-line treatment in such cases.