Splenic Arterial Embolization for Trauma and Beyond: A Case Series.

Splenic artery embolization plays an important role in the management of various medical and surgical conditions that are non-traumatic in etiology, in addition to its well-established and widely discussed role in managing splenic trauma. In nontraumatic emergencies of catastrophic bleeding originating from the spleen or splenic artery, splenic artery embolization can be effective in achieving hemostasis as a definitive management, temporary stabilizing measure, or preoperative optimization technique. In addition to emergency clinical conditions, splenic artery embolization can be performed electively as an alternative to splenectomy for managing patients with hypersplenism. Herein, we report 6 cases of splenic artery embolization performed at our center to highlight its various indications. This article aims to demonstrate the role of splenic artery embolization in different clinical scenarios and the considerations behind the techniques employed through illustrative cases.

Endovascular Management of Hepatic Artery Pseudoaneurysms: A Case Series.

Although rare, hepatic artery aneurysms are associated with a high morbidity and mortality, necessitating a prompt diagnosis. A significant proportion of hepatic artery aneurysms are pseudoaneurysms, and the major risk factors of which have already been identified in previous literatures. Presentation can be variable, but diagnosis almost relies entirely on computed tomography and digital subtraction angiography. The endovascular approach has progressively become the preferred option due to its better performance when compared to the traditional surgical approach. However, formulation of an endovascular treatment plan for these lesions remains difficult as multiple factors should be considered to identify the best endovascular treatment modality. Five cases of pseudoaneurysm due to recent Whipple operation, hepatobiliary infections, and underlying malignancy are presented in this article to illustrate the effectiveness and complexity of endovascular treatment in this disease entity.

A rare case of gouty arthropathy in the spine complicated with acute cord compression.

Gout is one of the most common inflammatory arthropathies in the developed world. However, involvement of the spine is relatively rare, and other sinister differential diagnoses will need to be considered. We describe an unusual case of gouty tophi deposition within the spine in an elderly patient presenting with signs and symptoms of acute cord compression. Important differential diagnoses that need to be excluded include bony metastases from underlying malignancy and other infective/inflammatory causes. Early recognition of imaging findings can avoid delayed or inappropriate medical treatment.