Percutaneous Closure of Gastrostomy Using a Suture-Mediated Vascular Closure Device in a Swine Model.

PURPOSE: After any procedure through the percutaneous gastrostomy (PG), a PG tube should be kept in place until a mature tract develops. For this period of maturation which takes about 2 to 4 weeks, tube dislodgement, leakage, or peritonitis can occur. Complications from PG tube maintenance can be prevented by closing the PG immediately after the procedure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of immediate PG closure using Perclose ProGlide. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 2-week survival study was performed in a swine model. We applied one Perclose ProGlide device for closing a 13-Fr PG (n = 3) and two devices for closing a 20-Fr PG (n = 3). Body weight, temperature and laboratory findings were observed. Autopsy and microscopic examination were performed after 2 weeks. RESULTS: All the swine subjects did not demonstrate any sign of systemic inflammatory responses in terms of fever and laboratory findings. From autopsy results, five pigs showed complete healing of the PG. One pig that underwent 20-Fr gastrostomy site closure with double Perclose ProGlide had scanty semitransparent fluid in the peritoneal cavity but that was not indicative of inflammation. En bloc tissue samples from all the pigs demonstrated complete wound healing of the PG sites. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous application of single or double Perclose ProGlide devices is feasible and safe for the PG closure in a swine model. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: No level of evidence, Animal study.

The application of a vascular closure device for closing a gastrostomy opening used for procedural access.

OBJECTIVE: To study the feasibility of applying the Perclose ProGlide vascular closure device (PPVCD) in vitro for closing a gastrostomy opening for procedural access in the swine stomach in order to prevent peritoneal leakage. METHODS: The study included four experimental groups: one manual suture (n = 10), two manual sutures (n = 10), one PPVCD suture (n = 10), and two PPVCD sutures (n = 5). In the two PPVCD sutures group, the "pre-close" technique was used. The leak pressure was measured, and statistical analysis was conducted to compare the leak pressures among the experimental groups. RESULTS: The gastrostomy openings were successfully closed in all experimental groups. The median (range) values of leak pressure (mmHg) for each experimental group were as follows: one manual suture, 86.0 (75.0-110.0); two manual sutures, 98.5 (44.0-130.0); one PPVCD suture, 96.5 (56.0-119.0); and two PPVCD sutures, 98.0 (66.0-104.0). The Mann-Whitney U test revealed no statistically significant difference in leak pressure between the manual (n = 20) and PPVCD (n = 15) suture groups. The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed no statistically significant difference in leak pressure among the four experimental groups. The Bonferroni post hoc test also revealed no statistically significant difference in the pairwise comparisons among the groups. CONCLUSION: Application of PPVCD is feasible for the closure of gastrostomy openings in an animal model and is as effective as a manual suture. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: In our in vitro study, percutaneous closure of gastrostomy opening using PPVCD was possible; animal survival studies and development of specific devices are needed before clinical application.

Effect of catheter diameter on left innominate vein in breast cancer patients after totally implantable venous access port placement.

PURPOSE:: To evaluate the effect of catheter diameter on left innominate vein stenosis in breast cancer patients after placement of totally implantable venous access ports. MATERIALS AND METHODS:: Totally implantable venous access ports were placed via the left internal jugular vein in 241 women with right breast cancer from January 2010 to December 2014 (mean age, 51.5 years; range, 19-83 years). There were 67 totally implantable venous access ports with a 6.5F catheter and 142 totally implantable venous access ports with an 8F catheter. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed. The presence of significant left innominate vein stenosis and tip location of the catheter was evaluated on chest computed tomography images. Statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS:: Left innominate vein stenosis developed in 1 (1.5%) and 13 (9.2%) patients after implantation with 6.5 and 8F catheters, respectively. Difference in the cumulative incidence of left innominate vein stenosis was statistically significant between the two groups (log rank test p-value: 0.002). In Cox regression analysis, the hazard ratio for left innominate vein stenosis was 20.766 ( p = 0.005) for an 8F catheter. CONCLUSION:: The incidence of left innominate vein stenosis was higher after implantation of totally implantable venous access ports with 8F catheter rather than with 6.5F catheter. Considering that using 8F catheter versus 6.5F catheter has no advantage in terms of performance of the device, the results of our study suggest that ports with catheters >7F should be avoided.

Laparoscopic Repair of a Vesicosigmoid Fistula Secondary to Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP).

Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) is a safe and effective treatment option for benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, in some cases, it can lead to life-threatening complications. In particular, morcellation of the resected adenoma may be a very dangerous procedure when performed without clear visualization. We describe the first reported case of a vesicosigmoid fistula secondary to a morcellation injury during HoLEP.

Arterial dissections during transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: a 19-year clinical experience at a single medical institution.

Background Arterial dissections during transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) procedures are not rare and can limit the successful treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Purpose To evaluate the incidence of arterial dissections during TACE procedures, the rate of spontaneous lumen recovery, and the predictive factors of dissecting stenosis during follow-up. Material and Methods Based on 69,651 TACE procedures from 1997 to 2016, patients who had procedure-related arterial dissections were identified by procedure report search. More than two months after the date of dissection, dissecting stenosis was evaluated using a three-grade scale: subclinical narrowing with diameter loss under 30%, overt stenosis with diameter loss over 30%, and occlusion. Pearson Chi-square and two-sample t-test were used to assess potential prognostic markers for dissecting stenosis. Results Eighty-four arterial dissections directly related to TACE were identified in 83 patients, resulting in an incidence of 0.12% (84/69651). After more than two months, normal or subclinical narrowing, overt stenosis, occlusion, and doubling were seen in 39 (46.4%), 26 (31.0%), 13 (15.5%), and one (1.2%) patients, respectively. No follow-up images were obtained for five (6.0%) patients. On univariate analysis, the dissection ratio (the ratio of the length to the diameter of the dissection) alone was related to dissecting stenosis ( P = 0.035). Conclusion The incidence of iatrogenic dissection during TACE was approximately 0.12%. Less than 50% of the iatrogenic dissections showed normal or subclinical narrowing during follow-up of at least two months. The dissection ratio alone was the predictive factor for dissecting stenosis during follow-up.

Effectiveness of breast fixation to reduce migration of the tip of a totally implantable venous access port in women.

PURPOSE: To evaluate effectiveness of breast fixation to reduce migration of the catheter tip of a totally implantable venous access port (TIVP) in women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TIVPs were placed in 129 women via the right axillary vein from July 2012 to December 2014, with a final study population of 118 patients (mean age, 55.3 ± 13.8 years; range, 21-91 years). The patients were divided into two groups according to breast fixation during TIVP placement. A total of 56 patients received TIVP placement without breast fixation (Group 1); the remaining 62 received TIVP placement in the supine position after fixation of the ipsilateral breast on the abdominal wall in the sitting position (Group 2). Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for age, weight, height, body mass index, and underlying malignancy. We evaluated the difference in distance ratios between the port chamber and the catheter tip on supine chest and erect chest radiographs, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test. RESULTS: Differences in all parameters between Group 1 and Group 2 were not statistically significant. Mean distance ratio between the port chamber and the catheter tip was 1.95 ± 0.97 in Group 1 and 1.33 ± 0.59 in Group 2. Differences in distance ratios between the port chamber and the catheter tip were statistically significant between Group 1 and Group 2 (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Breast fixation seems to be effective in reducing migration of the port chamber and catheter tip with position changes in female patients during TIVP placement.

Community-based intervention to promote breast cancer awareness and screening: the Korean experience.

BACKGROUND: There are many differences in culture, community identity, community participation, and ownership between communities in Western and Asian countries; thus, it is difficult to adopt the results of community intervention studies from Western countries. In this study, we conducted a multicity, multicomponent community intervention trial to correct breast cancer myths and promote screening mammography for women living in an urban community in Korea. METHODS: A 6-month, 2-city community intervention trial was conducted. In the intervention city, 480 women were surveyed at baseline and 7 months later to evaluate the effects of the intervention program. Strategies implemented in the intervention city included community outreach and clinic and pharmacy-based in-reach strategies. RESULTS: This study showed a 20.4-percentage-point decrease in myths about the link between cancer and breast size, a 19.2-percentage-point decrease in myths concerning mammography costs, and a 14.1-percentage-point increase in intention to undergo screening mammography. We also saw a 23.4-percentage-point increase in the proportion of women at the action stage of the transtheoretical model in the intervention city. In the comparison city, smaller decreases and increases were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed the value of an intervention study aimed at reducing belief in breast cancer myths in an urban community in Korea. The invention also made women more likely to undergo mammography in future.