Nitroprusside Combined with Leg Raise at the Time of Right Heart Catheterization to Differentiate Precapillary from Other Hemodynamic Forms of Pulmonary Hypertension: A Single-Center Pilot Study.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) can arise from several distinct disease processes, with a percentage presenting with combined pre- and postcapillary pulmonary hypertension (cpcPH). Patients with cpcPH are unsuitable candidates for PH-directed therapies due to elevated pulmonary capillary wedge pressures (PCWPs); however, the PCWP is dynamic and is affected by both preload and afterload. Many patients that are diagnosed with cpcPH are hypertensive at the time of right heart catheterization which has the potential to increase the PCWP and, therefore, mimic a more postcapillary-predominant phenotype. In this small pilot study, we examine the effect of nitroprusside combined with dynamic preload augmentation with a passive leg raise maneuver in hypertensive cpcPH patients at the time of right heart catheterization to identify a more precapillary-dominant PH phenotype. Patients that met the criteria of PCWP ≤ 15 mmHg with nitroprusside infusion and PCWP ≤ 18 mmHg with nitroprusside infusion and simultaneous leg raise were started on pulmonary vascular-targeted therapy. Long-term PH therapy was well tolerated, with increased six-minute walk distance, improved WHO functional class, decreased NT-proBNP, and improved REVEAL 2.0 Lite Risk Score in this precapillary-dominant PH phenotype. This small study highlights the importance of characterizing patient physiology beyond resting conditions at the time of right heart catheterization.

Uretero-Arterio-Enteric Fistula Formation and Stent Thrombosis After Endovascular Treatment of Ureteroarterial Fistula: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Background: Ureteroarterial fistulas (UAFs) are rare life-threatening complications of indwelling ureteral stents. Endovascular repair of these fistulas is now commonly used but the long-term outcomes are unknown. Case Presentation: We present a 51-year-old African American female with history of cervical cancer status after a hysterectomy and radiation. She has bilateral ureteral strictures that were managed with chronic, indwelling ureteral stents. She subsequently developed a right UAF and was treated with an endovascular stent to the external iliac artery. After 2 years, she subsequently developed hematuria and hematochezia and was found to have a uretero-arterial-enteric fistula. We performed an exploratory laparotomy and repair of the fistula. The patient was subsequently managed with indwelling nephrostomy tubes and had no further episodes of bleeding. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of uretero-arterial-enteric fistula after endovascular treatment of UAF. Our experience demonstrates the need for a high index of suspicion and close surveillance after treatment for patients with UAF.