Greenfield filter caval perforation causing an aortic mural thrombus and femoral artery occlusion.

A 32-year-old woman suffered a right femoral artery embolic occlusion from an abdominal aortic mural thrombus associated with caval perforation by a stainless steel Greenfield Filter. The complication required thrombolytic therapy, surgical revascularization, and long-term anticoagulation.

A prospective, parallel, double-blind comparison of iodixanol and iohexol in extremity phlebography.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: A two-center, prospective, double-blind study was conducted to compare the performance parameters (efficacy, safety, and injection-associated discomfort) of iohexol with those of the new, isosmolar contrast medium iodixanol in extremity phlebography. METHODS: Ninety-nine patients from two centers, for whom venography was clinically indicated, were blindly randomized into two groups, iohexol at 300 mg I/ml (IOH 300) or iodixanol at 270 mg I/ml (IOD-270). Patient vital signs and reports of adverse events were recorded for a minimum of 1 hr and monitored until the outcome was known. Any discomfort associated with the injection was also recorded. Laboratory measures included urinalysis, creatinine levels in serum and blood urea nitrogen. RESULTS: Both contrast media provided good or excellent visualization in nearly all patients (100% of patients in the IOD-270 group and 96% in the IOH-300 group). The incidence of adverse reactions was low in both groups (8.5% in the IOD-270 group and 10% in the IOH-300 group). Injection associated discomfort lasting less than 4 min occurred in nine patients, four in the IOD-270 group and five in the IOH-300 group. Although clinically relevant changes in vital signs occurred in more than half the patients, most were judged to be anxiety related. Review of laboratory data revealed no evidence of toxicity for either agent. There was no statistically significant difference between the two agents with regard to any of these observed parameters. CONCLUSION: The data support the conclusion that both IOD-270 and IOH-300 are safe and effective agents when used for adult phlebography and are associated with little injection-site discomfort.

Comparison of two warfarin regimens in the prevention of venous thrombosis following total knee replacement.

A prospective, randomized trial was conducted to compare the effectiveness and safety of warfarin given in two regimens in prevention of venous thrombosis after total knee replacement. Adult patients scheduled for primary or revision total knee replacement were randomly assigned to receive either a "two-step" warfarin regimen beginning 10-14 days pre-operatively or, alternatively, to begin warfarin the night before surgery. Post-operatively, the dose was adjusted in both groups to achieve a target International Normalized Ratio (INR) of 2.2 and prophylaxis was continued until venography on post-operative days five through nine. Bleeding was assessed by surgical blood loss, transfusion requirements, changes in hematocrit, and clinically identified bleeding complications. The occurrence of deep vein thrombosis was nearly the same in the two treatment groups, 39% in patients randomized to the two-step regimen as compared to 38% in those beginning the night before surgery. The occurrence of proximal vein thrombosis was also similar, 5% versus 7% (p = NS). Patients in the two-step group received 1.33 +/- 1.26 transfusions compared to 0.95 +/- 1.22 in the night before group (p < 0.05) and also had a lower nadir post-operative hematocrit of 26.7 +/- 3.1 as compared to 28.5 +/- 3.2 (p < 0.0001). Major bleeding complications were associated with excessively prolonged INRs and occurred in five patients in the two-step group and two in the night before group. Patients in both groups who developed thrombosis had a significantly lower INR on post-operative days two and three compared to those without thrombosis. We conclude that a prophylactic warfarin regimen for prevention of deep vein thrombosis after total knee replacement beginning the night before surgery is more convenient and may be associated with less bleeding than a regimen beginning warfarin 10-14 days pre-operatively. Careful control of anticoagulant intensity is needed to achieve maximum effectiveness and avoidance of bleeding complications.

Detection of skeletal metastases in Nigerian breast cancer patients: evaluation of radioisotope bone scan and radiography.

38 Nigerian patients with stage III breast cancer who presented with bone pain to the Department of Radiation Biology and Radiotherapy, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos between 1977 and 1984 were screened for bone metastases using skeletal survey and radio-isotope bone scan. A comparison of the results revealed that there was correlation in the results of both investigations in 36.8% of patients. In the remaining 63.3% there was a significant uptake of radio-isotope on bone scan while corresponding skeletal survey radiographs were negative. However every patient with known metastases on skeletal survey also had an abnormal bone scan. Possible explanations are given for the rather large proportion of our patients who had abnormal bone scan but normal radiographs.

Preliminary assessment of captopril sonography in screening for renal artery stenosis.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: We assessed the usefulness of the resistive index (RI) and renal length in predicting a significant renal artery stenosis (RAS) and evaluated the effect of captopril on the RI in kidneys with and without a significant RAS. METHODS: The RIs and renal lengths of both kidneys were measured in 39 patients who were referred for captopril renography for suspected renovascular hypertension. The difference in RIs (delta RI), the smaller RI (SRI), the difference in lengths (delta L), and the shorter length (SL) of the patient's two kidneys were determined. The accuracy of each of these parameters was calculated using captopril renography (n = 39) and arteriography (n = 9) as the gold standards. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the delta RI (P < .05), SRI (p < .001), and delta L (p < .05) in patients with a positive captopril renogram for a significant RAS. Captopril increased delta RI (p = .052) in patients with a positive captopril renogram (n = 6). Use of an SRI threshold of less than .55 resulted in ultrasound being as accurate as captopril renography in predicting an angiographically documented stenosis of greater than or equal to 50%. CONCLUSION: The RI and renal length are useful in detecting a significant RAS. In this preliminary study, captopril was shown to increase delta RI in patients with a significant RAS, but larger prospective studies are necessary to further assess the value of captopril sonography in detecting a significant RAS.

Evaluation of the renal arteries in kidney donors: value of three-dimensional phase-contrast MR angiography with maximum-intensity-projection or surface rendering.

OBJECTIVE: Donors routinely undergo preoperative conventional arteriography to evaluate the renal arteries before nephrectomy. The purpose of this study was to assess the capability of three-dimensional phase-contrast MR angiograms postprocessed with maximum-intensity-projection and surface-rendering techniques to show the renal arteries of potential donors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Postprocessed three-dimensional phase-contrast MR angiograms of 17 patients were retrospectively reviewed by two experienced radiologists for the number and length of renal arteries visualized. Conventional arteriograms were used as the reference standard. Coronal maximum-intensity-projection and surface-rendered MR angiograms were also compared with each other with regard to the delineation of renal arteries from overlapping vessels. RESULTS: MR angiograms showed all 34 single or dominant renal arteries but only eight of 10 accessory arteries seen on conventional arteriograms. One of the nonvisualized accessory arteries was located within the imaged volume, and the other one arose from the distal aorta beyond the imaged regions. Five of six arterial branches arising from the proximal 30-mm portions of the renal arteries were seen on MR angiograms. Postprocessing with either maximum-intensity projection or surface-rendering showed the same number of renal arteries, although surface rendering separated overlapping veins from the renal arteries better than the maximum-intensity-projection technique. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that three-dimensional MR angiography is a reliable method of imaging single or dominant renal arteries, but not for showing all accessory renal arteries and small arterial branches. Surface rendering may provide specific advantages over maximum-intensity-projection in delineating renal arteries from overlapping vessels.

Acute peripheral arterial occlusion: predictors of success in catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy.

PURPOSE: To determine predictors of clot dissolution in patients undergoing catheter-directed urokinase thrombolysis for peripheral arterial occlusion (PAO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 103 patients with limb-threatening symptoms of embolism lasting 14 days or less and resulting from embolism (n = 20) or thrombosis (n = 83). Successful lysis was defined as restitution of antegrade flow with less than 20% diameter reduction by residual thrombus. Stepwise logistic regression was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Relevant clinical variables were diabetic status (odds ratio, 0.75; P = .04 for diabetic patients), conduit type (1.25; P = .04 for native artery and 1.51; P = .02 for prosthetic graft), and number of arterial segments involved (1.60; P = .02 for one level and 1.42; P = .03 for two levels). Important procedural variables included intrathrombus positioning of catheter ports (odds ratio, 7.40; P = .001) and guide wire passage through the occlusion (3.10; P = .003). Absolute thrombus volume was nonpredictive but correlated with reperfusion time (P = .02) and infusion time (P = .01). CONCLUSION: Predictive parameters may help in the selection of candidates with PAO for thrombolytic therapy.

A comparison of thrombolytic therapy with operative revascularization in the initial treatment of acute peripheral arterial ischemia.

PURPOSE: Despite the widespread use of intraarterial thrombolytic therapy for peripheral arterial occlusive disease, a randomized study comparing its efficacy with that of operative intervention has never been performed. This study evaluates the potential of intraarterial urokinase infusion to provide clinical benefits in patients with acute peripheral arterial occlusion. METHODS: Patients with limb-threatening ischemia of less than 7 days' duration were randomly assigned to intraarterial catheter-directed urokinase therapy or operative intervention. Anatomic lesions unmasked by thrombolysis were treated with balloon dilation or operation. The primary end points of the study were limb salvage and survival. RESULTS: A total of 57 patients were randomized to the thrombolytic therapy group, and 57 patients were randomized to the operative therapy group. Thrombolytic therapy resulted in dissolution of the occluding thrombus in 40 (70%) patients. Although the cumulative limb salvage rate was similar in the two treatment groups (82% at 12 months), the cumulative survival rate was significantly improved in patients randomized to the thrombolysis group (84% vs 58% at 12 months, p = 0.01). The mortality differences seemed to be primarily attributable to an increased frequency of in-hospital cardiopulmonary complications in the operative treatment group (49% vs 16%, p = 0.001). The benefits of thrombolysis were achieved without significant differences in the duration of hospitalization (median 11 days) and with only modest increases in hospital cost in the thrombolytic treatment arm (median $15,672 vs $12,253, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Intraarterial thrombolytic therapy was associated with a reduction in the incidence of in-hospital cardiopulmonary complications and a corresponding increase in patient survival rates. These benefits were achieved without an appreciable increase in the duration of hospitalization and with only modest increases in hospital cost, suggesting that thrombolytic therapy may offer a safe and effective alternative to operation in the initial treatment of patients diagnosed with acute limb-threatening peripheral arterial occlusion.

Thorotrast-induced ruptured hepatic angiosarcoma.

The use of Thorotrast as a contrast medium is now of historical interest. Thorotrast-induced angiosarcoma, though rare, still generates considerable clinical interest because of the characteristic opacification of the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes, and the long latency period between exposure and the onset of the tumor. We present a case of hepatic angiosarcoma which developed 37 years after the administration of Thorotrast.

Comparison of warfarin and external pneumatic compression in prevention of venous thrombosis after total hip replacement.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness and safety of warfarin and external pneumatic compression (EPC) in prevention of venous thrombosis after total hip replacement. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized trial in consecutive patients, with blinded assessment of the primary end point. SETTING: University medical center and large community hospital. PATIENTS: Patients over age 18 years scheduled for elective primary total hip replacement were eligible. Of 254 patients interviewed, 232 were randomized, 220 patients had surgery and received prophylaxis, and 201 had venography. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to prophylaxis with a device providing bilateral sequential EPC to both the calf and thigh or to receive warfarin in a low-intensity regimen beginning 10 to 14 days preoperatively. Prophylaxis was continued until venography. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Venous thrombosis was diagnosed by venography between postoperative days 6 and 8. Bleeding was assessed by surgical blood loss, transfusion requirements, changes in hematocrit, and clinically identified bleeding complications. RESULTS: The total incidence of venous thrombosis was virtually the same in the warfarin and EPC groups (31% vs 27%), but the distribution of thrombi was different. Proximal thrombosis occurred in 12% of patients in the EPC group compared with only 3% in the warfarin group (P = .012, 95% confidence interval for difference, 2% to 18%). In contrast, calf vein thrombosis was more frequent in the warfarin group (21%) than in the EPC group (12%) (P = .021, 95% confidence interval for difference, 0% to 18%). Most proximal thrombi in EPC-treated patients were located within 15 cm of the femoral head and were not continuous with thrombi in deep calf veins. The high incidence of proximal thrombosis in the EPC group resulted in termination of the study by the safety monitoring committee. Blood loss and bleeding complications were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Warfarin therapy is significantly more effective than EPC in preventing serious proximal vein thrombosis after total hip replacement. The greater effectiveness of warfarin therapy in preventing proximal vein thrombi and of EPC in preventing thrombosis in the calf suggests that there are differences in the pathogenesis of thrombosis in these two locations.

Erosion of portal vein catheter into the biliary system.

Transcatheter intraportal infusion of chemotherapy in a patient with metastatic liver disease resulted in erosion of the tip of the catheter into the biliary system within six months of its placement. This unusual complication adds to the disadvantages of direct portal administration of chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of hepatic tumors.

Abdominal aortic dissection with retrograde extension into the thoracic aorta: case report.

A case of spontaneous dissection originating in the infrarenal abdominal aorta with retrograde extension into the thoracic aorta is reported along with the computed tomography and angiographic findings. Surgical repair resulted in the obliteration of the false lumen, healing of the thoracic hematoma, and clinical recovery. The principles for radiologic evaluation and therapeutic management are discussed.

Adrenal cortical carcinoma with hepatic metastasis: preoperative radiological evaluation.

Preoperative evaluation of a patient with adrenal carcinoma and hepatic metastases was performed by arteriography, computed tomography (CT) and computed tomographic arteriography (CTA). Early and complete demonstration of tumor involvement by these imaging modalities allowed an accurate assessment of tumor extension and subsequent aggressive surgical removal of the primary as well as the metastasis in the liver.

Mycotic aneurysms of the aorta: radiologic features.

Four patients with a total of six mycotic aneurysms of the aorta were examined with computed tomography (CT) after intravenous contrast material enhancement, and with abdominal or thoracic aortography. In the three patients with mycotic aneurysms involving the abdominal aorta, CT scans showed a vascular paraaortic structure without calcified walls adjacent to a nondilated aorta, and a large non-contrast-enhanced retroperitoneal mass representing inflammatory tissue and blood from a contained aortic rupture. A CT scan of one aneurysm of the thoracic aorta demonstrated an enhanced saccular mass originating from the aorta without paraspinal component. In three of four patients, the CT findings were corroborated by aortographic evidence of an eccentric aneurysmal sac in an atypical location for atheromatous disease. In four patients with clinical manifestations suggesting mycotic aneurysm of the aorta, a combination of CT and angiographic imaging provided accurate diagnostic information for planning adequate and early surgical treatment.

Paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma in adolescents.

Paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare tumour which occurs mostly in children and adolescents. Unlike other paratesticular sarcomas, it is associated with a much poorer prognosis. Therefore a multidisciplinary approach in the management of this condition is advocated in an effort to improve the results of treatment. In this paper we report the first 2 cases managed at this hospital.