Angiographic Detection of Utero-Ovarian Anastomosis and Influence on Ovarian Function After Uterine Artery Embolization.

PURPOSE: To assess the detectability and frequency of the different types of utero-ovarian anastomosis, the correlation between type of anastomosis and ovarian failure after UAE, as well as the impact of coiling as a strategy for the prevention of ovarian failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied a population of 92 women treated with uterine artery embolization at our institution between 2007 and 2017. Utero-ovarian anastomoses were categorized on angiographic sequences by two radiologists based on the classification published by Razavi et al. (Radiology 224(3):707-712, 2002), and Cohen's kappa was calculated. Ovarian failure was defined as an increase in serum FSH above 27 mIU/ml three months after embolization. RESULTS: Out of a total of 184 anastomoses, 27% were classified as type Ia, 45% as type Ib, 1% as type II and 24% as type III. Three percent of anastomoses could not be determined. There was very good inter-observer reliability on the classification of utero-ovarian anastomoses (κ = 0.847). Ovarian failure occurred in six out of 92 women (7%). Each had at least one type Ib (n = 4) or type III (n = 1) anastomosis, with the exception of one patient in whom the type of anastomosis could not be determined. All women presenting with ovarian failure were 45 years of age or older. No patient with protective coiling developed ovarian failure. CONCLUSION: Utero-ovarian anastomoses are more common than previously expected and can be reliably classified with very good inter-observer reliability. Patients with type Ib and type III anastomoses carry the risk of ovarian failure after uterine artery embolization. Protective coiling seems to be an adequate strategy for avoiding ovarian failure in those types of anastomoses.

Alternative crossing technique for iliaco-femoro-popliteal CTOs with a catheter only.

BACKGROUND: The standard approach for crossing peripheral CTOs is to use a combination of hydrophilic guidewires and catheters. The path is either intraluminally or in most cases at least partially subintimal. This standard approach with a guidewire-tip as leading point ("wire first") to cross CTOs has a success rate of about 80%. We hypothesize that a "catheter first" approach, using the catheter alone for the entire recanalization till re-entering the vessel is less traumatic and might lead to a longer intraluminal recanalization due to a softer leading point. Based on this assumption we analyzed the success and duration of this approach with a gradual step-up approach from catheter tip to guidewire front-end to guidewire back-end. To the best of our knowledge, no studies measuring the time of recanalization of lower extremity CTOs using conventional devices were published yet. RESULTS: Data of 46 consecutive chronic total iliaco-femoro-popliteal occlusions in 43 symptomatic patients treated by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty were collected prospectively between May 1st 2014 and June 30th 2016 and evaluated retrospectively. Chronic occlusion was defined as clinical symptoms or imaging features lasting more than 1 month. Patient age and gender, diabetes status, localization of occlusion, occlusion length, duration of symptoms, severity of vessel calcification, and recanalization time were assessed. Technical success was defined as placement of a catheter beyond the distal end of the lesion into the true lumen, confirmed by contrast injection. All 46 CTOs were successfully recanalized. In 22 cases (47.8%) recanalization was successful with the catheter tip only without the use of a guide wire. In 17 cases (36.9%) the guide wire was used in addition to the catheter. Localization of occlusion did not have an effect on the recanalization technique (p = 0.915). The mean rank for length of occlusion was not significant for different recanalization techniques (p = 0.095). The success rate for the catheter only approach was lower for higher grades of calcification (p = 0.008). There was no correlation between time of recanalization and length of occlusion (Pearson's r = 0.004; adjusted R square = - 0.024; p = 0.980), diabetes (p = 1.000), sex (p = 0.244), or grade of calcification (p = 0.621). Recanalization time is significantly right-skewed with most recanalizations being successful under 30 min. CONCLUSION: This "catheter first" approach is somewhat contradictory to the prevailing dogma of "wire first". The concept to use the catheter to start a recanalization is well known, but to perform the entire recanalization including the re-entry seems possible and potentially less traumatic, likely leading to a longer intraluminal course. Our data shows that recanalization of occluded lower extremity arteries between the aortic bifurcation and the popliteal artery can be achieved in the majority of cases (84.7%) solely by using an angled angiographic catheter +/- glide wire. We suggest a "5 min - 15 min - 30 min" rule on how long to attempt each recanalization technique. More precisely, we suggest trying 5 min with the catheter alone, then 10 min with the soft end of the guidewire and then switching to the stiffer back-end of the guidewire for another 15 min.

Does Sagittal Spinopelvic Configuration Influence Vertebral Fracture Type or Localization in Trauma Patients?: A Retrospective Radiologic Analysis.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective data analysis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze correlations between spinopelvic configuration and fracture pattern or location in traumatic vertebral fractures. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The spinopelvic configuration represented by the pelvic incidence (PI) angle showed to have a strong correlation with the occurrence of degenerative diseases of the thoracolumbar spine. No data are available on whether there is an influence of the PI angle on traumatic vertebral lesions as well. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a consecutive series of patients sustaining traumatic vertebral fractures, we retrospectively analyzed spinopelvic computed tomography data sets of 197 patients (121 male and 76 female patients; mean age, 51 years). Measurements included the PI angle, level of fracture(s), and fracture type according to the AO classification. Statistical analysis was performed to calculate correlation between PI and fracture level and between PI and fracture type. RESULTS: An average of 1.6 fractures per patient was found in the 197 individuals included in our study. PI angle showed a mean of 50.6 degrees for the left hip and a mean of 49.9 degrees for the right hip. There were no significant differences of the PI angle between male and female patients as well. Neither a significant effect of the PI angle on the vertebral fracture level (P=0.64) nor a significant relationship between the PI angle and the fracture type according to the AO classification (P=0.52) was found. CONCLUSIONS: The spinopelvic configuration represented by PI angle seems to influence neither the level nor the type of vertebral fractures in trauma patients.