Ultrasound surveillance for deep venous thrombosis and subsequent venous thromboembolism in adults with trauma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown routine ultrasound surveillance (RUSS) will facilitate deep vein thrombosis (DVT) detection in patients with trauma and reduce the subsequent incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE); however, the findings were inconsistent. In adults with trauma at a high risk of venous thromboembolism, this systematic review and meta-analysis compared RUSS outcomes with those of "no RUSS." METHODS: Three databases were screened for relevant articles from inception to October 18, 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing RUSS with no RUSS were included. We used relative risks (RRs), odds ratios (ORs), and mean differences to pool effect estimates for dichotomous and continuous outcomes. The cochrane risk of bias or the risk of bias in non-randomized studies of interventions were used to assess bias risk. The grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation framework assessed the certainty of the evidence. FINDINGS: Out of 1685 articles, 5 met the inclusion criteria (RCT: 1; observational studies: 4). Observational studies suggested RUSS is associated with higher odds of DVT detection (OR, 4.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.13-7.57; very low certainty). Whereas higher risks of DVT were associated with RUSS in the RCT (distal DVT: RR, 15.48; 95% CI, 7.62-31.48; low certainty, and proximal DVT: RR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.04-5.39; very low certainty). Reduced odds of PE risk were observed with the RUSS (OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.24-0.91; very low certainty). Observational studies indicated that RUSS had an uncertain effect on mortality (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.06-3.49). In the RCT, times to proximal and distal DVT diagnoses were shorter with RUSS (proximal DVT, mean difference 2.25 days shorter [95% CI, 5.74-1.24]; distal DVT, mean differences 1.56 days shorter [95% CI, 4.22-1.12]; very low certainty for both). Increasing bleeding risk was not linked to the RUSS group (RR, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.31-4.92). INTERPRETATION: The RUSS efficacy in adults with trauma at high risk for venous thromboembolism showed that it increases DVT detection, decreases PE incidence, and shortens the time to DVT diagnosis, with an uncertain impact on mortality. The evidence is low or very low in certainty because of bias, inconsistency, imprecision, and indirectness.

Prophylactic Inferior Vena Cava Filters for Venous Thromboembolism in Adults With Trauma: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Trauma is an independent risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Due to contraindications or delay in starting pharmacological prophylaxis among trauma patients with a high risk of bleeding, the inferior vena cava (IVC) filter has been utilized as alternative prevention for pulmonary embolism (PE). Albeit, its clinical efficacy has remained uncertain. Therefore, we performed an updated systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness and safety of prophylactic IVC filters in severely injured patients. Methods: Three databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane) were searched from August 1, 2012, to October 27, 2021. Independent reviewers performed data extraction and quality assessment. Relative risk (RR) at 95% confidence interval (CI) pooled in a randomized meta-analysis. A parallel clinical practice guideline committee assessed the certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach. The outcomes of interest included VTE, PE, deep venous thrombosis, mortality, and IVC filter complications. Results: We included 10 controlled studies (47 140 patients), of which 3 studies (310 patients) were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 7 were observational studies (46 830 patients). IVC filters demonstrated no significant reduction in PE and fatal PE (RR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.06-1.28 and RR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.01-7.84, respectively) by pooling RCTs with low certainty. However, it demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of PE and fatal PE (RR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.12-0.55 and RR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.011-0.81, respectively) by pooling observational studies with very low certainty. IVC filter did not improve mortality in both RCTs and observational studies (RR, 1.44; 95% CI, 0.86-2.43 and RR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.3-1.31, respectively). Conclusion: In trauma patients, moderate risk reduction of PE and fatal PE was demonstrated among observational data but not RCTs. The desirable effect is not robust to outweigh the undesirable effects associated with IVC filter complications. Current evidence suggests against routinely using prophylactic IVC filters.

Procedural Software Toolkit in the Armamentarium of Interventional Therapies: A Review of Additive Usefulness and Current Evidence.

Interventional radiology is a fast-paced specialty that uses many advanced and emerging technological solutions. Several procedural hardware and software products are available commercially. Image-guided procedural software helps save time and effort in interventionist practice and adds precision to the intraoperative decisions made by the end user. Interventional radiologists, including interventional oncologists, have access to a wide range of commercially available procedural software that can be integrated into their workflow. However, the resources and real-world evidence related to such software are limited. Thus, we performed a detailed review of the current resources available, such as software-related publications, vendors' multimedia materials (e.g., user guides), and each software's functions and features, to compile a resource for interventional therapies. We also reviewed previous studies that have verified the use of such software in angiographic suites. Procedural software products will continue to increase in number and usage; these will likely be advanced further with deep learning, artificial intelligence, and new add-ins. Therefore, classifying procedural product software can improve our understanding of these entities. This review significantly contributes to the existing literature because it highlights the lack of studies on procedural product software.

Posterior fossa extra-axial variations of medulloblastoma: a pictorial review as a primer for radiologists.

Manifestations of an atypical variant of medulloblastoma of the posterior fossa in extra-axial locations have been reported, and key questions concerning its interpretation have been raised previously. This review illustrated the clinico-radiological and histopathological features of the posterior fossa extra-axial medulloblastoma and described possible management strategies. We thoroughly reviewed all atypical anatomical locations of medulloblastoma reported within the posterior fossa and extra-axial spaces. The main characteristics of diagnostic imaging and histopathological results, primarily the distinctive radiopathological characteristics, were summarized to distinguish between intra- and extra-axial medulloblastoma, or pathologies mimicking this tumor. Most cases of posterior fossa extra-axial medulloblastoma have been reported in the cerebellopontine angle, followed by the tentorial and lateral cerebellar locations. The dural tail sign, which is commonly observed in meningioma, is rarely seen in intra- or extra-axial medulloblastoma and might be associated with other benign or malignant lesions. In addition to magnetic resonance imaging, the proposed new imaging techniques, including advances in modern neuroimaging modalities, were discussed, as potentially efficient modalities for characterizing extra-axial medulloblastoma. Radionuclide imaging and magnetic resonance perfusion imaging are practical alternatives to limit the number of differential diagnoses. We believe that medulloblastoma cases are likely under-reported because of publication bias and frequent tumors in unusual locations. Addressing these issues would help establish a more accurate understanding of this entity.

Rates of cerebrospinal fluid infection and the causative organisms following shunt procedures in Saudi Arabia. A retrospective study based on radiological findings.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the incidence of infection following various cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt procedures among patients with hydrocephalus and related conditions, based on the age of the patient, and to determine the types of pathogens responsible for shunt infections. Methods: This retrospective single center study reviewed the records of patients with culture-confirmed CSF shunt infection diagnosed between January 2012 and December 2017. Cases without central nervous system imaging investigations were excluded. Results: The incidence rate of shunt-related infections was 32.2%. Among the 189 patients whose records were included, Staphylococcus epidermidis (47.5%) and Acinetobacter baumannii (18%) were the most common causative organisms. The incidence of postoperative infection was higher among those who underwent external ventricular drain procedures (65%) than among those who underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt procedures (24%). There were no intraoperative deaths. However, the postoperative death rate was 12.2% during hospital stay (mean duration = 9 days); 2% of these deaths occurred after shunt removal. Conclusion: The incidence of infections after CSF shunt procedures was high in our tertiary academic hospital during the study period, compared to those reported in similar clinical settings and before developing a detailed standardized protocol for infection control. Although gram-negative organisms were the most prevalent cause of CSF infections, S. epidermidis (a gram-positive organism) was the most commonly encountered causative agent. Shunt protocols should be implemented to address perioperative shortcomings and to reduce overall mortality and morbidity.

Retroperitoneal cystic masses: magnetic resonance imaging features.

The objective of this review is to discuss the clinical and histopathologic features, MRI characteristics, and management options of retroperitoneal cystic masses. Radiologists should be familiar with the MR imaging characteristics of retroperitoneal cystic masses to allow for a refined differential diagnosis, assist with lesion management, and prevent unnecessary invasive procedures.