Cryoablation for Bone and Soft Tissue Lesions in Pediatric Patients: Complications and Preventive Measures.

PURPOSE: To evaluate complications associated with cryoablation in a pediatric population and review preventive measures to mitigate these complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study including all the image guided cryoablations performed on pediatric population. Immediate and delayed complications were analyzed, and we identified the different protective measures used and the clinical outcomes from follow-up. Point estimates for the percentage of complications were calculated by maximum likelihood, and 95% confidence intervals for the true percentages were calculated using the Clopper-Pearson exact method. RESULTS: Eighty-seven ablations were performed on 68 patients (age range of 2-18 years, mean 12.4 years) for non-neoplastic (70%) and neoplastic (30%) lesions. The percentage of ablations resulting in complications was 18% (95% confidence interval (CI) 11% to 28%). Of these, 5% (95% CI 1% to 11%) were grade 3 complications, and 14% (95% CI 7% to 23%) were grade 2 complications. Thermal protection was performed in 27.6% of ablations (n = 24). The mean clinical follow-up duration was 348 days. CONCLUSION: Cryoablation in pediatric patients is relatively safe, with a major complication rate per ablation of 5%. Thermal protective measures can be considered to mitigate these complications.

Renal cell carcinoma presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding: A case report.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is increasing in incidence as more cross sectional imaging is performed with approximately 20%-30% of cases presenting with metastasis at the time of diagnosis. Small bowel metastatic disease is rare, with RCC to the small bowel being exceptionally rare. We present a case report of metastatic RCC that initially presented as upper gastrointestinal bleeding at time of diagnosis. We also provide a brief discussion of small bowel metastatic RCC disease and literature review.

Cerebrospinal fluid leak in epidural venous malformations and blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical manifestations of blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) and multifocal venous malformation (MVM) vary depending on the location of the lesions. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of developing CSF leaks in patients with epidural venous malformations (VMs). METHODS: The authors retrospectively investigated the relationship between the development of a CSF leak and the presence of epidural VMs. RESULTS: Nine patients (5 females) had epidural VMs and presentation that was confirmatory or suggestive of a CSF leak: 4 had BRBNS, 4 had MVMs, and 1 had a solitary VM. Of 66 patients with BRBNS, clinical and imaging features of CSF leak were noted in 3 (4.5%) with epidural VMs at the age of 11-44 years. A fourth patient had suggestive symptoms without imaging confirmation. An epidural blood patch was ineffective in 2 patients, both with more than one source of leakage, requiring surgical repair or decompression. Symptomatic downward displacement of the cerebellar tonsils was noted in 3 patients with MVM and 1 with a solitary VM; 3 required surgical decompression. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest an increased risk of CSF leak in patients with epidural VM, including BRBNS, MVMs, and solitary VMs. Awareness of the association between epidural VM and CSF leakage may facilitate earlier diagnosis and therapeutic intervention.

The Use of an Inflatable Adhesive External Compression Device for Maintenance of Hemostasis following Angiography in Children.

PURPOSE: To assess the safety and efficacy of the posthemostasis use of an inflatable adhesive external compression device (SafeGuard) following angiography in children performed under general anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of 74 children (43 females) with a mean age of 8.9 years (range, 0.4-18.0 years) and mean weight of 44.0 kg (range, 7.3-115.7 kg) in whom an inflatable adhesive external compression device was used for maintaining hemostasis following angiography under general anesthesia were retrospectively reviewed. After establishing hemostasis with manual compression, the device was applied and inflated over the arteriotomy. The patients were assessed for access-related adverse events in the recovery unit and during postprocedural follow-up. RESULTS: The inflatable adhesive external compression device was utilized to maintain hemostasis following 181 angiography procedures. The mean length of the procedure was 396 minutes. The common femoral artery (n = 170, 93.9%) was the most common access, using 4-5-F vascular sheath (n = 118, 65.2%) or 3-5-F sheathless (n = 8, 12.7%) catheters. The mean time to deflation was 93 minutes. There were no adverse events other than minor bleeding from the arteriotomy after deflation (n = 2, 1.1%) and early deflation of the device because of pain (n = 1, <1%). Follow-up ultrasonography (n = 109 procedures, 60.2% at a mean follow-up of 2.2 years) demonstrated patency of the access artery. CONCLUSIONS: The use of an inflatable adhesive external compression device following angiography in children to maintain hemostasis during the emergence phase of anesthesia and recovery period is safe and effective. The use of this simple device may reduce the need for postprocedural sedation and facilitate early discharge.

Devices and Techniques for Percutaneous Creation of Dialysis Arteriovenous Fistulas.

Dialysis treatment for chronic kidney disease was first developed by Dr. Willem Kolff in 1943, and its availability began to grow in 1962 after which it has become a mainstay treatment for patients with chronic kidney disease. It is estimated that, in 2021, 15% of adults in the United States (∼37 million people) have chronic kidney disease, of which 661,000 individuals have renal failure, and 468,000 individuals require dialysis. There have been several advancements in dialysis treatment since its advent, most notably the creation of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) for venous access in 1966. In recent years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved two new devices for AVF creation using a percutaneous approach. These are the WavelinQ (Becton Dickinson, New Jersey) and the Ellipsys (Avenu Medical, California) endovascular AVF (endoAVF) devices that use radiofrequency and thermal technologies, respectively, to create the AVF. Since the introduction of these technologies, several studies have shown that they are safe and effective, with favorable durability and low rate of serious adverse events. In this article, we will discuss these two devices and the techniques used for percutaneous creation of dialysis AVF as an alternative to traditional open surgical techniques.

The use of the internal mammary vein for central venous access.

PURPOSE: To describe the use of the internal mammary vein as an alternative access for central venous catheters. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent placement of central venous catheters via the internal mammary vein. Patient demographics, indication for venous access, technical success, catheter type, dwell time and indication for exchange or removal were recorded. RESULTS: Placement of central venous catheters via the internal mammary vein was attempted in 11 patients including 8 children (4 males, mean age 5.7 years) and 3 adults. The most common indication was parenteral nutrition in patients with intestinal failure (7/11). Initial needle access of the vein was successful in all patients. Catheter placement was successful in 9 and unsuccessful in 2 patients due to occlusion of the superior vena cava. There were no immediate complications. A total of 20 catheters of various sizes (3-14.5 French) and lengths (8-23 cm) were either placed (n = 12) or exchanged (n = 8). The most common indications for catheter exchange were poor function and malposition (7/8). Four catheters were removed for infection and 4 were accidentally removed. The mean dwell time was 141 days (range 0-963 days) per catheter for a total of 2829 catheter days. The total mean dwell time per patient, including primarily placed and exchanged catheters, was 314 days (range 5-963 days). CONCLUSIONS: The internal mammary vein may provide a safe alternative route for patients who have lost their traditional access veins.