Three-dimensional MDCT angiography of splanchnic arteries: pearls and pitfalls.

Fast scanning along with high resolution of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) have expanded the role of non-invasive imaging of splanchnic arteries. Advancements in both MDCT scanner technology and three-dimensional (3D) imaging software provide a unique opportunity for non-invasive investigation of splanchnic arteries. Although standard axial computed tomography (CT) images allow identification of splanchnic arteries, visualization of small or distal branches is often limited. Similarly, a comprehensive assessment of the complex anatomy of splanchnic arteries is often beyond the reach of axial images. However, the submillimeter collimation that can be achieved with MDCT scanners now allows the acquisition of true isotropic data so that a high spatial resolution is now maintained in any imaging plane and in 3D mode. This ability to visualize the complex network of splanchnic arteries using 3D rendering and multiplanar reconstruction is of major importance for an optimal analysis in many situations. The purpose of this review is to discuss and illustrate the role of 3D MDCT angiography in the detection and assessment of abnormalities of splanchnic arteries as well as the limitations of the different reconstruction techniques.

Efficacy of coronary sinus cardioplegia in patients with complete coronary artery occlusions.

Myocardial areas distal to complete coronary artery occlusions are poorly protected by antegrade cardioplegia. We assessed the effects of coronary sinus cardioplegia in 30 patients undergoing bypass operations and at high risk of cardioplegic maldistribution because of the following anatomical patterns of coronary artery disease: critical (greater than or equal to 50%) stenosis of the left main trunk with total occlusion of the right coronary artery (16 patients) or critical (greater than or equal to 70%) stenosis of the right coronary artery with total occlusion of the left anterior descending (11 patients) or circumflex artery (3 patients). After induction of arrest through the aorta, coronary sinus cardioplegia was given intermittently during the cross-clamp period at a flow rate of 100 mL/min. Intraoperatively, occluded arteries were consistently found to be filled with the retrogradely infused solution. One patient died early postoperatively of low cardiac output and a second patient died later during his hospital stay, presumably of an arrhythmia. At autopsy, none of them had pathological evidence of inadequate myocardial protection. One patient sustained a myocardial infarction and 3 others required inotropes for more than 24 hours postoperatively. Postoperative values for right and left stroke volume indices were not significantly different from prebypass levels. Overall, these results are consistent with the occurrence of limited intraoperative ischemic damage and, by inference, suggest the efficacy of the coronary sinus route in preserving myocardial areas supplied by completely occluded coronary arteries and, hence, in jeopardy of inadequate cardioplegia delivery.

Retrograde warm blood cardioplegia preserves hypertrophied myocardium: a clinical study.

The ability of retrograde warm blood cardioplegia to preserve hypertrophied myocardium remains controversial. This two-part study was undertaken to address this question in patients subjected to aortic valve replacement for calcified aortic valve stenosis complicated with echocardiographically defined left ventricular hypertrophy. Part 1 was designed to assess the intraoperative patterns of myocardial oxidative metabolism in 20 patients in whom the severity of left ventricular hypertrophy was reflected by a mean (+/- standard error of the mean) myocardial mass index of 213 +/- 15 g/m2. After antegrade arrest, warm blood cardioplegia was continuously given through the coronary sinus at a flow rate of 200 +/- 5 mL/min. The use of a low-dilution cardioplegia delivery technique enabled us to keep hematocrit at 25.6% +/- 0.9% and the core temperature was allowed to drift to 32.7 +/- 0.2 degrees C. At the end of the arrest period, blood samples were simultaneously taken from inflow (coronary sinus catheter) and outflow (left coronary ostium) cardioplegia and assayed for blood gases, oxygen content and saturation and lactate. Part II was designed to compare the clinical outcomes of these 20 warm patients with those of 20 case-matched patients in whom a conventional hypothermic myocardial protection technique was used. The results of part I show that after an average arrest period of 72 +/- 4 minutes, the residual oxygen demand was still high as reflected by a percent oxygen extraction of 34.8% +/- 4.1%. This demand, however, was adequately met by the supply, as demonstrated by (1) the absence of transmyocardial acid production, (2) a negligible release (outflow minus inflow) of lactate (0.28 +/- 0.1 mmol/L), and (3) a high residual oxygen saturation (65.7% +/- 3.8%) in outflow cardioplegia. The results of part II show that the clinical outcomes of warm patients were overall good and not different from those of the cold group. We conclude that retrograde warm blood cardioplegia can adequately preserve hypertrophied myocardium by keeping its metabolism predominantly aerobic during aortic cross-clamping provided that measures are taken to optimize the determinants of the oxygen demand/supply ratio throughout. These measures include avoidance of left ventricular distention, immediate ablation of any recurring activity during arrest, maintenance of high retrograde flow rates, limitation of hemodilution, and uninterrupted mode of cardioplegia delivery.

Limitation of vasodilation associated with warm heart operation by a "mini-cardioplegia" delivery technique.

Peripheral vasodilation is commonly seen during and after warm heart operations and can become of clinical concern when it requires vasopressors because some of these drugs adversely affect coronary artery bypass graft flows. As hemodilution lowers systemic vascular resistance, we assessed whether peripheral vasodilation could be limited by a drastic reduction of the volume of infused cardioplegia. Fifty patients underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting procedures using normothermic (35 degrees to 37 degrees C) bypass and normothermic continuous retrograde blood cardioplegia. They were divided into two equal groups: in group 1, blood was diluted 4:1 with hyperkalemic crystalloid cardioplegia, whereas in group 2, the cardioplegic "solution" was limited to the sole arresting agents that were concentrated in a small volume (16 mEq potassium chloride and 3 mEq magnesium chloride in a 20-mL ampoule). This "mini-cardioplegia" was continuously added to arterial blood so as to keep the heart arrested. The average volume of cardioplegia per patient was 1,000 mL in group 1 and 58 mL in group 2 (p < 0.0001). The mini-cardioplegia technique resulted in a reduced incidence of perioperative systemic vasodilation: group 2 patients required significantly less vasopressors (p < 0.05) and less volume loading, as reflected by significantly lower right atrial and pulmonary capillary wedge pressures (p < 0.05 and p < 0.03 at 12 hours postoperatively, respectively), compared with group 1 patients who received traditional high-volume cardioplegia. There were no differences between the two groups with respect to myocardial recovery, as assessed by standard clinical and hemodynamic end points.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pregnancy after embolization of uterine myoma: report of 12 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To treat uterine myomas with embolization, to look for pregnancy-induced myoma recurrences, and to assess pregnancy course and outcome after embolization. DESIGN: Observational clinical study. SETTING: University of Paris VII hospital. PATIENT(S): Nine women had embolization for symptomatic myoma, with 12 pregnancies observed. INTERVENTION(S): Embolizations were highly selective and performed bilaterally through the uterine arteries with polyvinyl alcohol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Pregnant women were evaluated by physical and sonographic examinations. RESULT(S): Before embolization, the mean uterine volume was 450 cm(3), and in six patients polymyomas were present. The median age at embolization was 40 years; the median delay before pregnancy was 9 months; and the median age at first pregnancy outcome was 41 years. Five early miscarriages occurred. The seven other pregnancies were uneventful, although three premature births and one case of late toxemia occurred unrelated to previous embolization. Three women delivered vaginally and four by cesarean section. Neither myoma recurrence nor abnormality in uterine function was observed. CONCLUSION(S): The results of this first series of 12 pregnancies after myoma embolization are promising. If these preliminary results are confirmed, embolization could be a major breakthrough in the management of myoma and could replace conventional medical and surgical treatments.

Whole-body (201)Tl scintigraphy can detect exercise lower limb perfusion abnormalities in asymptomatic diabetic patients with normal Doppler pressure indices.

Significant lower limb arterial obstruction is usually detected by Doppler ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) measurement. However, ABPI is non-contributory in cases of diabetic medial sclerosis or calcifications and is unsuitable for the detection of small vessel involvement. Thallium-201, a perfusion agent, is frequently used for the investigation of coronary artery disease, and whole-body (201)Tl scintigraphy (WBS) has also been reported to be useful in the assessment of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Thus, we evaluated the clinical feasibility of simultaneous myocardial and lower limb perfusion assessment. WBS was performed after treadmill exercise and myocardial scintigraphy, and again 4 h later. Calf (201)Tl fractional activities (percentage of whole-body (201)Tl uptake) were calculated. We determined a threshold value of normal post-exercise calf (201)Tl uptake (mean of the (201)Tl fractional uptakes minus 2 SD) in a control group of nine healthy volunteers. We checked its accuracy in a pilot group of 25 diabetic patients with proven PAD. This method permitted the detection of lower limb perfusion abnormalities in 38% of 47 asymptomatic diabetic patients with no evidence of PAD. In conclusion, for asymptomatic diabetic patients, whole-body (201)Tl scintigraphy after a treadmill test seems an efficient method of showing lower limb perfusion abnormalities not detected by ABPI measurement. It allows the evaluation of vascular status with no additional inconvenience for patients when performed after myocardial scintigraphy.

New report of severe coronary artery disease in an eighteen-year-old girl with pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Case report and review of the literature.

An eighteen-year-old woman with pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) suffered from mild angina pectoris over a ten-year period. Severe triple-vessel disease with mild left ventricular dysfunction was demonstrated on angiography. No revascularization was feasible. Despite a reported high frequency of angina pectoris among patients with PXE, only 10 convincing reports have appeared in the literature. Careful coronary artery evaluation is required in young patients with PXE, even though asymptomatic, because coronary artery disease (CAD) seems to be frequent and because no precise feature can be distinguished between types with or without severe vascular disease. Through very rare reports, surgical revascularization appears feasible and beneficial in a less severe form of CAD in patients with PXE. The risk of premature and severe diffuse CAD in PXE does not seem to be explained only by the combination of increased Lp [a] (or any other risk factor) and PXE.

[Early constrictive pericarditis after coronary revascularization. Apropos of a case]. / Péricardite constrictive précoce après revascularisation coronaire. A propos d'un cas.

The authors report a case of severe constrictive pericarditis occurring 6 weeks after coronary bypass surgery and in the absence of any other predisposing factor. The diagnosis was confirmed by CT scan and cardiac catheterisation which showed signs of a diastole. The patient died despite early surgical reoperation because of the severity of the pericardial fibrosis.

[Uterine fibroids. Embolization: state-of-the-art]. / Les fibromes utérins. Embolisation: pratiques actuelles.

Uterine artery embolization is a radiological procedure consisting in occluding the perifibroid arterial plexus to induce fibroid ischemia. To date, with more than 50,000 women treated worldwide, embolization seems to be a valuable alternative to hysterectomy and multiple myomectomies particularly in women with severe menorrhagia. Embolization should ideally be performed in case of intramural or submucosal uterine fibroids. It must be preferrably realized in case of multiple fibroids, be they intramural or submucosal (when hysteroscopic resection is not feasible). Complication rates are low if large calibrated microspheres are used to perform embolization and if pedunculated subserosal fibroids are excluded. In case of associated adenomyosis clinical recurrence seems more frequent. The role of embolization as an alternative to a single myomectomy, particularly in young women desiring future pregnancy remains a matter of debate and should be evaluated with clinical randomized trials. Pluridisciplinary management of women is the key to a widespread acceptance of uterine artery embolization in the management of uterine fibroids.

[Uterine artery embolization: anatomical and technical considerations, indications, results, and complications]. / Embolisation Utérine. Anatomie, technique, indications, résultats et complications.

The first reported use of transcatheter arterial embolization in the management of intractable bleeding related to pelvic trauma appeared in the literature in 1973. Other indications for pelvic embolization in women include postoperative and postpartum hemorrhage and bleeding related to gynecologic malignancy. Recently, the use of uterine artery embolization in the management of symptomatic leiomyoma has been reported as an alternative to surgery. The widespread acceptance of this procedure necessitates greater knowledge of the arterial anatomy of the female genital tract. In this paper, main arterial variations in uterine vascularization and procedure-relevant technical considerations will be discussed. Indications, results and potential complications of uterine artery embolization will be listed and explained.

[Management of severe post-partum hemorrhage using selective arterial embolization]. / Prise en charge des hémorragies graves du post-partum par embolisation artérielle sélective.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of uterine embolization in the management of intractable post-partum hemorrhage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 1994 to December 1997, 51 patients with severe primary (n = 37) or secondary (n = 14) post-partum hemorrhage were treated by arterial uterine embolization. In all cases, hemostatic uterine embolization was performed because of persistent hemorrhage despite adapted obstetrical measures and early introduction of uterotonic drugs. RESULTS: In case of immediate post-partum hemorrhage, primary and secondary success rates were 89% et 97% respectively. In one patient with placenta accreta, delayed hysterectomy was necessary. One patient died of associated cerebral hemorrhage while vaginal bleeding had stopped. The success rate reached 100% in case of secondary post-partum hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Emergency arterial embolization is a safe and effective means of controlling severe post-partum hemorrhage after failure with medical treatment.

[Role of angioplasty in the treatment of arteritis of the lower limbs]. / Place de l'angioplastie dans le traitement de l'artérite des membres inférieurs.

During the last ten years, the role of angioplasty in the management of peripheral vascular disease has considerably increased. Angioplasty requires a specific radiological equipment and qualified radiologist trained to this technics. The results depend mainly on the clinical, indication of angioplasty, on the importance and site of the lesion. The different reports give more or less the same rates of patency for stenosis or short occlusions: 80% for iliac arteries and 60% for femoral arteries within 3 years. The clinical benefit of angioplasty also depends the development of new atherosclerotic lesions. The new technics (laser, endoprosthesis) seems to be interesting for the prevention of restenosis. Their real place is still to be defined. The diversity of treatments for peripheral vascular diseases makes the collaboration of cardiologist, surgeon and interventional radiologist necessary for their management.

Ovarian artery: angiographic appearance, embolization and relevance to uterine fibroid embolization.

PURPOSE: To describe the angiographic appearance of the ovarian artery and its main variations that may be relevant to uterine fibroid embolization. METHODS: The flush aortograms of 294 women who had been treated by uterine artery embolization for fibroids were reviewed. Significant arterial supply to the fibroid, and the origin and diameter of identified ovarian arteries were recorded. In patients with additional embolization of the ovarian artery, the follow-up evaluation also included hormonal levels and Doppler imaging of the ovaries. RESULTS: A total of 75 ovarian arteries were identified in 59 women (bilaterally in 16 women and unilaterally in 43 women). All ovarian arteries originated from the aorta below the level of the renal arteries with a characteristic tortuous course. Fifteen women had at least one enlarged ovarian artery supplying the fibroids. Fourteen women (14/15, 93%) presented at least one of the following factors: prior pelvic surgery, tubo-ovarian pathology or large fundal fibroids. CONCLUSION: We advocate the use of flush aortography in women with prior tubo-ovarian pathology or surgery or in cases of large fundal fibroids. In the case of an ovarian artery supply to the fibroids, superselective catheterization and embolization of the ovarian artery should be considered.

Selective arterial embolization of the uterine arteries in the management of intractable post-partum hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of selective arterial embolization in the management of intractable post-partum hemorrhage. METHODS: Thirty-five consecutive women with severe post-partum hemorrhage (primary, n=25; secondary, n=10) were treated by selective embolization of the uterine arteries. The main cause of immediate post-partum hemorrhage was atonic uterus. Retained placental fragments with endometritis was the main cause of delayed hemorrhage. In all cases, hemostatic embolization was performed because of intractable hemorrhage. Hysterectomy had been performed in two cases before embolization but it had also failed to stop the bleeding. RESULTS: Angiography revealed extravasation in ten cases, spasm of the internal iliac artery in four cases, false aneurysm in two cases and arteriovenous fistula in one case. After embolization, immediate cessation or dramatic diminution of bleeding was observed in all cases. Two patients required repeated embolization the following day. No major complication related to embolization was found. In one patient with placenta accreta, delayed hysterectomy was necessary. Normal menstruation resumed in all women but two who had hysterectomy. One woman became pregnant after embolization. CONCLUSION: Selective emergency arterial embolization is an effective means of controlling severe post-partum hemorrhage. This procedure avoids high risk surgery and maintains reproductive ability.

Improvement of digital coronary angiography: high resolution processing coupled with a real time functional synchronization procedure.

The use of Digital Subtraction Angiography in coronary applications is restricted by the difficulty in: 1. Obtaining a good resolution of the distal branches. 2. Avoiding, for the purpose of subtraction, the motion artifacts induced by artery and background displacement during the cardiac and respiratory cycles. 3. Preserving the dynamic vascular motion. 4. And storing the digital dynamic information on a permanent support. We used for this study an angiography system, based upon a high resolution 45 MIPS-32 Mbyte image processor, interfaced with a 2.75 Gbyte Winchester drive allowing the real time storage of either 30 frames/s in the 512*512*8 bits matrix or of 7.5 f/s in the 1024*1024*8 bits matrix. To preserve the most important dynamic informations on the basis of the 7.5 f/s maximal storage rate, we developed a synchronization device able to recognize in real time, from chronologic delays derived by using both ECG and Aortic Pressure curves, the functional End-Diastolic (ED) and the End-Systolic (ES) positions, even in the case of heart rates varying during the procedure. The ED and the ES images are stored together with the Mid-Systolic (MS), the 1/3-Diastolic (1/3D) and 2/3-Diastolic (2/3D) images. To establish the validity of this sampling method, which uses a reduced number of frames per cardiac cycle, 7200 coronary injections performed during 450 routine coronary angiographies were compared by two independent observers (A and B), using: first a Digital (D) 5 frames/cycle sequence, and secondly a cine Film (F) 50 frames/s sequence acquired immediately after the corresponding D injection. The D technique resulted in the best image and diagnostic quality, particularly when the F quality was estimated 'fair' or 'poor' by both observers, and in an important reduction on X-Ray doses. The visualisation of the sequential ED, MS, ES, 1/3D and 2/3D frames gives the possibility: 1. of saving the dynamic information, as a regular sample of functional images can be displayed with a cine loop technique. 2. of facilitating cardiac synchronized subtractions. 3. of reducing the amount of frames per cycle, thus allowing an important reduction of X-ray doses and the digital and permanent storage of the most important cardiac cycles.

Can grafted cardiomyocytes colonize peri-infarct myocardial areas?

BACKGROUND: Cell transplantation is emerging as a potential means of improving repair of damaged organs. This preliminary study tests the feasibility of grafting allogenic cells into the border zone of a myocardial infarct (MI). METHODS AND RESULTS: Neonatal cardiomyocytes were obtained from fetuses of female rats 20 days pregnant. They were then injected at three different sites (2 x 10(6) cells per site) into the left ventricular (LV) myocardium of control rats (n = 10) or of rats in which MI had been created by proximal occlusion of the left coronary artery (n = 10). In the latter case, injections were placed along the peri-infarct border zone. Half of each batch of cells was grown in culture to provide a control for cell morphology and viability. Six additional rats were injected with the culture medium alone. Forty-eight hours after injection, LV slices were processed for histological (hematoxylin-eosin) and immunohistological (sarcomeric alpha-actinin transplantation and laminin staining) techniques. Examination of serial sections from injected regions showed that grafted myocytes were harbored into the host LV myocardium in all control animals and at the border zone in 50% of the infarcted rats. Grafted cells were identified by their morphological characteristics and an immunohistological pattern of loose myofibrillar organization similar to that seen in cells concomitantly grown in culture. Injection of the culture medium alone had no effect but allowed us to rule out needle-related injury. CONCLUSIONS: These initial results suggest the feasibility of transplanting allogeneic cardiomyocytes into the border zone of MI areas, a prerequisite for this approach to successfully improve the function of ischemically damaged hearts.

Uterine arteries: bilateral catheterization with a single femoral approach and a single 5-F catheter--technical note.

In 197 patients, uterine embolization with a single femoral approach and a single 5-F cobra catheter was successful in 362 of 394 (92%) uterine arteries. In six patients (12 arteries), distal embolization with a coaxial 3-F microcatheter was safer. In 10 patients with a life-threatening condition, embolization was performed at the anterior division of both internal iliac arteries. Bilateral selective embolization of the uterine arteries can be performed with a single catheter.