Penile artery shunt syndrome: a novel cause of erectile dysfunction after penile revascularization surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Penile revascularization is a surgical treatment option for erectile dysfunction (ED) in healthy individuals due to a focal arterial occlusion in the absence of generalized vascular disease. Most described failures have been attributed to graft stenosis or disruption of the anastomosis. AIM: We report a novel phenomenon called Penile Artery Shunt Syndrome that contributed to persistent ED in a patient after penile microvascular arterial bypass surgery. METHODS: A 26-year-old man presented for evaluation of long-standing ED, which was attributed to trauma sustained 12 years earlier. He had difficulty obtaining and maintaining erections despite oral pharmacotherapy. Clinical data related to the case were studied, analyzed, and reviewed with urologic and radiologic specialists at multiple centers that collaborated in the care of this patient. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Penile duplex ultrasound peak systolic velocities and five-item International Index for Erectile Function questionnaire scores were the main outcome measures. RESULTS: Initial diagnostic workup of the patient confirmed severe insufficiency of the left cavernosal artery, with no evidence of venous leak. The patient underwent penile microvascular arterial bypass surgery with anastomosis of the left inferior epigastric artery to the left dorsal penile artery. The patient had persistence of severe ED despite patent anastomosis by penile duplex ultrasound. Subsequent arteriography revealed an arterial shunt due to an aberrant obturator artery arising from the donor inferior epigastric artery. The patient underwent embolization of the aberrant obturator artery, with resolution of the shunt and marked improvement in erectile function. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of an aberrant obturator artery arising from the inferior epigastric artery may predispose to persistent ED after revascularization due to the creation of a shunt phenomenon. Pelvic arteriography may be useful in identifying anomalous anatomic considerations prior to penile revascularization and to evaluate patients with persistent postoperative ED.

Interventional Radiological Treatment of Orthotopic Heart Transplant Complications.

Orthotopic heart transplantation is a life-saving procedure that has substantially improved the lives of countless patients since its inception. However, there are several procedure-related complications that require prompt management. Interventional radiology, with its ever expanding toolkit, is a cornerstone of the multidisciplinary team following post-cardiac transplant patients. Percutaneous, endovascular therapy provides minimally invasive, safe, and effective treatments for immediate and delayed cardiac transplant complications and this paper serves to highlight the various management options interventional radiology can provide for orthotopic heart transplantation complications.

Predictors of endobronchial forceps utilization for inferior vena cava filter retrieval: when snare retrieval fails.

BACKGROUND: Endobronchial forceps are commonly used for complex IVC filter removal and after initial attempts at IVC filter retrieval with a snare have failed. Currently, there are no clear guidelines to help distinguish cases where primary removal should be attempted with standard snare technique or whether attempts at removal should directly be started with forceps. This study is aimed to identify clinical and imaging predictors of snare failure which necessitate conversion to endobronchial forceps. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 543 patients who underwent IVC filter retrievals were performed at three large quaternary care centers from Jan 2015 to Jan 2022. Patient demographics and IVC filter characteristics on cross-sectional images (degree of tilt, hook embedment, and strut penetration, etc.) were reviewed. Binary multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors of IVC filter retrieval where snare retrieval would fail. RESULTS: Thirty seven percent of the patients (n = 203) necessitated utilization of endobronchial forceps. IVC filter hook embedment (OR:4.55; 95%CI: 1.74-11.87; p = 0.002) and strut penetration (OR: 56.46; 95% CI 20.2-157.7; p = 0.001) were predictors of snare failure. In contrast, total dwell time, BMI, and degree of filter tilt were not associated with snare failure. Intraprocedural conversion from snare to endobronchial forceps was significantly associated with increased contrast volume, radiation dose, and total procedure times (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: IVC filter hook embedment and strut penetration were predictors of snare retrieval failure. Intraprocedural conversion from snare to endobronchial forceps increased contrast volume, radiation dose, and total procedure time. When either hook embedment or strut penetration is present on pre-procedural cross-sectional images, IVC filter retrieval should be initiated using endobronchial forceps. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3, large multicenter retrospective cohort.

Safety and efficacy of inferior vena cava filter retrieval: a 5-year single center retrospective review from a tertiary care center.

BACKGROUND: Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter retrieval is typically accomplished with standard snare technique. When this fails, more advanced techniques are necessary, especially when removal falls outside a 12-month window. Complications during filter retrieval depend heavily on technique, type of filter, and filter position. In this study we examined safety and efficacy of 536 filter retrievals at a tertiary care center and compared complication rates between standard snare and endobronchial forcep retrieval. METHOD: We reviewed 536 cases between August 2015 and August 2020, recording retrieval success rates, patient comorbidities, and complication rates at the time of removal. RESULTS: Total overall retrieval success was 97.9% (525/536), and complications occurred in approximately 6.0% (32/536) of all cases. Success and complications with standard snare technique alone were 99.4% (345/347) and 1.7% (5 Grade I/II, 1 Grade III) and advanced forcep technique 98.8% (171/173) and 14.5% (22 Grade I/II, 2 Grade III, and 1 Grade IV), respectively. There was no significant difference between the technical success rates of the standard snare technique and forceps techniques (p = 0.60) despite a significantly longer dwell time in patients undergoing forceps retrieval (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the largest cohort of forceps directed IVC filter retrieval present in the literature. Rates of successful endobronchial forceps and standard snare retrievals in this study are similar to previous reports. Although use of endobronchial forceps may be associated with higher complication rates, this is likely due to prolonged dwell times, filter tilt, and attempted removal of non retrievable filters. Overall, forceps-directed retrieval offers a safe, effective means of removal in difficult cases. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3, Large Retrospective Study.

A Congenital High Flow Arteriovenous Malformation of the Bladder Presenting With Polypoid Cystitis and Ureteral Obstruction.

A 21-year-old male with a history of Down's syndrome presented with hematuria and right flank pain. Computed Tomography (CT) of the abdomen/pelvis revealed right hydronephrosis and a right-sided pelvic vascular abnormality. Angiography revealed an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) fed by the right superior and inferior vesical arteries and nephrostogram showed a long segment of obstructed distal right ureter. Cystoscopy revealed erythema and edema of the right hemi-bladder and biopsy diagnosed polypoid cystitis. Treatment was performed by transarterial embolization with ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer. Follow up cystoscopy and retrograde pyelography at 3 months post-procedure showed resolution of all visible pathology.

Treatment of type II endoleaks with ethylene-vinyl-alcohol copolymer (Onyx).

We report our single-center experience in treating 101 type II endoleaks with ethylene-vinyl-alcohol copolymer (EVOH, Onyx). In all, 65 endoleaks were embolized transarterially, and 36 were treated through a translumbar approach. Since the first transarterial embolization, when we began attempts to treat all patients initially via common femoral access, 58 (65.9%) of 88 patients were successfully embolized transarterially. All endoleaks in the translumbar group were successfully treated. At a median follow-up length of 15 weeks, a decrease or stabilization in aneurysm size was observed in 39 (73.6%) of the 53 endoleaks that had adequate follow-up computed tomography imaging. The overall residual endoleak rate was 34.0%. There was no difference in efficacy when comparing transarterial and translumbar approaches. We demonstrate that in most cases, transarterial access of the endoleak nidus is feasible, and controlled embolization is possible using EVOH. Furthermore, EVOH appears effective in long-term stabilization of aneurysm size and in preventing residual endoleaks.