Clinical, Functional, and Quality-of-Life Outcomes after Computer Assisted Vacuum Thrombectomy for Pulmonary Embolism: Interim Analysis of the STRIKE-PE Study.

PURPOSE: To report the first interim analysis of the STRIKE-PE study, evaluating the safety and effectiveness of computer assisted vaccum thrombectomy (CAVT) for the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective, international, multicenter study will enroll 600 adult patients with acute PE of ≤14 days and a right ventricle (RV)-to-left ventricle (LV) ratio of ≥0.9 who receive first-line endovascular treatment with CAVT using the Indigo Aspiration System (Penumbra, Alameda, California). Primary endpoints are change in RV/LV ratio and incidence of composite major adverse events (MAEs) within 48 hours. Secondary endpoints include functional and quality-of-life (QoL) assessments. RESULTS: The first 150 consecutive patients were treated with 12F catheter CAVT. Mean age was 61.3 years, 54.7% were men, 94.7% presented with intermediate-risk PE, and 5.3% presented with high-risk PE. Median thrombectomy and procedure times were 33.5 minutes and 70.0 minutes, respectively, resulting in a mean reduction in systolic pulmonary artery pressure of 16.3% (P < .001). Mean RV/LV ratio decreased from 1.39 to 1.01 at 48 hours, a 25.7% reduction (P < .001). Four (2.7%) patients experienced a composite MAE within 48 hours. At 90-day follow-up, patients exhibited statistically significant improvements in the Borg dyspnea scale score and QoL measures, and the New York Heart Association class distribution returned to that reported before the index PE. CONCLUSIONS: Interim results from the STRIKE-PE study demonstrate a significant reduction in pulmonary artery pressure and RV/LV ratio, a median thrombectomy time of 33.5 minutes, a composite MAE rate of 2.7%, and significant improvements in 90-day functional and QoL outcomes.

A Randomized Trial of the Optimum Duration of Acoustic Pulse Thrombolysis Procedure in Acute Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism: The OPTALYSE PE Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the lowest optimal tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) dose and delivery duration using ultrasound-facilitated catheter-directed thrombolysis (USCDT) for the treatment of acute intermediate-risk (submassive) pulmonary embolism. BACKGROUND: Previous trials of USCDT used tPA over 12 to 24 h at doses of 20 to 24 mg for acute pulmonary embolism. METHODS: Hemodynamically stable adults with acute intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism documented by computed tomographic angiography were randomized into this prospective multicenter, parallel-group trial. Patients received treatment with 1 of 4 USCDT regimens. The tPA dose ranged from 4 to 12 mg per lung and infusion duration from 2 to 6 h. The primary efficacy endpoint was reduction in right ventricular-to-left ventricular diameter ratio by computed tomographic angiography. A major secondary endpoint was embolic burden by refined modified Miller score, measured on computed tomographic angiography 48 h after initiation of USCDT. RESULTS: One hundred one patients were randomized, and improvements in right ventricular-to-left ventricular diameter ratio were as follows: arm 1 (4 mg/lung/2 h), 0.40 (24%; p = 0.0001); arm 2 (4 mg/lung/4 h), 0.35 (22.6%; p = 0.0001); arm 3 (6 mg/lung/6 h), 0.42 (26.3%; p = 0.0001); and arm 4 (12 mg/lung/6 h), 0.48 (25.5%; p = 0.0001). Improvement in refined modified Miller score was also seen in all groups. Four patients experienced major bleeding (4%). Of 2 intracranial hemorrhage events, 1 was attributed to tPA delivered by USCDT. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with USCDT using a shorter delivery duration and lower-dose tPA was associated with improved right ventricular function and reduced clot burden compared with baseline. The major bleeding rate was low, but 1 intracranial hemorrhage event due to tPA delivered by USCDT did occur.

A new approach to blood flow simulation in vascular networks.

A proper analysis of blood flow is contingent upon accurate modelling of the branching pattern and vascular geometry of the network of interest. It is challenging to reconstruct the entire vascular network of any organ experimentally, in particular the pulmonary vasculature, because of its very high number of vessels, complexity of the branching pattern and poor accessibility in vivo. The objective of our research is to develop an innovative approach for the reconstruction of the full pulmonary vascular tree from available morphometric data. Our method consists of the use of morphometric data on those parts of the pulmonary vascular tree that are too small to reconstruct by medical imaging methods. This method is a three-step technique that reconstructs the entire pulmonary arterial tree down to the capillary bed. Vessels greater than 2 mm are reconstructed from direct volume and surface analysis using contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Vessels smaller than 2 mm are reconstructed from available morphometric and distensibility data and rearranged by applying Murray's laws. Implementation of morphometric data to reconstruct the branching pattern and applying Murray's laws to every vessel bifurcation simultaneously leads to an accurate vascular tree reconstruction. The reconstruction algorithm generates full arterial tree topography down to the first capillary bifurcation. Geometry of each order of the vascular tree is generated separately to minimize the construction and simulation time. The node-to-node connectivity along with the diameter and length of every vessel segment is established and order numbers, according to the diameter-defined Strahler system, are assigned. In conclusion, the present model provides a morphological foundation for future analysis of blood flow in the pulmonary circulation.

Laparoscopic evaluation of the contralateral groin in pediatric inguinal hernia patients: a comparison of 70- and 120-degree endoscopes.

BACKGROUND: Transinguinal laparoscopic groin evaluation using a 70-degree endoscope can obviate the need for a second incision when attempting to identify a contralateral patent processus vaginalis (PPV) during open repair of a symptomatic pediatric inguinal hernia. This technique can be technically unsatisfactory when a medial veil of peritoneum obscures adequate visualization of the internal inguinal ring. This study compared 70- degree and 120-degree endoscopes in identification of a contralateral PPV in the same patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 2000 to October 2003, 81 patients with known inguinal hernias underwent open hernia repair and transinguinal laparoscopic evaluation of the contralateral side. The patients were 62 male, 19 female; mean age 26 months (range, 1 month-10 years); mean weight 11.7 kg (range, 2-33 kg). There were 53 right side hernias and 28 left side. Mean operative time was 43 minutes. Fifty seven patients (70%) had one or more risk factors for developing a contralateral inguinal hernia (49 were younger than 1 year old and 19 were ex-premature). Nineteen patients underwent concurrent procedures (7 circumcisions, 10 hydrocelectomies, 1 orchidopexy, 1 appendectomy). RESULTS: Using the 70-degree endoscope, a medial veil of peritoneum made visualization of the internal inguinal ring impossible in 14 patients (17%) and difficult in an additional 5 patients (6%). Visualization with the 120-degree endoscope was deemed to be superior in 46 (57%), equal in 35 patients (43%), and inferior in none. Overall, contralateral PPVs were detected in 31 patients (38%) with the 120-degree endoscope and in only 23 patients (28%) with the 70-degree endoscope. Had we used only the 70-degree endoscope, 8 PPVs (10%) would have been missed. None of the negative 120-degree endoscope evaluations have developed symptomatic contralateral inguinal hernias. CONCLUSION: In this trial, transinguinal laparoscopic evaluation using the 120-degree endoscope provided superior visualization and identification of contralateral PPVs. This new technique obviates the need for a separate abdominal wall puncture, reduces missed contralateral PPVs, and should be considered for use during pediatric inguinal hernia repair.

Correlation of Stroke Volume Measurement between Sonosite Portable Echocardiogram and Edwards Flotrac Sensor-Vigileo Monitor in an Intensive Care Unit.

PURPOSE: Stroke volume (SV) is a parameter that is being recognized as an endpoint in fluid resuscitation algorithms. Its role is now being realized as an important variable in hemodynamic assessment in various clinical scenarios such as septic and cardiogenic shocks. Direct measurement of stroke volume (SV) and its novel corollary, stroke volume variation (SVV) derived by proprietary software, are preferred over mean cardiac output (CO) measurements because they render a more accurate reflection of hemodynamic status independent of heart rate. Flotrac-Vigileo monitor (FTV) (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) is a system that uses a complex algorithm analyzing arterial waveform to calculate SV, SVV, and CO. We assessed the feasibility of obtaining SV measurements with a portable echocardiogram and validated its accuracy with the FTV system in mechanically ventilated patients in our intensive care unit (ICU). Furthermore, we emphasized the importance of hemodynamic measurements and familiarity with critical care echocardiography for the intensivists. METHODS: Ten patients who were on mechanical ventilation were studied. A femoral arterial line was connected to the FTV system monitoring SV and CO. A portable echocardiogram (M-Turbo; Sonosite, Bothell, WA) was used to measure SV. CO was calculated by multiplying SV by heart rate. No patient had arrhythmia. We used biplane Simpson's method of discs to calculate SV in which subtraction of end-systolic volume from end-diastolic volume yields the SV. RESULTS: The comparison of simultaneous SV and CO measurements by echocardiography with FTV showed a strong correlation between the 2. (For SV, y = 0.9545x + 3.3, R (2) = 0.98 and for CO, y = 0.9104x + 7.7074, R (2) = 0.97). CONCLUSIONS: In our small cohort, the SV and CO measured by a portable echocardiogram (Sonosite M-Turbo) appears to be closely correlated with their respective values measured by FTV. Portable echocardiography is a reliable noninvasive tool for the hemodynamic assessment of the critically ill. Its results need further validation with gold standard measures in a larger cohort of patients. However, our results suggest portable echocardiography could be an attractive tool in assessment of different hemodynamic scenarios in the critically ill.