Percutaneous retrieval of an embolized Watchman device on a papillary muscle in the left ventricle.

The use of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) devices have gained prominence as an alternative to long-term anticoagulation therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke and high risk of bleeding. While these devices have shown efficacy in reducing stroke risk, there have been reported cases of embolization of the Watchman device. There are very few cases of successful percutaneous retrieval of embolized Watchman devices from the left ventricle (LV), as many of these cases require open heart surgery for safe removal. We are presenting a case of an 80-year-old male whose Watchman device embolized to the LV and was entrapped on the LV papillary muscle that was then successfully retrieved via percutaneous methods, which shows the percutaneous options remain a viable strategy to retrieve LAAO devices from the LV.

Efficacy of Superselective Intra-arterial Recanalization of Embolized Arteries Resulting from Facial Hyaluronic Acid Injection.

BACKGROUND: Arterial embolism is a rare complication caused by hyaluronic acid (HA) injection. However, it is one of the most serious complications. Once it happens, the complication would have a great and long-term impact on patients. Intra-arterial recanalization has been reported for recovering the visual acuity in patients with visual loss caused by hyaluronic acid. There is little report about the benefits of superselective intra-arterial recanalization therapy for skin wounds caused by hyaluronic acid vascular embolization. METHODS: Eight patients who had received the superselective intra-arterial recanalization therapy were retrospectively reviewed. Hyaluronidase was injected into the facial artery by superselective intra-arterial recanalization therapy, followed by symptomatic treatment. The facial artery recanalization was successfully performed and no interventional procedure-related adverse events happened. RESULTS: Arterial embolization accompanies by the interruption or reduction of blood supply, followed by ochrodermia, pain, numbness, swelling, yellowish white secreta and even necrosis on skin wound area. Early detection of skin blood supply disorders and early recovery of blood supply are very critical to treat facial artery embolization caused by HA. After superselective intra-arterial recanalization therapy, the blood supply to facial skin was restored and skin wounds recovered in all patients. Only 1 patient was left with small and superficial scars. CONCLUSION: Superselective intra-arterial recanalization therapy is an effective and safe method that can alleviate skin wounds caused by HA vascular embolization. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Treatment of gastric varices with cyanoacrylate complicated by systemic embolization.

Acute gastric variceal bleeding is a life-threatening condition that could be effectively treated with endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection diluted with lipiodol. The mixture acts as a tissue adhesive that polymerizes when in contact with blood in a gastric varix. This work reports a patient that presented to the emergency department with upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to acute variceal bleeding, who developed systemic embolization following cyanoacrylate injection therapy. This complication culminated in cerebral, splenic and renal infarctions with a fatal outcome. Systemic embolization is a very rare, but the most severe complication associated with endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection and should be considered in patients undergoing this treatment.

Clinical Clues for the Current Diagnosis of Acute Lower Limb Ischemia: A Contemporary Case Series.

BACKGROUND: Acute lower limb ischemia (ALI) is a limb and life-threatening condition whose treatment largely depends on the underlying cause. The clinical distinction between the main causes may have changed over the years because of changes in the epidemiology of this syndrome. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical pattern associated with the main causes of ALI in a contemporary series of cases. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all consecutive ALI cases admitted to a tertiary hospital between 2007 and 2019. ALI secondary to other conditions than embolism or NAT were excluded. The association between clinical variables and the ALI cause was assessed with multiple logistic regressions and the discriminative power of the resulting clinical predictive scores with the area under the ROC curve. RESULTS: The study group included 243 patients (mean age 77.2 years; 52.7% male), of which 140 (57.6%) were caused by an arterial embolism and 103 (42.4%) by a NAT. Among these latter, 78 (75.7%) were related to an atherosclerotic NAT and 25 (24.3%) to a complicated popliteal aneurysm. Independent risk factors associated with embolism included atrial fibrillation (OR 10.26, 95% CI 5.1 - 20.67) or female gender (OR 5.44, 95% CI 2.76 - 10.71), but not the severity of the episode or the presence of contralateral pulses. Those related to a NAT included a previous symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (OR 2.68, 95% CI 1.35 - 5.35) and seeking consultation more than 24 hours after the beginning of symptoms (OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.32 - 5), but not a higher rate of other vascular risk factors. Among patients with NAT, previous intermittent claudication (OR 8.34, 95% CI 2.42 - 28.72) and >24 hs delay of arrival of the patient (OR 4.78, 95% CI 1.48 - 15.43) were more frequent among those related to an atherosclerotic NAT, whereas higher hemoglobin levels (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.21 - 2.11) and non-significantly the history of tobacco smoking (OR 2.95, 95% CI 0.84 - 10.36) among those with a popliteal aneurysm-related NAT. The discriminative power of the two clinical models resulting from these predictive variables for differentiating embolism from NAT and atherosclerosis-related NAT from popliteal aneurysm-related NAT was excellent (0.86 and 0.85, respectively). CONCLUSION: Certain clinical features appear to be no longer useful in the distinction between embolism and NAT, while others may help in the differential diagnosis between atherosclerotic and popliteal aneurysm-related NAT. Surgeons must be aware of possible changes in the presentation of ALI because time constraints are frequent and clinical data remain essential.

Percutaneous Retrieval of Venous Bullet Embolism.

PURPOSE: Bullet fragment embolization is a rare but potentially fatal complication of traumatic gunshot injury. Herein, we present a case of a patient who demonstrated migration of a bullet fragment from the lower chest into the left common iliac vein. Continual identification of foreign bodies on trauma imaging is of the utmost importance. Identifying and treating this rare entity can help vascular interventionalists improve patient outcomes. CASE REPORT: Our patient presented to the emergency room after sustaining 2 gunshot wounds to the right axilla. Initial imaging demonstrated 2 bullet fragments: one in the right axilla and another in the lower chest overlying the heart. A subsequent trauma computed tomography was performed 13 minutes later and demonstrated a bullet fragment in the left common iliac vein, which had embolized from the original location in the lower chest. Interventional radiology was consulted to perform foreign body removal. A transcutaneous approach was utilized, and the bullet embolus was removed successfully without complication. CONCLUSION: Bullet fragment embolization is a rare entity with complications ranging from critical limb ischemia to venous thrombosis or obstruction. This case helps to demonstrate the importance of identifying and accounting for bullet fragments in gunshot trauma imaging.

The Shaggy Aorta Syndrome: An Updated Review.

BACKGROUND: Shaggy aorta (SA) depicts the severe aortic surface degeneration, extremely friable, and likely to cause spontaneous peripheral and visceral embolization or during catheterization, aortic manipulation, surgery, or minimally invasive procedures. This study aims to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information on this disease. METHODS: Potentially eligible studies to be included were identified by searching the following databases: CENTRAL Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, MEDLINE, and CINAHL, using a combination of subject headings and text words to identify relevant studies: (Shaggy aorta) OR (aortic embolization) OR (aortic embolism) OR (aortic thrombus) OR (aortic plaque). From a total of 29,111 abstracts, and after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, we considered 60 studies for inclusion in this review. RESULTS: Appropriate measurement and assessment of the aortic wall are pivotal in the modern era, in particular when percutaneous procedures are performed, as SA has been identified as an independent risk factor for spinal cord injury, mesenteric embolization, and cerebral infarction after endovascular aortic repair. Furthermore, SA increases the rate of cerebral complications during transcatheter aortic valve implantation. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, prompt diagnosis of SA syndrome and appropriate guidelines on the management of these conditions may help physicians to better assess the patient risk and to minimize the dreadful-related complications.

Paraplegia After Basketball Play: A Case of Spinal Cord Infarction Secondary to Fibrocartilaginous Embolization.

ABSTRACT: Pediatric emergency medicine providers must be astute at generating the differential diagnosis and performing the appropriate evaluation to promptly determine the underlying cause of new onset paraplegia. Spinal cord infarction (SCI) is a potential etiology of paraplegia in children, and fibrocartilaginous embolization is a rare underlying cause of SCI. We present an illustrative case of SCI secondary to fibrocartilaginous embolization in an otherwise healthy adolescent who developed symptoms of spinal cord dysfunction after basketball play.

Early Triage of Cardioembolic Sources Using Chest Spectral Computed Tomography in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

OBJECTIVES: The present study investigated the potential usefulness of delayed-phase, low-dose, non-gated, chest spectral CT scans (DSCT) for the early triage of cardioembolic (CE) sources in patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and for the simultaneous detection of myocardial disease and thrombotic complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Since July 2020 and promoted by the COVID-19 pandemic, we implemented the use of DSCT after cerebrovascular CT angiography (CTA) among patients with AIS using a dual-layer spectral CT. We explored the presence of CE sources, as well as late myocardium iodine enhancement (LIE) and pulmonary thromboembolism. Among patients further undergoing transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) or cardiac CTA, we explored the diagnostic performance. RESULTS: Fifty consecutive patients with AIS who underwent DSCT after cerebrovascular CTA comprised the patient population. The confidence degree for excluding cardiac thrombi was significantly higher than for LIE (4.4±0.8 vs. 3.4±1.3, p<0.0001). DSCT identified a CE source in 4 (8%) and LIE in 24 (48%) patients. The iodine ratio of CE sources was significantly lower compared to the left atrial appendage of patients with no CE sources (0.25±0.1 mg/mL vs. 0.91±0.2 mg/mL, p<0.0001). TEE/cardiac CT, performed in 20 (40%) patients, identified a CE source in 5 (25%) cases, whereas DSCT identified 4 (20%), leading to a sensitivity and specificity of 80% (95% CI 28-99%) and 100% (95% CI 78-100%) respectively (kappa 0.86). CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, we identified DSCT as a potential unsophisticated approach for the early triage of CE sources among patients with AIS undergoing CTA upon admission.

In Vivo Studies of a Liquid Embolic Compound.

A composition in the form of liquid polymer substance intended for embolization procedures was studied in in vivo experiment. The preparation was injected to rabbits into the femoral artery and abdominal aorta. The polymer composition exhibited properties previously demonstrated in vitro: strong adhesion to the vascular wall, high plasticity sufficient for embolization of the blood vessels, distal distribution, and the absence of toxic effects. The contrast substance remained in the embolus, which simplified its further localization. The agent underwent nether resorption nor organization. Injection of the agent in a volume of 0.1 ml was sufficient for embolization of an artery with a diameter of 0.1 cm. The polymer composition completely obstructed the vessel without inducing perforation of its wall. During the first day of the experiment, a slight infiltration of surrounding tissues with lymphoid cells was observed. By day 7, total dry necrosis of pelvic limb distal to the injection site was diagnosed. Inflammation of the surrounding tissues was shown histologically and was considered as the body response to impaired circulation and necrosis.

Etiologic Workup in Cases of Cryptogenic Stroke: A Systematic Review of International Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Background and Purpose- Identifying the etiology of acute ischemic stroke is essential for effective secondary prevention. However, in at least one third of ischemic strokes, existing investigative protocols fail to determine the underlying cause. Establishing etiology is complicated by variation in clinical practice, often reflecting preferences of treating clinicians and variable availability of investigative techniques. In this review, we systematically assess the extent to which there exists consensus, disagreement, and gaps in clinical practice recommendations on etiologic workup in acute ischemic stroke. Methods- We identified clinical practice guidelines/consensus statements through searches of 4 electronic databases and hand-searching of websites/reference lists. Two reviewers independently assessed reports for eligibility. We extracted data on report characteristics and recommendations relating to etiologic workup in acute ischemic stroke and in cases of cryptogenic stroke. Quality was assessed using the AGREE II tool (Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation). Recommendations were synthesized according to a published algorithm for diagnostic evaluation in cryptogenic stroke. Results- We retrieved 16 clinical practice guidelines and 7 consensus statements addressing acute stroke management (n=12), atrial fibrillation (n=5), imaging (n=5), and secondary prevention (n=1). Five reports were of overall high quality. For all patients, guidelines recommended routine brain imaging, noninvasive vascular imaging, a 12-lead ECG, and routine blood tests/laboratory investigations. Additionally, ECG monitoring (>24 hours) was recommended for patients with suspected embolic stroke and echocardiography for patients with suspected cardiac source. Three reports recommended investigations for rarer causes of stroke. None of the reports provided guidance on the extent of investigation needed before classifying a stroke as cryptogenic. Conclusions- While consensus exists surrounding standard etiologic workup, there is little agreement on more advanced investigations for rarer causes of acute ischemic stroke. This gap in guidance, and in the underpinning evidence, demonstrates missed opportunities to better understand and protect against ongoing stroke risk. Registration- URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/; Unique identifier: CRD42019127822.

Bilateral acute lower limb ischemia secondary to complete embolization of cardiac myxoma.

Cardiac myxomas are the most common benign cardiac tumors in adults that can present with peripheral embolization. Complete detachments of myxomas are rare and tend to cause aortoiliac embolism. We report a case of a middle-aged woman with bilateral popliteal artery and segmental renal artery embolisms secondary to a completely detached cardiac myxoma. This case highlights cardiac myxomas as an important cause of acute limb ischemia and that it is not excluded by a normal echocardiogram result.

Two cases of successful recanalization for acute cerebral artery embolism during perioperative period of radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation.

To explore the strategy of acute cerebral artery embolism after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) for atrial fibrillation (AF). Reporting two cases with acute cerebral infarction after RFA for AF. Two patients were both with AF, and intracardiac thrombus was excluded through transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) before procedure. Approach of ablation: circumferential pulmonary vein ablation in left atrium to isolate pulmonary vein plus linear ablation in the top and bottom of left atrium (BOX procedure). They both received Dabigatran Etexilate 110 mg twice daily, starting 6 hr after ablation. Symptoms of major stroke appeared 30 hr after ablation in Case 1. Occlusion was detected in M1 segment of the left middle cerebral artery by MRI 2 hr after symptoms onset. Intravenous thrombolysis was given immediately. In Case 2, the patient presented symptoms of major stroke 34 hr after ablation and occlusion in the basilar artery was confirmed by MRI 4.5 hr after symptoms onset. Although it was beyond the thrombolysis time window, mechanical thrombectomy was taken 7 hr after the symptoms onset. The culprit artery was successfully revascularized in both cases. In Case 1, NIHSS score was reduced from 8 (before thrombolysis) to 0 (24 hr after thrombolysis). In Case 2, NIHSS score decreased from 18 (before embolectomy) to 3 (24 hr after embolectomy). Both of the patients live a normal life without brain function impairment and hemorrhage until the last follow-up. Timely recanalization could attained a good cure effect when acute stoke was happened after RFA for AF.

Percutaneous Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Superior Mesenteric Artery Embolism: Preliminary Experience in Five Cases.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to summarize our experience in treating acute superior mesenteric artery embolism (SMAE) by percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT). METHODS: The clinical data of five patients with acute SMAE treated by PMT in our center from October 2015 to May 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. PMT was performed under local anesthesia. Access was established via the femoral artery or brachial artery. Thrombectomy was performed on the superior mesenteric artery using a 6F Rotarex catheter (Straub Medical, Wangs, Switzerland). RESULTS: Technical success of PMT was achieved in all five patients; emboli were completely removed in three patients and partially removed in two patients. No PMT-related complications were noted after surgery. Four patients were smoothly discharged from the hospital after their symptoms were relieved. One patient still had symptoms of intestinal ischemia after the operation, and massive small intestinal necrosis was found by exploratory laparotomy. Intestinal resection was performed, and the patient died 4 months later. CONCLUSIONS: PMT by the Rotarex system is a minimally invasive, safe, and effective technique in removing SMAE. Early application of PMT can avoid intestinal necrosis.

Systematic review of civilian intravascular ballistic embolism reports during the last 30 years.

BACKGROUND: Intravascular ballistic embolization is a rare complication of missile injury. Because of its rarity, much remains to be known about its presentation, pathophysiology, complications, and management. In this study, we analyze case reports of ballistic embolization in the last 30 years and available cases from our institution to determine the likely patient, the nature of the embolization, the possible complications, and a general management strategy. METHODS: A PubMed search was performed in search of missile embolization cases from 1988 to 2018 in the English language, including only cases of intravascular emboli. Cases resulting from combat and explosive devices were excluded. In addition, five cases from our institution were included in the analysis. RESULTS: A total of 261 cases were analyzed. The most common presentation was that of a young man (reflecting the demographics of those sustaining gunshot wound injuries) with injury to the anterior torso from a single gunshot wound. Venous entry was most common, most often through large-caliber vessels. There was roughly equal involvement of the right and left circulation. Left circulation emboli were frequently symptomatic, with ischemia being the most frequent sequela. In contrast, a right circulation embolus was rarely associated with significant complications. CONCLUSIONS: Despite its rarity, ballistic embolization should be considered in gunshot injury with known large-vessel injury when an exit wound is not identified. In particular, signs of ischemia distant from the injury site warrant timely investigation to maximize tissue salvageability. We present a management strategy model for consideration.

Infective endocarditis complicated with coronary artery septic embolization: is it worth to be mentioned? Case presentation and review of the literature.

Coronary artery septic embolization is a rare, but severe complication of infective endocarditis involving the leftside of the valves. The first case mentioned in the literature was a postmortem finding of a left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion by a vegetation fragment. Since this case, there have been several therapeutic strategies published with this clinical setting including medical treatment, percutaneous coronary angioplasty addressing coronary occlusion, surgical intervention for both the infected valve and coronary embolization, and hybrid procedures with transcatheter septic embolus aspiration followed by surgical valvular interventions. Out of the three interventions mentioned, the latter provided the best results and was in concordance with results observed in a case of mitral valve infected endocarditis complicated with acute occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery in patient whose comorbidities included hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. A transcatheter left anterior descending coronary artery embolus aspiration was performed , followed by a surgical mitral valve replacement and septal myectomy with an uneventful postoperative course. Although rare, this severe complication of infective endocarditis has a specific clinical course and therapeutic strategy, and in our opinion, it could be mentioned as a separate entity among embolic complications of infective endocarditis in future guidelines. Previously published cases suggest that the hybrid intervention might be the therapy of choice for this clinical setting; however, larger studies are necessary for confirmation.

The combined use of stent retriever and neuro-aspiration as successful bail-out reperfusion strategy in a patient with embolic myocardial infarction.

Embolic myocardial infarction account for ≈3% of all ST-segment myocardial infarction and represents a challenge often left no-reperfused because current thrombectomy technologies are inefficient to grab thrombus wedged into distal coronary arteries. We present the case of a 34-year-old man who presented with anterior STEMI and a proximal left anterior descending coronary artery ulcerated plaque with a great thrombus burden, which led to distal embolization. Failure of several attempts of manual and rheolytic thrombectomy, led us to use the "Solumbra technique", the combined use of stent retriever and Penumbra catheter was successful in restoring patency and flow.

Spinal Cord Infarction due to Fibrocartilaginous Embolism: A Report of 3 Cases.

Fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE) is an uncommon cause of spinal cord infarction often misdiagnosed as transverse myelitis. The mechanism of ischemia is suspected to be due to retrograde embolization of nucleus pulposus material originating from Schmorl's nodes to the spinal vessels following acute disk herniation. We describe the clinical and imaging findings of FCE in 3 healthy young women with history of trivial spinal cord trauma, and recommend that FCE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute myelopathy.

Cardio-embolic stroke: Lessons from a single centre in Sub-Saharan Africa.

BACKGROUND: Limited information is available about cardio-embolic stroke (CES) in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology, clinical features, etiology, the management and outcome of CES in our setting. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out in the Douala General Hospital (DGH), using files of ischemic stroke patients admitted in the Neurological Unit and the Intensive Care Unit. Socio-demographic, clinical and paraclinical data were collected. After hospitalization, follow-up was performed with focus on mortality, stroke recurrence and the functional outcome assessed with Barthel score. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with death. RESULTS: Of the 704 stroke cases included, 368 were ischemic with 86 (23.4%) of them being cardio-embolic. The mean age of patient with CES was 67±13.3 years. The main etiologies of CES were: atrial fibrillation (82.1%), dilated cardiomyopathy (12.8%), and rheumatic mitral stenosis (5.1%). Anti-platelet agents were the most prescribed anti-thrombotic drugs (50.7%). The in-hospital mortality rate was 23.3% with lesion in both internal carotid arteries [OR=110.3; 95% CI: 1.2-1040.7; P=0.043] and heart disease [OR=46.9; 95% CI: 1.2-1789.9; P=0.038] appeared to be predictive of this. Stroke recurrence was observed in 8 patients (12.1%) and the survival probability in 5 years was 10%. Functional outcome was progressively worse with the systolic blood pressure>140mmHg (P=0.025) been the associated factor. CONCLUSION: CES accounted for 1/4 of ischemic stroke with a high risk of early death and long-term recurrence. Atrial fibrillation was the leading cause of CES. The association of VKA and anti-platelet agent should be avoided to reduce early death during acute stroke.

Progression From Paroxysmal to Sustained Atrial Fibrillation Is Associated With Increased Adverse Events.

Background and Purpose- Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmic disorder among the elderly and sometimes progresses from paroxysmal to sustained (persistent or permanent) types. Clinical outcomes of patients with progression of AF were unknown. This study assessed the characteristics of patients with AF progression and the impact of AF progression on various clinical events. Methods- The Fushimi AF Registry is a community-based prospective survey of the patients with AF in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto. Analyses were performed on 4045 patients, which included 1974 paroxysmal AF (PAF; 48.8%) and 2071 sustained (persistent or permanent) AF (SAF; 51.2%) at baseline. Results- During the median follow-up period of 1105 days, progression of AF occurred in 252 patients with PAF (4.22 per 100 person-years). Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that progression of AF was significantly associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke or systemic embolism (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 4.10; 95% CI, 1.95-8.24; P<0.001 [versus PAF without progression]; adjusted HR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.11-4.00; P=0.025 [versus SAF]) during progression period from paroxysmal to sustained forms. The risk after the progression was equivalent to SAF (adjusted HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 0.78-2.75; P=0.201 [versus SAF]). AF progression was significantly associated with a higher risk of hospitalization for heart failure (adjusted HR, 2.70; 95% CI, 1.55-4.52; P<0.001 [versus PAF without progression]; adjusted HR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.08-2.88; P=0.026 [versus SAF]). Conclusions- Progression of AF was associated with increased risk of clinical adverse events during arrhythmia progression period from PAF to SAF among Japanese patients with AF. The risk of adverse events was transiently elevated during progression period from PAF to SAF and declined to the level equivalent to SAF after the progression. Clinical Trial Registration- URL: http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/ . Unique identifier: UMIN000005834.