Prostatic Artery Embolization—Anatomic Predictors of Technical Outcomes

PurposeTo determine if cone-beam CT and digital subtraction angiography analysis of pelvic arterial anatomy has predictive value for radiation exposure and technical success of prostatic artery embolization (PAE).Materials and MethodsThis prospective, nonrandomized, single-center study included 104 consecutive patients with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Cone-beam CT was performed in 160/208 (76.9%) hemipelves to determine prostatic artery (PA) origin. Classification of pelvic arterial tortuosity was possible in 73/104 (70.2%) patients. Learning curves of 2 interventionalists who performed 86.5% of PAEs were analyzed.ResultsTortuosity of pelvic arteries was classified as mild in 25 (34.2%) patients median age 64 years, moderate in 40 (54.8%) patients median age 69 years, and severe in 8 (11.0%) patients median age 70 years (mild vs moderate, P = .002; mild vs severe, P = .019); median fluoroscopy times were 24, 36, and 46 minutes (P = .008, P = .023); median contrast volumes were 105, 122.5, and 142 mL (P = .029, P = .064); and bilateral PAE rates were 84.0%, 77.5%, and 62.5% (P = .437), respectively. PA origin from superior vesical artery was most frequent (27.5%) and showed higher dose area product (median 402.4 vs 218 Gy ∙ cm², P = .033) and fluoroscopy time (median 42.5 vs 27 min, P = .01) compared with PA origin from obturator artery, which was least frequent. Interventionalist experience revealed significant impact on procedure times (median 159 vs 130 min, P = .006).ConclusionsTortuosity of pelvic arteries was more frequent in older patients and predicted worse technical outcomes of PAE. PA origin from obturator artery was associated with lower dose area product and fluoroscopy time, especially compared with PA origin from superior vesical artery. Interventionalist experience showed significant influence on technical outcome.     

Pediatric cardiac computed tomography angiography: Expert consensus from the Filiale de Cardiologie Pédiatrique et Congénitale (FCPC) and the Société Française d’Imagerie Cardiaque et Vasculaire diagnostique et interventionnelle (SFICV)

This article was designed to provide a pediatric cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) expert panel consensus based on opinions of experts of the Société Française d’Imagerie Cardiaque et Vasculaire diagnostique et interventionnelle (SFICV) and of the Filiale de Cardiologie Pédiatrique Congénitale (FCPC). This expert panel consensus includes recommendations for indications, patient preparation, CTA radiation dose reduction techniques, and post-processing techniques. The consensus was based on data from available literature (original papers, reviews and guidelines) and on opinions of a group of specialists with extensive experience in the use of CT imaging in congenital heart disease. In order to reach high potential and avoid pitfalls, CCTA in children with congenital heart disease requires training and experience. Moreover, pediatric cardiac CCTA protocols should be standardized to acquire optimal images in this population with the lowest radiation dose possible to prevent unnecessary radiation exposure. We also provided a suggested structured report and a list of acquisition protocols and technical parameters in relation to specific vendors.     

腹腔镜下子宫双侧动脉阻断术联合清宫术治疗剖宫产瘢痕妊娠疗效分析

目的 探讨腹腔镜下子宫双侧动脉阻断术联合清宫术治疗剖宫产瘢痕妊娠疗效及对内分泌的影响.方法 选择2011年1月至2015年12月剖宫产瘢痕妊娠患者57例,其中A组32例患者给予超声引导下清宫术治疗,B组25例患者给予腹腔镜下子宫双侧动脉阻断术联合清宫术治疗,比较两组患者出血量、住院时间、月经复潮时间、术后人绒毛膜促性腺激素(hCG)降至正常时间,并发症情况及术前(T0)、术后第1d(T1)、第3d(T2)神经内分泌激素水平.结果 ①B组患者出血量低于A组,住院时间、月经复潮时间短于A组,比较差异有统计学意义(t出血量=31.85,k院时间=9.36,t月经复t潮时间=16.37,均P＜0.05);②B组患者并发症发生率为8.00％,低于A组的15.63％,比较差异有统计学意义(x2=9.35,P＜0.05);③B组T1、T2血清COR、β-EP、GLU水平低于A组(CORF交互=17.67,β-EPF交互=132.36,6LUF交互=155.38,均P＜0.05).结论 腹腔镜下子宫双侧动脉阻断术联合清宫术治疗剖宫产瘢痕妊娠微创优势明显,安全性高,对内分泌影响较轻.     

Surgical innovation in LMICs–The perspective from India

Surgical Innovations are central to surgical progress, and have led to exponential growth in various fields of Surgery. Surgical Innovations in Lower and Middle Income Countries are the result of creativity of frontline health workers in search of simple, safe and ethical solutions for their unique challenges. The key lies in: ‘simplifying the idea/technique/device’ to find patients' needs-driven low-cost innovative surgical solutions; which can be used on a wider scale to achieve health equity for underserved populations. Local surgeons understand the difficulties and nuances of various problems and can provide local-evidence-based customized solutions for their patients' health problems. We developed a Surgical Innovation Ecosystem allowing us to see difficulties as opportunities, learn from everyone and conduct research on what is ‘important’ rather than what is ‘interesting’. Barriers to Surgical Innovations in Lower and Middle Income Countries are well known; however, a roadmap to overcome these barriers is now available. The right balance has to be found between encouraging creativity and innovation while maintaining ethical awareness and responsibility to patients. Introduction and adoption of Surgical Innovations are governed by evidence-based principles and have to undergo a rigorous and scientific evaluation. Science of Surgical Innovations has finally come of age and is getting its due recognition and the pioneering innovators are receiving the much needed appreciation and support.     

Coronary Artery Lumen Segmentation Using Location–Adaptive Threshold in Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography: A Proof-of-Concept

ObjectiveTo compare the lumen parameters measured by the location-adaptive threshold method (LATM), in which the inter- and intra-scan attenuation variabilities of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) were corrected, and the scan-adaptive threshold method (SATM), in which only the inter-scan variability was corrected, with the reference standard measurement by intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS).Materials and MethodsThe Hounsfield unit (HU) values of whole voxels and the centerline in each of the cross-sections of the 22 target coronary artery segments were obtained from 15 patients between March 2009 and June 2010, in addition to the corresponding voxel size. Lumen volume was calculated mathematically as the voxel volume multiplied by the number of voxels with HU within a given range, defined as the lumen for each method, and compared with the IVUS-derived reference standard. Subgroup analysis of the lumen area was performed to investigate the effect of lumen size on the studied methods. Bland-Altman plots were used to evaluate the agreement between the measurements.ResultsLumen volumes measured by SATM was significantly smaller than that measured by IVUS (mean difference, 14.6 mm³; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.9–24.3 mm³); the lumen volumes measured by LATM and IVUS were not significantly different (mean difference, −0.7 mm³; 95% CI, −9.1–7.7 mm³). The lumen area measured by SATM was significantly smaller than that measured by LATM in the smaller lumen area group (mean of difference, 1.07 mm²; 95% CI, 0.89–1.25 mm²) but not in the larger lumen area group (mean of difference, −0.07 mm²; 95% CI, −0.22–0.08 mm²). In the smaller lumen group, the mean difference was lower in the Bland-Altman plot of IVUS and LATM (0.46 mm²; 95% CI, 0.27–0.65 mm²) than in that of IVUS and SATM (1.53 mm²; 95% CI, 1.27–1.79 mm²).ConclusionSATM underestimated the lumen parameters for computed lumen segmentation in CCTA, and this may be overcome by using LATM.     

缺血性脑血管病患者脑微出血相关因素及其对抗血小板单药治疗的影响分析

目的 研究缺血性脑血管病患者脑微出血（CMB）危险因素及其对抗血小板单药治疗的影响。方法 选取2018年1月至2018年6月该院神经内科接受抗血小板单药治疗的急性缺血性脑血管病患者300例为样本，入院后采集基本资料并完善相关检查，根据梯度回波T2^*加权成像（GRE-T2^*WI）检查结果将患者分为CMB组（176例）和非CMB组（124例），均给予抗血小板聚集治疗，比较两组临床资料及治疗1年内再发梗死、脑出血和病死率，分析影响CMB发病的危险因素以及CMB对抗血小板单药治疗的影响。结果 高龄、高血压、肥胖、脑卒中病史、ACI和脑白质疏松为CMB发生的危险因素（P<0.05）。CMB组和非CMB组抗血小板单药治疗期间脑出血率分别为14.20%和6.45%，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。轻度组、中度组和重度组脑出血率分别为9.18%、10.64%和35.48%，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。不同部位CMB患者抗血小板单药治疗期间再发脑梗死、脑出血及病死率比较，差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论 高龄、高血压、肥胖、脑卒中病史、ACI及脑白质疏松为缺血性脑血管疾病合并CMB的危险因素。CMB可导致抗血小板单药治疗期间脑出血风险增加，重度CMB者更甚。     

前列地尔联合长春西汀治疗急性脑梗死的疗效观察

目的探讨前列地尔联合长春西汀治疗急性脑梗死的疗效。方法选取2015年3-12月在我科接受治疗的90例急性脑梗死患者,随机分为治疗组(45例)和对照组(45例)。两组患者均给予抗血小板、降血脂等常规对症治疗,11 d为1个疗程。对照组给予长春西汀静脉输液治疗,治疗组在对照组基础上加以前列地尔治疗。比较两组临床治疗效果,治疗前后神经功能恢复情况、日常生活能力恢复情况、并发症发生率及安全性。结果治疗组总有效率为93.3%,对照组为71.1%,治疗组明显高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组患者用药11 d后,神经功能缺损评分均高于治疗前,且治疗组明显高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗组患者用药11d及90 d后日常生活能力恢复情况优于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组均无严重药物不良反应。结论前列地尔联合长春西汀治疗急性脑梗死疗效显著,值得临床推广应用。