Evaluation of a Device Combining an Inferior Vena Cava Filter and a Central Venous Catheter for Preventing Pulmonary Embolism Among Critically Ill Trauma Patients

Purpose

To evaluate efficacy and safety of a novel device that combines an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter and central venous catheter (CVC) for prevention of pulmonary embolism (PE) in critically ill patients.

Scanning Systems and Protocols Used During Imaging for Acute Pulmonary Embolism: How Much Do Our Clinical Colleagues Know?

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The imaging systems and protocols used during ventilation-perfusion lung (V-P) scintigraphy and computed tomographic (CT) pulmonary angiography (CTPA) can affect diagnostic performance. We investigated the level of awareness of these factors among US clinicians who refer patients for imaging for suspected acute pulmonary embolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September 2004 and February 2005, we conducted a mail survey of 855 physicians selected at random from three professional organizations. We asked participants how important the availability of state-of-the-art equipment was in their imaging decisions, whether V-P scintigraphy was performed with planar or single-photon emission CT (SPECT) equipment in their communities, to identify the most advanced type of CT scanner used for CTPA, and whether CT venography (CTV) was performed routinely after CTPA. RESULTS: We received completed surveys from 240 (29.8%) physicians practicing in 44 states. One hundred sixty-six respondents (70.9%) indicated that state-of-the-art equipment was an extremely or very important factor when they made imaging decisions. However, 191 clinicians (80.3%) did not know whether SPECT equipment was used for V-P scintigraphy, and 119 (50.6%) did not know the type of CT scanner used for CTPA in their communities. Of respondents, 39.2% reported access to multidetector row CT technology for CTPA, whereas 10.2% referred patients to facilities using single-detector CT. Only 9.3% of respondents indicated that CTV was performed routinely after CTPA. CONCLUSION: Although state-of-the-art equipment is important to them, clinicians practicing in the United States have limited knowledge of the equipment being used during CTPA and V-P scintigraphy scanning in their communities. Radiologists should intensify efforts to familiarize their clinical colleagues with the equipment they use.     

Comparison of Double-Freeze versus Modified Triple-Freeze Pulmonary Cryoablation and Hemorrhage Volume Using Different Probe Sizes in an In Vivo Porcine Lung

Purpose

To determine size of ablation zone and pulmonary hemorrhage in double-freeze (DF) vs modified triple-freeze (mTF) cryoablation protocols with different probe sizes in porcine lung.

MVP™ Micro Vascular Plug Systems for the Treatment of Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations

CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology - To describe our institutional experience with MVP™ micro vascular plug systems for the treatment of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations...     

Use of the Trellis™ Peripheral Infusion System for Enhancement of rt-PA Thrombolysis in Acute Lower Limb Ischemia

The Trellis Peripheral Infusion System is an over-the-wire 0.035 guidewire compatible device, designed to isolate a region of the peripheral vasculature to allow for lytic drug infusion and dispersion. We used it successfully through a percutaneous approach in two cases of acute thrombosis of a native lower limb artery. The total amount of rt-PA used was 12 and 9 mg, respectively and was delivered through bolus injections obviating the need for a supplementary continuous infusion of the agent. The time for dissolution of thrombus was 45 and 35 minutes, respectively. No complications were observed.     

Neurointerventional Treatment in Acute Stroke. Whom to Treat? (Endovascular Treatment for Acute Stroke: Utility of THRIVE Score and HIAT Score for Patient Selection)

Purpose

Intra-arterial therapy (IAT) is used increasingly as a treatment option for acute stroke caused by central large vessel occlusions. Despite high rates of recanalization, the clinical outcome is highly variable. The authors evaluated the Houston IAT (HIAT) and the totaled health risks in vascular events (THRIVE) score, two predicting scores designed to identify patients likely to benefit from IAT.

Methods

Fifty-two patients treated at the Stavanger University Hospital with IAT from May 2009 to June 2012 were included in this study. We combined the scores in an additional analysis. We also performed an additional analysis according to high age and evaluated the scores in respect of technical efficacy.

Results

Fifty-two patients were evaluated by the THRIVE score and 51 by the HIAT score. We found a strong correlation between the level of predicted risk and the actual clinical outcome (THRIVE p = 0.002, HIAT p = 0.003). The correlations were limited to patients successfully recanalized and to patients <80 years. By combining the scores additional 14.3 % of the patients could be identified as poor candidates for IAT. Both scores were insufficient to identify patients with a good clinical outcome.

Conclusions

Both scores showed a strong correlation to poor clinical outcome in patients <80 years. The specificity of the scores could be enhanced by combining them. Both scores were insufficient to identify patients with a good clinical outcome and showed no association to clinical outcome in patients aged ≥80 years.     

Laser-Assisted Transgraft Embolization: A Technique for the Treatment of Type II Endoleaks

A transgraft embolization (TGE) technique was performed in a patient to treat a type II endoleak. Using a transfemoral arterial approach, the endograft was punctured using a coronary laser catheter aimed toward the type II endoleak nidus, which was treated with Onyx (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota). TGE resulted in successful embolization, as demonstrated on 1-year follow-up CT angiography, which showed complete elimination of the type II endoleak and shrinkage of the aneurysmal sac. TGE is an alternative to transarterial embolization, translumbar embolization, and transcaval embolization.     

Comparison of non-sedated brain MRI and CT for the detection of acute traumatic injury in children 6 years of age or less

CT is considered the first-line study for acute intracranial injury in children because of its availability, detection of acute hemorrhage, and lack of sedation. An MRI study with rapidly acquired sequences can obviate the need for sedation and radiation. We compared the detection rate of rapid non-sedated brain MRI to CT for traumatic head injury in young children. We reviewed a series of children 6 years of age or less who presented to our ED during a 5-year period with head trauma and received a non-sedated brain MRI and CT within 24 h of injury. Most MRI studies were limited to triplane T2 and susceptibility sequences. Two neuroradiologists reviewed the MRIs and CTs and assessed the following findings: fracture, epidural hematoma (EDH)/subdural hematoma (SDH), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), and parenchymal injury. Thirty of 33 patients had radiologically identified traumatic injuries. There was an overall agreement of 82 % between the two modalities. Skull fracture was the only injury subtype which had a statistically significant difference in detection between CT and MRI (p?=?0.0001), with MRI missing 14 of 21 fractures detected on CT. While not statistically significant, MRI had a higher detection rate of EDH/SDH (p?=?0.34), SAH (p?=?0.07), and parenchymal injuries (p?=?0.50). Non-sedated MRI has similar detection rates to CT for intracranial injury in young children presenting with acute head trauma and may be an alternative to CT in select patients.     

Percutaneous CT–Guided Sympathicolysis with Radiofrequency for the Treatment of Palmar Hyperhidrosis

Purpose

To evaluate the benefits of computed tomography (CT)–guided percutaneous sympathicolysis with radiofrequency in patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPHH) in terms of safety, patient satisfaction, and short- and long-term efficacy.

Analysis of Disk Volume before and after CT-guided Intradiscal and Periganglionic Ozone–Oxygen Injection for the Treatment of Lumbar Disk Herniation

PurposeTo quantify the change in volume in herniated lumbar disk after computed tomography (CT)–guided intradiscal and periganglionic ozone–oxygen injection and to assess the effects of patient age, sex, and initial disk volume on disk volume changes.Materials and MethodsA total of 283 patients with lumbar radiculopathy received a single intradiscal (3 mL) and periganglionic (7 mL) injection of an ozone–oxygen mixture (ratio, 3:97; ozone concentration, 30 μg/mL). Under CT guidance, intradiscal and periganglionic injection was performed through an extraspinal lateral approach with a 22-gauge spinal needle. All disk volume changes were evaluated on CT 6 months after the procedure in all patients.ResultsInitial mean disk volume was 17.37 cm³ ± 4.70 (standard deviation; range, 8.12–29.15 cm³). Disk volume reduction (mean, 7.70% ± 5.45; range, 0.29%–22.31%) was seen in 96.1% of treated disks (n = 272) at 6 months after treatment and was found to be statistically significant (P < .0001). In 3.9% of patients (n = 11), disk volume increased (mean, 0.59% ± 0.24; range, 0.11%–0.81%). Patient age correlated negatively with disk volume reduction (r = ?0.505; P < .0001) at 6 months after treatment, whereas initial disk volume correlated positively with volume reduction (r = 0.225; P = .00014) after therapy. No correlation was noted between patient sex and disk volume reduction after treatment (P = .09).ConclusionsIntradiscal administration of medical ozone is associated with a statistically significant volume reduction of the herniated lumbar disk. The volume-reduction effect of ozone correlates negatively with the patient's age and positively with initial disk volume.     

Comparison of the Adverse Event Profile of TheraSphere® with SIR-Spheres® for the Treatment of Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review

To compare the safety profiles of TheraSphere^® (glass) and SIR-Spheres^® (resin) Y90 microspheres for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. A systematic review was conducted using the databases MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Trials Register to identify all relevant studies. Baseline characteristics and adverse events of all grades related to gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, and respiratory systems were collected along with commonly reported outcomes related to post-embolization syndrome. For all outcomes, data from each study were tabulated for each intervention. Adverse events and patients were summed across studies on TheraSphere^® and SIR-Spheres^®, respectively, and the resulting proportion of patients experiencing an outcome for both interventions was calculated. Thirty-one observational studies were included in the review. In the adverse events of all grades, more patients treated with resin microspheres reported gastric ulcers, hepatic encephalopathy, cholecystitis, hepatic failure, and pleural effusion. Patients treated with resin microspheres also had more hepatobiliary adverse events of grade 3 or higher. In the events related to post-embolization syndrome, glass microspheres exhibited a similar safety profile compared to resin microspheres. Ascites and nausea grade 3 or higher were recorded more frequently with glass microsphere treatment. Based on this review of the published literature, glass microspheres exhibit a safety profile with fewer gastrointestinal and pulmonary adverse events compared to resin microspheres in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

     

Comparison of Stable and Unstable Ethiodized Oil Emulsions for Transarterial Chemoembolization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Results of a Single-Center Double-Blind Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose

To compare the stability of stable and unstable water-in-oil emulsions and the efficacy and safety of these emulsions in a single-center, prospective double-blind trial of transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Comparison of stability and kinematics of the natural knee versus a PS TKA with a ‘third condyle’

Purpose

The goal of this study was to compare the kinematics of knees before and after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) that relies on an inter-condylar ‘third condyle’. The hypothesis was that the ‘third condyle’ provides sufficient flexion stability and induces a close to normal femoral rollback, thus granting natural joint kinematics.

Methods

Intra-operative navigation data were collected from 29 consecutive cases that received a cemented TKA (HLS Noetos, Tornier SA, France) designed with an inter-condylar ‘third condyle’ that engages within the tibial insert beyond 35° flexion. Operations were guided by a non-image-based system (BLU-IGS, Orthokey Italia srl, Italy) that recorded relative femoral and tibial positions in native and implanted knees during: passive range of motion, anterior drawer test at 90° flexion, and varus–valgus stress tests at full extension and at 30° flexion.

Results

The total internal tibial rotation during flexion was similar for native (8.2 ± 4.2°) and implanted knees (8.0 ± 5.4°). The lateral femoral condyle was more posterior in implanted knees (1.2 ± 9.4 mm) than in native knees (9.5 ± 3.6 mm) throughout early flexion (p < 0.01), but this difference diminished beyond 100° flexion (n.s.). The implanted knees did not exhibit paradoxical external tibial rotation. Varus–valgus laxity in full extension was lower for implanted knees than for native knees (p = 0.0221), but at 30° flexion was almost identical for both native and implanted knees. Anteroposterior laxity was similar in implanted and native knees.

Conclusions

The ‘third condyle’ TKA provides similar anteroposterior and mediolateral stability to the natural knee. This feature granted an adequate balance between laxity and constraint to reproduce natural joint kinematics, including smooth femoral rollback, without causing paradoxical external tibial rotation.

Level of evidence

Comparative study, Level III.     

Balloon-Occluded Transarterial Chemoembolization for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Single-Center US Preliminary Experience

This report describes a single-center experience with balloon-occluded transarterial chemoembolization for liver-directed therapy. A total of 26 patients (11 male, 4 female; mean age, 65 y ± 7) with 28 tumors (mean diameter, 2.7 cm; range, 1.1–5.9 cm) were treated. Technical success rate was 100% (28 of 28 cases), with 1 minor complication of left portal vein thrombosis and small liver infarct. Of the 15 tumors analyzed for response, 60% (9 of 15) exhibited complete response, 33.3% (5 of 15) exhibited partial response, and 6.6% (1 of 15) had stable disease on follow-up. Eight patients exhibited overall progression with a new hepatic lesion and a median time to progression of 7.9 months (range, 5–11 mo).