Stable fracture of the pubic rami: a rare cause of life-threatening bleeding from the inferior epigastric artery managed with transcatheter embolization

Extraperitoneal bleeding from the inferior epigastric artery (IEA) and its branches is a rare complication of blunt pelvic trauma; however, it can result in life-threatening hemorrhage, even in cases of minimally displaced fractures of the pelvic ring. We report the case of a patient who had posttraumatic pelvic hematoma and cardiovascular collapse caused by avulsion of the right pubic branch of the IEA related to undisplaced fractures of the pubic rami. CT scanning followed by angiography showed leakage of contrast from the IEA. Transcatheter arterial embolization was performed to successfully control the hemorrhage. There have been very few previous reports of IEA injury related to stable fractures of the pubic rami successfully treated by transcatheter arterial embolization.     

Overcoming limitations of microparticle measurement by flow cytometry

Circulating microparticles are submicron vesicles released from cell membranes in response to activation or apoptosis. Acknowledgment of their role both as markers and pathogenic effectors in thrombosis, inflammation, and the spread of cancer has increased the interest of their measurement in clinical practice. However, assessment of their clinical use is impeded by technological issues. Among the different methodologies available, flow cytometry is the most commonly used technique. This review addresses flow cytometry limitations in microparticle measurement that may be subdivided into three domains: sizing, probing, and counting. This article also covers the various standardization strategies and technological improvements that have been proposed to overcome these limitations. New tools using size-calibrated beads and recent progress in instrumentation have opened new avenues to improve detection of microparticle populations of smaller sizes. Significant optimization in microparticle detection is also expected from the use of new fluorescent dyes and the establishment of practical recommendations. Finally, absolute counting of microparticles will also benefit from adapted bead-based strategies or, alternatively, from the generalized availability of volumetric systems. Overall, recent technological improvements maintain flow cytometry as a highly competitive analytical method to measure microparticles. Challenging these evolutions in pathological situations is a mandatory step to validate their real impact in clinical practice.     

Endovascular management of the deep venous thrombosis: A new challenging role for the endovascular specialist in 2020

Over the last years, the endovascular approach to the management of the acute and chronic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has gained more and more attention from the scientific community. DVT is the third most common cardiovascular disease after coronary heart disease and stroke, with classic treatment based on anticoagulation. Recent evidences have highlighted the risk of postthrombotic syndrome as high as 30%–50% in proximal ilio-femoral lesions, with irreversible clinical symptoms and impact on the quality of life of the population. Since 2000s, the new concept of thrombus removal in the acute phase has been supported by the introduction of different techniques based on the endovascular ablation of the clot by in-situ fibrinolysis and, more recently, fragmentation and aspiration. In the chronic phase, recanalization of the thrombosed segment is recommended by stent placement to remove the obstruction and eventually reduce the congestion. Immediate technical success of these procedures is widely satisfying, whereas the long-term clinical benefits are still debated. This paper presents an overview of the modern management of the DVT by endovascular approach with regard to the clinical contexts, interventional strategies and clinical outcomes. Endovascular specialist needs to be aware of this incoming challenge, as local expertise is demanded for the modern management of these patients in multidisciplinary theaters.     

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for the management of acute variceal hemorrhage

Acute variceal hemorrhage,a life-threatening condition that requires a multidisciplinary approach for effective therapy,is defined as visible bleeding from an esophageal or gastric varix at the time of endoscopy,the presence of large esophageal varices with recent stigmata of bleeding,or fresh blood visible in the stomach with no other source of bleeding identified.Transfusion of blood products,pharmacological treatments and early endoscopic therapy are often effective;however,if primary hemostasis cannot be obtained or if uncontrollable early rebleeding occurs,transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)is recommended as rescue treatment.The TIPS represents a major advance in the treatment of complications of portal hypertension.Acute variceal hemorrhage that is poorly controlled with endoscopic therapy is generally well controlled with TIPS,which has a 90%to 100%success rate.However,TIPS is associated with a mortality of 30%to 50%in such a setting.Emergency TIPS should be considered early in patients with refractory variceal bleeding once medical treatment and endoscopic sclerotherapy failure,before the clinical condition worsens.Furthermore,admission to specialized centers is mandatory in such a setting and regional protocols are essential to be organized effectively.This review article discusses initial management and then focuses on the specific role of TIPS as a primary therapy to control acute variceal hemorrhage,particularly as a rescue therapy following failure of endoscopic approaches.     

Role for endovascular therapy in chronic mesenteric ischemia

Chronic mesenteric ischemia is a rare condition that is caused by stenosis or occlusion of the mesenteric arteries and usually manifests as abdominal pain. While surgical revascularization has been the standard treatment for symptomatic patients, recent advances in interventional devices and techniques have made endovascular treatment feasible and effective. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stent placement is now recognized as a minimally invasive means of obtaining good long-term results with an acceptable recurrence rate; consequently, the technique is suggested for the primary treatment of chronic mesenteric ischemia. The present article discusses the indications and principles of endovascular treatment, and reviews the literature, with emphasis on short- and long-term outcomes, particularly morbidity and mortality rates.     

Diagnostic performance of sacroiliac and spinal MRI for the diagnosis of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in patients with inflammatory back pain

ObjectiveThe lack of specificity of the ASAS MRI criteria for non-radiographic axial spondylarthritis (NR-axSpA) justifies the evaluation of the discriminatory capacity of other MRI abnormalities in the sacroiliac joints and dorsolumbar spine.MethodsIn patients hospitalized for inflammatory lumbar back pain, the diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR)) of MRI abnormalities was calculated using the rheumatologist expert opinion as a reference: (i) sacroiliac joints: Bone marrow edema (BME) (number and location), extended edema > 1 cm (deep lesion), fatty metaplasia (number), erosion (number and location), backfill. (ii) Dorsolumbar spine: BME (number and location), fatty metaplasia (number), posterior segment involvement.ResultsIn this prospective cohort, 40 NR-axSpA cases and 79 other diagnoses were included. The presence of at least 3 inflammatory signals in the sacroiliac joints (PLR: 25.67 [95% CI: 3.48–48.9]), the presence of at least one sacroiliac erosion (PLR: 12.80 [3.04–54]), the combination of an inflammatory signal and sacroiliac erosion (PLR: 11.85 [2.79–50]), the combination of deep lesion and fatty metaplasia (PLR: 15.80 [2.05–121.9]) or erosion (PLR: 11.86 [1.47–95.01]) had the best diagnostic performance. The combination of spinal and sacroiliac MRI criteria significantly increased diagnostic performance for the diagnosis of NR-axSpA.ConclusionWhen NR-axSpA is suspected, in addition to the presence and number of inflammatory lesions, MRI interpretation should include the location and the extent of the sacroiliac lesions, the presence of erosion or fatty metaplasia, and anterior involvement of the lumbar spine.     

Recent advances in endovascular techniques for management of acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Over the past two decades,transcatheter arterial embolization has become the first-line therapy for the management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding that is refractory to endoscopic hemostasis.Advances in catheter-based techniques and newer embolic agents, as well as recognition of the effectiveness of minimally invasive treatment options,have expanded the role of interventional radiology in the management of hemorrhage for a variety of indications,such as peptic ulcerbleeding,malignant disease,hemorrhagic Dieulafoy lesions and iatrogenic or trauma bleeding.Transcatheter interventions include the following:selective embolization of the feeding artery,sandwich coil occlusion of the gastroduodenal artery,blind or empiric embolization of the supposed bleeding vessel based on endoscopic findings and coil pseudoaneurysm or aneurysm embolization by three-dimensional sac packing with preservation of the parent artery.Transcatheter embolization is a fast,safe and effective,minimally invasive alternative to surgery when endoscopic treatment fails to control bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract.This article reviews the various transcatheter endovascular techniques and devices that are used in a variety of clinical scenarios for the management of hemorrhagic gastrointestinal emergencies.