Idiopathic renal arteriovenous fistula treated by transcatheter embolization

Renal arteriovenous fistulas (RAVFs) are unusual lesions with a variety of clinical manifestations. Traditionally, these lesions have been treated surgically. We report on an idiopathic, high-flow RAVF and an aneurysm treated successfully with the embolization technique. The endovascular management of RAVFs in carefully selected patients is a safe and effective therapeutic technique.     

Causes of Arterial Bleeding After Living Donor Liver Transplantation and the Results of Transcatheter Arterial Embolization

Objective

To analyze the causes of arterial bleeding after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and to evaluate the efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE).

Materials and Methods

Forty-two sessions of conventional arteriography were performed in 32 of the 195 patients who underwent LDLT during the past 2 years. This was done in search of bleeding foci of arterial origin. TAE was performed with microcoils or gelatin sponge particles. The causes of arterial bleeding, the technical and clinical success rates of TAE and the complications were retrospectively evaluated.

Results

Forty-two bleeding foci of arterial origin were identified on 30 sessions of arteriography in 21 patients. The most common cause of bleeding was percutaneous procedures in 40% of the patients (17 of the 42 bleeding foci) followed by surgical procedures in 36% (15/42). The overall technical and clinical success rates of TAE were 21 (70%) and 20 (67%) of the 30 sessions, respectively. The overall technical success rate of TAE for the treatment of bleeding from the hepatic resection margin, hepatic artery anastomotic site and hepaticojejunostomy was only 18% (2/11), whereas for the treatment of bleeding in the other locations the technical and clinical success rates of TAE were 100% and 95%, respectively. No procedure-related major complications occurred.

Conclusion

In the case of arterial bleeding after LDLT, percutaneous procedure-related hemorrhages were as common as surgery-related hemorrhages. There were technical difficulties in using TAE for the treatment of hepatic arterial bleeding. However, in the other locations, TAE seems to be safe and effective for the control of arterial bleeding in LDLT recipients.     

Visualization of the internal mammary artery via the hepatic falciform artery in a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma

The hepatic falciform artery is a small vessel that arises as a terminal branch of the middle or left hepatic artery. Its anatomy and clinical importance have been described in several recent reports. During dissection of a cadaver, this artery is generally found connected with the ensiform branch of the internal mammary artery. However, to our knowledge, anastomosis has not previously been described radiologically.     

The nutrient artery canal of the femur: a radiological study in patients with primary total hip replacement

Objective Plain antero-posterior and lateral radiographs of the femur often show radiolucent lines, which may reflect the canal of a nutrient artery. In patients who have undergone total hip replacement these radiolucent lines must be differentiated from fractures caused by bursting of the shaft during the procedure.Design and patients In a retrospective radiological study 129 extremities of 95 patients with cementless primary hip prostheses were examined for radiolucent lines. Pre- and postoperative antero-posterior and lateral radiographs were analyzed.Results In 34 of 129 extremities (26.4%) radiolucent lines compatible with a nutrient artery canal were detected, 14 of which (10.9% overall) were seen on lateral radiographs. In 11 of 129 extremities (8.5%) a nutrient artery canal was detected only on the antero-posterior views, while in 9 of 129 extremities (7.0%) it was well defined in both projections. One patient (0.8%) presented with a fracture postoperatively, which was radiologically distinct from a nutrient artery canal. The distance between the tip of the greater trochanter and the proximal end of the nutrient artery canal was 170±25 mm; the canal length was 27±9 mm.Conclusion Nutrient artery canals are often seen radiologically on pre- and postoperative radiographs down to the mid-shaft level and should be routinely recorded.     

获得性动-静脉瘘的介入微创治疗

目的 评价用介入微创技术治疗获得性动一静脉瘘(AVF)的安全性和疗效。方法 对10例不适宜传统外科治疗的AVF患者进行介入治疗,包括肾动-静脉瘘4例、髂动-静脉瘘3例、锁骨下动-静脉瘘3例。致病原因为穿通性损伤5例、医源性损伤3例、恶性肿瘤和小肠Crohn病各1例。就诊时临床表现有肢体肿胀-静脉显露6例、局部血管杂音10例、心脏负荷增加10例、右心功能衰竭2例、血尿4例。3例用经导管超选择性栓塞,7例用被覆膜支架置人封闭瘘口。结果 10例患者均治疗成功,治疗结束时复查血管造影显示瘘口被封闭。轻微并发症3例,无严重并发症。术后患者局部肿胀、静脉充血、心脏负荷过度等症状迅速改善,血管杂音消失;肾脏AVF患者,术后肾功能测定属于正常,其中2例肾动脉被覆膜支架置入患者同位素肾扫描显示患侧肾脏形态-功能正常。术后随访6个月至6年。3例患者分别于术后6、9、14个月死于与AVF无关的疾病;2例于术后3周、2个月因AVF复发,在原支架区再次置入一个被覆膜支架后残留瘘口闭塞;2例于术后6、8个月复查造影显示支架区存在轻度狭窄。7例患者仍然生存,未再针对AVF进行外科或介人治疗。结论 介入微创技术,包括超选择性栓塞和被覆膜支架置入术,是治疗获得性、复杂型AVF安全有效的方法。     

Lenticulostriate echogenic vessels: clinical and sonographic study of 70 neonatal cases

Background Neonatal branching echogenic streaks in the basal ganglia or 'lenticulostriate vasculopathy' (LSV) has no clear comprehensive aetiology.Objective To provide some clinical evidence, possibly relevant to aetiology, by analysis of a large series.Materials and methods Seventy cases (9 deaths, 3 post mortem) identified between 1981 and 2000 out of 9,138 neonates with routine brain sonograms (578 in a protocol for neonates from HIV+ mothers). Review of maternal/neonatal charts for clinical data and serologic status. Retrospective analysis of sonograms for grading and time course of LSV and coexistent abnormalities.Results LSV was unilateral in 31 cases (22 right), bilateral in 39. Grading separated 8 major, 27 moderate and 35 minor patterns. In 42 cases, LSV was isolated, and in 28 it was mixed with peri-intraventricular haemorrhage grades I or II and/or leucomalacia. LSV was detected in the first postnatal week in 56 instances and appeared later in 13. Disappearance occurred mostly within 2 months. Perinatal circumstances: 13 recipient monochorionic twins (polycythaemia from twin-twin transfusion syndromes), 20 HIV+ mothers (possible immunological disturbances; only 2 infected neonates), 10 congenital anomalies, 1 toxoplasmosis, 1 postnatal cytomegalovirus infection, 25 miscellaneous conditions. Numerous maternal and neonatal factors were non-contributory.Conclusions These results do not support congenital toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes (TORCH) infections as the main causative factor. Polycythaemia and various immunological disturbances may be involved, as well as infectious agents not appropriately screened by routine serodiagnoses.     

Digital Subtraction Fluoroscopy to Enhance Visualization During Uterine Fibroid Embolization: A Technical Note

We describe a simple but underutilized technique for improving visualization during transcatheter embolization using particulate agents. The technique is of distinct utility in uterine fibroid embolization, during which non-target embolization can be of particular clinical significance.     

颈动脉切除重建术在头颈肿瘤中的应用

目的 探讨颈动脉切除重建术在累及颈动脉的头颈肿瘤外科治疗中的应用价值.方法 分析7例累及颈动脉的头颈肿瘤患者一期切除肿瘤和颈动脉及颈动脉重建手术的方法、效果及5术后并发症,3例为ShamblinⅢ型颈动脉体瘤,2例为喉癌术后复发并颈部淋巴结转移,2例为喉咽癌术后复发或放疗后并颈部淋巴结转移.结果 7例患者均在颈动脉转流下切断颈动脉,肿瘤连同颈动脉整块切除,采用自体大隐静脉或聚四氟乙烯膨体(expanded polytetrafluoroethylene,ePTFE)人工血管重建颈动脉.所有患者术后均未出现中枢神经系统并发症,2例颈动脉体瘤患者出现单侧喉返神经麻痹和霍纳综合征.1例患者因咽瘘导致颈动脉破裂二次行颈动脉重建术;2例患者术后形成咽瘘,其中1例出现肿瘤复发,1例经换药愈合.结论对于累及颈动脉的头颈肿瘤,颈动脉切除重建术有可能降低手术后神经系统并发症发生,改善患者的生活质量.     

Transarterial embolisation of vascular lesions associated with percutaneous drainage catheters

Selective hepatic and renal angiography were performed in seven patients with clinically significant haemorrhage from vascular lesions caused by percutaneous transhepatic drainage (3 cases) and percutaneous nephrostomy catheteres (4 cases). We demonstrated hepatic artery pseudoaneurysms in 2 patients, a hepatoportal fistula in 1, renal artery pseudoaneurysms in 3 and both an arteriovenous fistula and a pseudoaneurysym of reneal artery in 1. A tamponade effect of the drainage catheter, preventing extravasation of contrast medium was seen in one patient. We superselectively catheterised the injured artery and performed transacterial embolisation in all cases using coil spring emboli in 6 and Gelfoam cubes in 1. Postembolisation angiography was carried out ti check the location of the embolic material and patency of the remaining arterial supply. Bleeding was controlled in 6 of the 7 patients after 4, 7, 15, 23, 26, 27 months of follow-up. One patient rebled after a month, an operation was performed and she died of sepsis 2 weeks later. Transarterial embolisation was a safe, life-saving procedure in these cases of haemorrhage due to percutaneous drainage catheters, avoiding surgical intervention in this particulary high-risk patients. Offprint requests to: C.-C. Tsai     

Prolonged hypoxia modulates platelet activating factor receptor-mediated responses by fetal ovine pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells

Hypoxia augments PAF receptor (PAFr) binding and PAFr protein expression in venous SMC (SMC-PV). We compared effect of acute and prolonged hypoxia (pO₂ < 40 torr) on PAFr-mediated responses in arterial SMC (SMC-PA) and SMC-PV. Cells were studied for 30 min (acute) or for 48 h (prolonged) hypoxia and compared to normoxic (pO₂ ~ 100 torr) conditions. PAF binding was quantified in fmol/10⁶ cells (mean ± SEM). PAF binding in normoxia were SMC-PA, 5.2 ± 0.2 and in SMC-PV, 19.3 ± 1.1; values in acute hypoxia were SMC-PA, 7.7 ± 0.4 and in SMC-PV, 27.8 ± 1.7. Prolonged hypoxia produced 6-fold increase in binding in SMC-PA, but only 2-fold increase in SMC-PV, but binding in SMC-PV was still higher. Acute hypoxia augmented inositol phosphate release by 50% and 40% in SMC-PA and SMC-PV, respectively. During normoxia, PAFr mRNA expression by both cell types was similar, but expression in hypoxia by SMC-PA was greater. In SMC-PA, hypoxia and PAF augmented intracellular calcium flux. Re-exposure of cells to 30 min normoxia after 48 h hypoxia decreased binding by 45–60%, suggesting immediate down-regulation of hypoxia-induced PAFr-mediated effects. We speculate that re-oxygenation immediately reverses hypoxia effect probably due to oxygen tension-dependent reversibility of PAFr activation and suggest that exposure of the neonate to prolonged state of hypoxia will vilify oxygen exchange capacity of the neonatal lungs.