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A 60-year-old woman presented with a conglomerate pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) size 8.2 × 7.2 cm on chest X-ray. Feeding arteries were A(a)(7) and A(b)(7) , A(8), and A(10). The diameter and length of the A(b)(7) neck were 15.5 and 16 mm, respectively. After percutaneous transcatheter embolization of A(8) and A(10), PTE of A(a)(7) and A(b)(7) was conducted under balloon occlusion with interlocking detachable coils using a technique of dumbbell-shaped framing and filling, making a bridge from A(b)(7) to the trunk of A(9) and A(10)across A(7). Follow-up computed tomography 10 months after treatment showed marked shrinkage of the PAVM.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to clarify the effect of the interval between transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization (TAE) with Lipiodol plus gelatin sponge particles and radiofrequency (RF) ablation on the extent of ablation., Materials and Methods: Eight healthy swine were divided into four groups: RF ablation (ablation only), RF ablation immediately after TAE (immediate ablation), RF ablation 3 days after TAE (3-day ablation), and RF ablation 6 days after TAE (6-day ablation). Five ablated lesions were created in each swine (10 per group). A 2-cm expandable LeVeen needle electrode was used for RF ablation. Ablated lesions are composed of an outer reddish zone and an inner whitish zone., Results: The average longest length of the major, intermediate, and minor axes and the volume in the immediate ablation, 3-day ablation, and 6-day ablation groups were significant longer and greater (1.52 and 1.52, 1.46 and 1.50, and 1.37 and 1.35 times greater in the red zone and the whitish area, respectively) than those in the ablation-only group (P < 0.05/3). Accumulation of Lipiodol was still noted in the hepatic sinusoids in the 3-day and 6-day ablation groups., Conclusion: RF ablation delayed to 6 days following TAE produced larger ablation volumes than did RF ablation alone.

Histologic evidence of safety after bronchial arterial embolization (BAE) with N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) should be assured. The present report describes a 78-year-old man with massive hemoptysis from lung cancer who underwent surgical lobectomy 23 days after hemostasis had been achieved via BAE with NBCA. Pathologic examination revealed that NBCA filled the lumen of bronchial branch arteries 143-1,094 μm in diameter from the lobar bronchus to subsegmental bronchus but was not seen in the lumen of the pulmonary artery or pulmonary vein. NBCA induced occlusion of bronchial branch arteries but no necrosis of the bronchial wall or pulmonary parenchyma., (Copyright © 2011 SIR. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study was designed to compare the efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) or gelatin sponge particles (GSP) for acute arterial bleeding in a coagulopathic condition using a swine model. Four healthy swine were divided into two coagulopathic conditions: mild and severe. Five hemorrhages were created in each swine (10 hemorrhages per coagulopathy). Mild coagulopathy was achieved by bloodletting 10% of the total circulatory whole blood and preserving activated clotting time (ACT) less than 200 s (ACT < 200 s state); severe coagulopathy was achieved by bloodletting 30% and preserving ACT > 400 s (ACT > 400-second state). For each state, of ACT < 200 s or ACT > 400 s, TAE was conducted with GSP or NBCA to control five hemorrhages arising from artificially created renal and splenic injuries. Angiography immediately after TAE with GSP or NBCA showed complete occlusion in both coagulopathic conditions. In the ACT < 200-second state, follow-up angiography at 5-30 min after TAE with GSP or NBCA showed no evidence of recurrent hemorrhage. In the ACT > 400-second state, follow-up angiography showed recurrent hemorrhage in four (80%) of the five hemorrhages embolized with GSP and in one (20%) of the five hemorrhages embolized with NBCA. Microscopically, red thrombi were observed densely surrounding GSP in mild coagulopathy but were scarce in severe coagulopathy. In a condition with severe coagulopathy, TAE with NBCA was more effective in durability to cease active arterial bleeding than with GSP.

This study was designed to assess the safety of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with n-butyl cyanoacrylate-lipiodol (NBCA-Lp) for the large bowel and to investigate the vital response to NBCA-Lp in a swine model. In nine swine, nine arteries nourishing the colon were embolized with NBCA-Lp (1 ml of NBCA mixed with 4 ml of lipiodol): sigmoid-rectal branch artery in six swine, right colic branch artery in two, and middle colic branch artery in one. The amount of NBCA-Lp was 0.1-0.4 ml. Sacrifice was conducted 3 days after TAE to identify histological infarction. Classification was conducted retrospectively: group A, vasa recta without NBCA-Lp embolization despite TAE; group B, three or fewer vasa recta with NBCA-Lp embolization; and group C, five or more vasa recta with NBCA-Lp embolization. In one swine in group A, no necrotic focus was observed. In group B, three of four swine experienced no ischemic damage. The remaining one swine experienced necrosis of mucosal and submucosal layers in one-fourth of the circumference. In group C, all four swine with marginal artery and five vasa recta or more embolized experienced total necrosis of mucosa, submucosa, and smooth muscle layers of the whole colonic circumference. Significant difference on the extent of ischemic damage was observed between groups B and C (P < 0.05). Microscopically, NBCA-Lp induced acute vasculitis. Embolization of three or fewer vasa recta with NBCA-Lp induced no ischemic damage or limited necrosis, whereas embolization of five or more vasa recta with NBCA-Lp induced extensive necrosis.

Embolization using N-butyl-2-cyano-acrylate (NBCA) has been highly regarded for treating pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous malformation, and hemorrhage of the visceral arteries. We report the case of a patient who fell from a cliff and sustained hemorrhagic shock with blunt abdominal aortic rupture and who underwent embolization using NBCA. This treatment achieved immediate hemostasis and stabilization of vital signs. Although the long-term durability of NBCA is unknown, it appears that certain types of acute aortic hemorrhage with narrow-necked pseudoaneurysm can be controlled by embolization using NBCA.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate change in the portal systemic pressure gradient (PSPG) following balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) and the aggravation of esophageal varices. The PSPG was monitored before and after BRTO in 19 patients. PSPG changes were obtained by subtracting the PSPG before BRTO from that after BRTO. The development of outflow vessels (e.g., left inferior phrenic vein) was classified into two grades: Grade 1, BRTO alone; and Grade 2, coil embolization plus BRTO. After confirming demonstration of the whole gastric varices on angiography and computed tomography, BRTO was conducted using a 5% ethanolamine-iopamidol mixture. Endoscopy was performed to evaluate gastric and esophageal varices before, within 1 month, and 3-6 months after BRTO. Eradication of gastric varices was obtained in all patients and aggravation of esophageal varices was seen in 11 patients. The PSPG was significantly elevated by BRTO (p=0.0362). The PSPG was significantly elevated in patients with Grade 2 compared with those with Grade 1 (7.7+/-3.7 vs. 3.3+/-4.3 mmHg, respectively; p=0.0314) and in those with esophageal varices before treatment compared with those without (7.4+/-4.0 vs. 3.2+/-3.9 mmHg, respectively; p=0.0482). The cumulative aggravation rate of esophageal varices was significantly higher in 11 patients with a PSPG elevation>5 mmHg than in 8 patients with one of

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of transcatheter arterial embolization with gelatin sponge particles, microcoils, and N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) for acute arterial hemorrhage in the setting of coagulopathy., Materials and Methods: Coagulopathy is defined by a platelet count less than 5 x 10(4)/microL and/or International Normalized Ratio (INR) greater than 1.5. Forty-six patients (31 male patients; mean age, 62 years) with acute arterial hemorrhage in a coagulopathic condition were treated by transcatheter arterial embolization with gelatin sponge particle, microcoils, and NBCA., Results: Because of failure of hemostasis or recurrent hemorrhage, 10 patients who underwent gelatin sponge particle embolization also received transcatheter arterial embolization with microcoils or NBCA embolization and two patients who underwent microcoil embolization also received transcatheter arterial embolization with NBCA. The gelatin sponge particle group consisted of 27 hemorrhagic arteries in 25 patients, the microcoil group had 20 in 20 patients, and the NBCA group had 16 in 13 patients. The mean platelet count and mean INR value were 5.8 x 10(4)/microL +/- 3.5 and 1.81 +/- 0.50, respectively. The primary hemostatic rate, recurrent hemorrhage rate, and mean treatment time for the gelatin sponge particle, microcoil, and NBCA groups were 67%, 23%, and 25 minutes +/- 10; 80%, 0%, and 37 min +/- 19; and 100%, 0%, and 9 min +/- 4, respectively. Primary and secondary hemostasis were achieved in 50 (80%) and 60 (95%) of the 63 hemorrhagic arteries, respectively. Three hemorrhagic arteries in which transcatheter arterial embolization failed were treated with surgical repair., Conclusions: Although transcatheter arterial embolization with microcoils took a greater amount of time, transcatheter arterial embolization with NBCA or microcoils was more effective and feasible than that with gelatin sponge particle in terms of hemostasis and prevention of recurrent hemorrhage in a coagulopathic condition.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) on radiofrequency (RF) ablation volume and compare portal vein (PV) flow and liver parenchymal pressure before and after treatment., Materials and Methods: Eight healthy female swine were divided into four groups to be treated with RF ablation alone (RF-only group), RF ablation after TAE with gelatin sponge particles (GSPs; RF/TAE group), RF ablation after TAE with Lipiodol plus GSPs (RF/TAE/Lipiodol group), and PV embolization (PVE) with GSPs after TAE with Lipiodol plus GSPs (RF/TAE/Lipiodol/PVE group). Five ablations were created in each swine, with 10 ablations per group. A 2-cm expandable LeVeen needle electrode was used for RF ablation., Results: The greatest ablation volume (18,410.1 mm(3) +/- 3,986.4) was observed in the RF/TAE/Lipiodol/PVE group. Of the RF-only, RF/TAE, and RF/TAE/Lipiodol groups, the RF/TAE/Lipiodol group (14,835.5 mm(3) +/- 2,743.2) had a significantly larger ablation volume than the RF-only (8,002.6 mm(3) +/- 2,788.3) and RF/TAE groups (10,398.5 mm(3) +/- 2965.8; P < .05/3). PV pressures increased significantly after TAE (P < .01) compared with the pressure before TAE in the RF/TAE/Lipiodol and RF/TAE/Lipiodol/PVE groups, but not in the RF/TAE group. A marked increase in liver parenchymal pressure was seen during RF ablation; however, there were no significant differences among groups. Accumulation of Lipiodol was noted in the sinusoids in the RF/TAE/Lipiodol and RF/TAE/Lipiodol/PVE groups., Conclusions: TAE with blockade of PV flow before RF ablation was associated with greater ablation volumes. Liver parenchymal pressure showed no correlation with increased ablation volume.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of combined radiofrequency ablation and transcatheter arterial embolization with iodized oil on ablation time, maximum output, coagulation diameter, and portal angiography in a porcine liver model., Methods: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was applied to in vivo livers of 10 normal pigs using a 17-gauge 3.0 cm expandable LeVeen RF needle electrode with or without transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with iodized oil (n=5). In each animal, 2 areas in the liver were ablated. Direct portography was performed before and after RFA. Ablation was initiated at an output of 30 W, and continued with an increase of 10 W per minute until roll-off occurred. Ablation time and maximum output until roll-off, and coagulated tissue diameter were compared between the 2 groups. Angiographic changes on portography before and after ablation were also reviewed., Results: For groups with and without TAE with iodized oil, the ablation times until roll-off were 320.6 +/- 30.9 seconds and 445.1 +/- 35.9 seconds, respectively, maximum outputs were 69.0 +/- 7.38 W and 87.0 +/- 4.83 W and maximal diameters of coagulation were 41.7 +/- 3.85 mm and 33.2 +/- 2.28 mm. Significant reductions of ablation time and maximum output, and significantly larger coagulation diameter were obtained with RFA following TAE with iodized oil compared to RFA alone. Portography after RFA following TAE with iodized oil revealed more occlusion of the larger portal branches than with RFA alone., Conclusion: RFA following TAE with iodized oil can increase the volume of coagulation necrosis with lower output and shorter ablation time than RFA alone in normal pig liver tissue.

A 66-year-old woman underwent partial splenic embolization (PSE) for hypersplenism with idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH). One week later, contrast-enhanced CT revealed extensive portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and dilated portosystemic shunts. The PVT was not dissolved by the intravenous administration of urokinase. The right portal vein was canulated via the percutaneous transhepatic route under ultrasonic guidance and a 4 Fr. straight catheter was advanced into the portal vein through the thrombus. Transhepatic catheter-directed thrombolysis was performed to dissolve the PVT and a splenorenal shunt was concurrently occluded to increase portal blood flow, using balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) technique. Subsequent contrast-enhanced CT showed good patency of the portal vein and thrombosed splenorenal shunt. Transhepatic catheter-directed thrombolysis combined with BRTO is feasible and effective for PVT with portosystemic shunts.