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Computed tomographic (CT) guided biopsy and abscess drainage of multiple organ systems have been well described. Reports of spinal and skeletal applications have been less common. This study describes the use of CT guidance in the biopsy of various skeletal lesions in 46 patients. Forty-one patients had skinny needle aspirations (18 or 22 gauge) and 23 patients had trephine core biopsies. Sites of the lesions included: thoracic spine-15 patients, lumbosacral spine-17 patients, bony pelvis-6 patients, rib-2 patients, and long bones-6 patients. Fast scanners capable of rapid image reconstruction have overcome many constraints. With CT guidance, the physician who performs the procedure receives virtually no ionizing radiation. The exact location of the needle tip is accurately visualized in relation to the lesion being biopsied and to the vital organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) comprises 40% of pancreatic cancer diagnoses and has a relatively poor prognosis. Trans-arterial micro perfusion (TAMP)-mediated chemotherapy delivery to the primary tumor is a novel approach worthy of investigation. The RR1 (dose escalation) and RR2 (observational) studies examined the safety and preliminary efficacy of TAMP-delivered gemcitabine for LAPC., Patients and Methods: RR1 and RR2 data were pooled. Both studies enrolled patients with LAPC with histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma. Participant data, including age, sex, race, stage, previous treatments, toxicity, disease progression, and death, were collected. Median number of cycles and average treatment dosage were calculated. Overall survival (OS) was determined for the whole group and separately for patients who received and did not receive previous treatments. Aims of the analysis were to assess procedure safety, OS, and evaluate factors associated with OS., Results: The median age of the 43 patients enrolled in RR1 and RR2 was 72 years (range, 51-88 years). Median OS for the 35 eligible patients with stage III disease was 12.6 months (95% CI, 2.1-54.2 months). Previous chemoradiation was associated with significantly longer OS [27.1 months (95% CI, 8.4-40.6 months)] compared to previous systemic chemotherapy [14.6 months (95% CI, 6.4-54.2 months)] or no prior treatment [7.0 months (95% CI, 2.1-35.4 months)] (P < .001). The most common adverse events were GI related (abdominal pain, emesis, and vomiting); the most common grade 3 toxicity was sepsis., Conclusion: Study results indicate that TAMP-mediated gemcitabine delivery in patients with LAPC is potentially safe, feasible, and provides potential clinical benefits., Clinical Trial Registration: NCT02237157 (RR1) and NCT02591082 (RR2)., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Purpose: To describe our experience in performing transfemoral-transcaval liver biopsy (TFTC) and transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) in patients with Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD)., Methods: A single-center, retrospective review of 23 TFTC and seven TJLB performed between August 2011 and May 2023 on patients who previously underwent the Fontan procedure (median age 23.1 years, ranging 11-43 years, 48% female). Patient demographics, laboratory values, pathology, radiology, and cardiology reports were reviewed. Liver explants were correlated with histopathological evaluation to determine sampling accuracy when available., Results: All biopsies achieved technical success (accurate targeting and safe tissue sample extraction) and histopathological success (yielding sufficient tissue for accurate diagnosis). Liver biopsies were performed during simultaneous cardiac catheterization in 28 of 30 (93%) procedures. There was no statistically significant change in hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet count post-procedure, and fluoroscopy times. There was one major complication within the TJLB group and one minor complication within the TFTC group., Conclusion: Transvenous liver biopsies, whether via transfemoral or transjugular route, may be safely performed in FALD patients while yielding samples with technical and histopathological success. The transfemoral approach, which is our preferred method; its compatibility with simultaneous cardiac catheterization and its potentially increased safety profile stemming from the avoidance of transversing the Fontan shunt-makes it a particular advantageous option in the management of FALD., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Treatment of hypovascular tumors, such as pancreatic adenocarcinoma, is challenging owing to inefficient drug delivery. This report examines the potential mechanism of localized drug delivery via transarterial microperfusion (TAMP) using a proprietary adjustable double-balloon occlusion catheter in a porcine model., Materials and Methods: Adult Yorkshire swine (N = 21) were used in the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee-approved protocols. The RC-120 catheter (RenovoRx, Los Altos, California) was positioned into visceral, femoral, and pulmonary arteries with infusion of methylene blue dye, gemcitabine, or gold nanoparticles. Transmural delivery was compared under double-balloon occlusion with and without side-branch exclusion, single-balloon occlusion, and intravenous delivery. Intra-arterial pressure and vascular histologic changes were assessed., Results: Infusion with double-balloon occlusion and side-branch exclusion provided increased intra-arterial pressure in the isolated segment and enhanced perivascular infusate penetration with minimal vascular injury. Infusates were predominantly found in the vasa vasorum by electron microscopy., Conclusions: TAMP enhanced transmural passage mediated by localized increase in arterial pressure via vasa vasorum., (Copyright © 2024 SIR. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and effectiveness of the transfemoral transcaval (TFTC) liver biopsy technique in patients with hepatic masses with relative contraindications to percutaneous biopsy and/or mass location abutting the inferior vena cava. The medical records of 16 patients (56% men; age range, 21-88 years) who underwent TFTC biopsy of hepatic masses (ranging in diameter from 2.1 to 13.2 cm) from September 2015 to August 2021 were reviewed. Histopathologic diagnoses were made in 15 of 17 (88%) procedures. Two adverse events were noted: worsened preexisting hemobilia requiring embolization in 1 patient, and a decrease in hematocrit level in another patient, requiring only observation. In conclusion, this report showed that the TFTC technique is a relatively safe and effective method for sampling hepatic masses in select cases., (Copyright © 2022 SIR. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Study Objective: Data regarding uterine artery embolization (UAE) to specifically treat anticoagulant-associated iatrogenic abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB-I) are sparse. This manuscript aimed to quantify the effectiveness of UAE in treating this subset of patients., Design: Retrospective case series., Setting: Academic hospital serving a large minority-majority population., Patients: Twenty-four patients with AUB-I that was provoked or aggravated by the initiation of anticoagulation therapy., Interventions: Treatment of anticoagulant-associated AUB-I that failed medical management or was acute with UAE rather than inferior vena cava filter placement and hysterectomy., Measurements and Main Results: An imaging database search was performed to identify patients who underwent UAE for anticoagulant-associated AUB-I from May 2011 to July 2020. Medical and radiologic records were reviewed. Short- and long-term outcomes were obtained to date, ranging from 10 months to 10 years after the procedure. In total, 24 patients were identified, ranging in age from 35 to 54 (mean 44.9) years. Venous thromboembolic disease was the most common (92%) indication for anticoagulation. At presentation, 14 patients (58%) were anticipated to require lifelong anticoagulation. Most UAE procedures (54%) occurred within 10 days of anticoagulation initiation. Before UAE, 17 patients (71%) attempted and failed medical management, myomectomy, or endometrial ablation to control bleeding. After UAE, 21 patients (88%) experienced substantial improvement or resolution of AUB and continued anticoagulation therapy. Three patients (14%) did not experience improvement and were treated with hysterectomy. Amenorrhea immediately after UAE occurred in 1 patient at age 45., Conclusion: UAE was an effective tool in the management of anticoagulant associated AUB-I in this cohort, resulting in decreased bleeding while allowing the continuation of anticoagulation therapy, with high rates of uterine preservation and preserved menses., (Copyright © 2021 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Importance: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a heterogeneous disease with many available treatment modalities. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a valuable treatment modality for HCC lesions. This article seeks to evaluate the utility of additional ablative therapy in the management of patients with HCC who received an initial TACE procedure., Objective: To compare the overall survival (OS) and freedom from local progression (FFLP) outcomes after TACE alone with TACE that is followed by an ablative treatment regimen using stereotactic body radiation therapy, radiofrequency ablation, or microwave ablation for patients with HCC., Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study of 289 adults at a single urban medical center examined survival outcomes for patients with nonmetastatic, unresectable HCC who received ablative therapies following TACE or TACE alone from January 2010 through December 2018. The Lee, Wei, Amato common baseline hazard model was applied for within-patient correlation with robust variance and Cox regression analysis was used to assess the association between treatment group (TACE vs TACE and ablative therapy) and failure time events (FFLP per individual lesion and OS per patient), respectively. In both analyses, the treatment indication was modeled as a time-varying covariate. Landmark analysis was used as a further sensitivity test for bias by treatment indication., Exposures: TACE alone vs TACE followed by ablative therapy., Main Outcomes and Measures: Freedom from local progression and overall survival. Hypotheses were generated before data collection., Results: Of the 289 patients identified, 176 (60.9%) received TACE only and 113 (39.1%) received TACE plus ablative therapy. Ablative therapy included 45 patients receiving stereotactic body radiation therapy, 39 receiving microwave ablation, 20 receiving radiofrequency ablation, and 9 receiving a combination of these following TACE. With a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 17.4 (9.5-29.5) months, 242 of 512 (47.3%) lesions progressed, 211 in the group with TACE alone and 31 in the group with TACE plus ablative therapy (P < .001). Over 3 years, FFLP was 28.1% for TACE alone vs 67.4% for TACE with ablative therapy (P < .001). The 1-year and 3-year OS was 87.5% and 47.1% for patients with lesions treated with TACE alone vs 98.7% and 85.3% for patients where any lesion received TACE plus ablative therapy, respectively (P = .01), and this benefit remained robust on landmark analyses at 6 and 12 months. The addition of ablative therapy was independently associated with OS on multivariable analysis for all patients (hazard ratio, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.13-0.49; P < .001) and for patients with Barcelona clinic liver cancer stage B or C disease (hazard ratio, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.14-0.69; P = .004)., Conclusions and Relevance: Adding ablative therapy following TACE improved FFLP and OS among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aims to guide the treatment paradigm for HCC patients until results from randomized clinical trials become available.

Purpose: To compare the safety and efficacy of transfemoral transcaval liver biopsies (TFTC) with that of transjugular liver biopsies (TJLB) at a single tertiary-care institution., Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was performed of 500 consecutive transvenous liver biopsies between December 2010 and December 2018. The cases included 286 TFTC patients at a median age of 54 years old (interquartile range [IQR], 42-63 years of age), 37.4% were female; and 214 TJLB patients at a median age of 55 years old (IQR, 46-61 years of age), 45.4% female. Patient demographic and laboratory data and technical and histopathological success, fluoroscopy times, and complications were recorded. Comparative statistical analyses were performed using a 2-sample test or a Wilcoxon ranked sum test for continuous variables and a chi-square test or Fisher exact test for categorical variables when appropriate., Results: TFTC and TJLB data are presented as: technical success rates of 99.3% (283 of 286) and 100% (214 of 214), respectively; histopathologic success rates of 96.5% (275 of 285) and 95.8% (205 of 214), respectively; and major complication rates of 1.4% (4 of 284) and 5.6% (12 of 214), respectively (P = .009). There were no hepatic injuries in the TFTC group, whereas the TJLB group included 6 significant hepatic injuries requiring intervention. Median fluoroscopic times were 5.5 minutes (IQR, 3.9-8.6 minutes) for TFTC and 8.1 minutes (IQR, 5.2-13.1) for TJLB (P < .001)., Conclusions: In this single-institution study, TFTC was associated with a lower major complication rate and lower fluoroscopy times than conventional TJLB with similar technical and histopathologic successes., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Higher facility volume is correlated to better overall survival (OS), but there is little knowledge on the effect of facility treatment modality number on OS in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)., Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of data from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) from 2004-2014 on patients with non-metastatic HCC. Treatment modalities assessed were surgical resection, transplantation, ablation, radioembolization, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), single-agent chemotherapy, and multi-agent chemotherapy. Facilities were dichotomized at the median of the listed treatment modalities., Results: There were a total of 112,512 patients with non-metastatic HCC. Of a total of 1,230 sites, 830 (67.5%) used four or fewer modalities. Average survival for patients treated at facilities using fewer modalities was 12.0 and 23.5 months for those treated at facilities with more modalities [hazard ratio (HR) =0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.51-0.53, P<0.001]. After adjusting for facility volume, liver function, tumor and patient characteristics and other prognostic factors in a multivariable Cox model, treatment at a multi-modality facility still provided a survival advantage (HR =0.60, 95% CI: 0.52-0.70, P<0.001). This benefit also persisted after propensity score matching. Sensitivity analysis varying the cut point from 2 to 6 modalities for dichotomization showed that the benefit persisted. Subgroup stratified analyses based on stage showed that the benefit in OS was highest for patients with stage I and II (P≤0.002) but was not significant for stage III or IVa., Conclusions: Institutions that offered more treatment modalities had improved OS for patients with non-metastatic HCC, especially for those with stage I and II., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Purpose: To describe the utility of post-procedure noncontrast cone-beam computed tomography (CT) in identifying cases of incomplete treatment and the need to search for additional vascular supply during uterine artery embolization (UAE)., Materials and Methods: From June 2013 to June 2018, 427 patients (age, 45 ± 5 years) underwent 430 consecutive UAEs with post-embolization noncontrast cone-beam CT. If noncontrast cone-beam CT showed an area of the uterus lacking contrast retention, aortography was performed to search for collateral supply. Procedures were characterized as suspected complete bilateral UAEs or suspected incomplete UAEs, such as in cases of a unilateral uterine artery or diminutive uterine arteries. Rates of inadequate contrast retention on noncontrast cone-beam CT and discovered collateral artery supply were calculated. In 10 consecutive cases in which both noncontrast cone-beam CT and aortography were performed, dose-area product radiation exposure from noncontrast cone-beam CT and aortography was compared using a 2-sided paired-sample t-test., Results: Of the 411 suspected complete bilateral UAEs, noncontrast cone-beam CT showed an area of the uterus lacking contrast retention in 38 (9.2%) cases. Of the 19 suspected incomplete UAEs, noncontrast cone-beam CT demonstrated incomplete treatment in 6 (31.6%) patients. Aortography was performed in 40 of the 44 cases of incomplete treatment on noncontrast cone-beam CT, and collateral supply was found in 28 (70.0%) cases. In 22 of these cases (5.2% of the 427 patients studied), noncontrast cone-beam CT led to the discovery of significant collateral supply requiring further embolization. Dose-area product radiation exposure from noncontrast cone-beam CT was less than from aortography (P = .007)., Conclusions: Post-UAE noncontrast cone-beam CT can be used to select a subset of patients with a higher likelihood of collateral supply who may benefit from post-embolization aortography., (Copyright © 2018 SIR. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis, although similar in many aspects to deep venous thrombosis (DVT), has distinct clinical implications, treatments and roles for endovascular management. Etiologies of IVC thrombosis vary from congenital malformations of the IVC to acquired, where indwelling IVC filters have been implicated as a leading cause. With an increasing incidence of IVC thrombosis throughout the United States, clinicians need to be educated on the clinical signs and diagnostic tools available to aid in the diagnosis as well as available treatment options. Untreated IVC thrombus can result in serious morbidity and mortality, both in the acute phase with symptoms related to venous outflow occlusion and embolism, and in the long-term, sequelae of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) related to chronic venous occlusion. This manuscript will discuss the clinical presentation of IVC thrombosis, diagnostic and treatment options, as well as the role of endovascular management., Competing Interests: Y Golowa involved in a clinical trial with the AngioVac (Angiodynamics). The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Purpose: To describe the technique and outcome of transfemoral transcaval (TFTC) core-needle liver biopsies., Materials and Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed on 121 patients who underwent transvenous liver biopsies at a single institution between February 2014 and July 2015, yielding 66 total TFTC liver biopsies for review (65.2% male; mean age, 53.2 y ± 15.0). From August 2014 through July 2015, TFTC biopsies accounted for 64 of 77 (83%) transvenous biopsies. Hepatic tissue was obtained directly through the intrahepatic inferior vena cava from a femoral venous approach. Procedural complications were classified according to Society of Interventional Radiology guidelines., Results: Of the 66 biopsies, technical success was achieved in 64 cases (97.0%). Histopathologic diagnoses were made in 63 cases (95.5%). Fragmented or limited specimens in which a pathologic diagnosis was still made occurred in four cases (6.1%). Complications occurred in two cases (3.0%). Venous pressure measurements were requested in 60 cases, and all were successfully obtained., Conclusions: TFTC core-needle liver biopsies are feasible and safe as demonstrated in this series of patients., (Copyright © 2016 SIR. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: This study conducted a prospective, single-arm, multicenter trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-facilitated, catheter-directed, low-dose fibrinolysis, using the EkoSonic Endovascular System (EKOS, Bothell, Washington)., Background: Systemic fibrinolysis for acute pulmonary embolism (PE) reduces cardiovascular collapse but causes hemorrhagic stroke at a rate exceeding 2%., Methods: Eligible patients had a proximal PE and a right ventricular (RV)-to-left ventricular (LV) diameter ratio ≥0.9 on chest computed tomography (CT). We included 150 patients with acute massive (n = 31) or submassive (n = 119) PE. We used 24 mg of tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA) administered either as 1 mg/h for 24 h with a unilateral catheter or 1 mg/h/catheter for 12 h with bilateral catheters. The primary safety outcome was major bleeding within 72 h of procedure initiation. The primary efficacy outcome was the change in the chest CT-measured RV/LV diameter ratio within 48 h of procedure initiation., Results: Mean RV/LV diameter ratio decreased from baseline to 48 h post-procedure (1.55 vs. 1.13; mean difference, -0.42; p < 0.0001). Mean pulmonary artery systolic pressure (51.4 mm Hg vs. 36.9 mm Hg; p < 0.0001) and modified Miller Index score (22.5 vs. 15.8; p < 0.0001) also decreased post-procedure. One GUSTO (Global Utilization of Streptokinase and Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Occluded Coronary Arteries)-defined severe bleed (groin hematoma with transient hypotension) and 16 GUSTO-defined moderate bleeding events occurred in 15 patients (10%). No patient experienced intracranial hemorrhage., Conclusions: Ultrasound-facilitated, catheter-directed, low-dose fibrinolysis decreased RV dilation, reduced pulmonary hypertension, decreased anatomic thrombus burden, and minimized intracranial hemorrhage in patients with acute massive and submassive PE. (A Prospective, Single-arm, Multi-center Trial of EkoSonic® Endovascular System and Activase for Treatment of Acute Pulmonary Embolism (PE) [SEATTLE II]; NCT01513759)., (Copyright © 2015 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Fibrin sheaths may develop around long-term indwelling central venous catheters (CVCs) and remain in place after the catheters are removed. We evaluated the prevalence, computed tomographic (CT) appearance, and clinical associations of retained fibrin sheaths after CVC removal., Materials and Methods: We retrospectively identified 147 adults (77 men and 70 women; mean age 58 y) who underwent CT after CVC removal. The prevalence of fibrin sheath remnants was calculated. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess for associations between sheath remnants and underlying diagnoses leading to CVC placement; patients' age and sex; venous stenosis, occlusion, and collaterals; CVC infection; and pulmonary embolism., Results: Retained fibrin sheaths were present in 13.6% (20/147) of cases, of which 45% (9/20) were calcified. Bivariate analysis revealed sheath remnants to be more common in women than in men [23% (16/70) vs. 5% (4/77), P=0.0018] and to be more commonly associated with venous occlusion and collaterals [30% (6/20) vs. 5% (6/127), P=0.0001 and 30% (6/20) vs. 6% (7/127), P=0.0003, respectively]. Other variables were not associated. Multivariate analysis confirmed the relationship between fibrin sheaths and both female sex (P=0.005) and venous occlusion (P=0.01)., Conclusions: Retained fibrin sheaths were seen on CT in a substantial minority of patients after CVC removal; nearly half of them were calcified. They were more common in women and associated with venous occlusion.

Vascular surgery is very fortunate. It recognized the transition from open surgery to endovascular procedures as treatments for vascular disease early enough to adapt as a specialty. As a result, most vascular surgeons in North America became competent with endovascular techniques, and the survival of the specialty was assured. The endovascular graft program at Montefiore Hospital played a major role in vascular surgery's early recognition of the importance of the endovascular revolution. This article will review the history of this early endovascular graft program and how it influenced the specialty., (Copyright © 2014 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Lung cancer remains the malignancy with the highest mortality and second highest incidence in both men and women within the United States. Image-guided ablative therapies are safe and effective for localized control of unresectable liver, renal, bone, and lung tumors. Local ablative therapies have been shown to slow disease progression and prolong disease-free survival in patients who are not surgical candidates, either due to local extent of disease or medical comorbidities. Commonly encountered complications of percutaneous ablation of lung tumors include pneumothorax, pleural inflammation, pleural effusions, and pneumonia, which are usually easily managed. This review will discuss the merits of image-guided ablation in the treatment of lung tumors and the underlying mechanism, procedural techniques, clinical utility, toxicity, imaging of tumor response, and future developments, with a focus on radiofrequency ablation.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the presence and distribution patterns of contrast agent retention in the liver on noncontrast computed tomography (CT) immediately following chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads (DEBs)., Materials and Methods: From 2008 to 2010, 95 patients with 224 liver lesions had chemoembolization performed with DEBs and a noncontrast CT examination of the liver performed immediately after embolization. Of these, 85 patients with 193 lesions were included. The postembolization CT scan was reviewed by a diagnostic radiologist, and the presence of contrast agent retention within the lesion was assessed. Varying patterns of contrast agent retention were defined., Results: Of the 193 lesions included, 146 (76%) retained contrast medium. Aside from some contrast medium in vessels, very little if any contrast medium was seen in the surrounding liver. Various patterns of contrast agent retention were noted within lesions. In a single case, repeat imaging was obtained 6 hours later, which demonstrated washout of contrast agent in a lesion that had retained contrast agent on the postprocedure CT scan. Of significance, 13 additional foci of contrast agent retention were identified on postchemoembolization CT scans that, on retrospective review of preprocedure imaging, represented enhancing lesions not previously identified., Conclusions: Noncontrast CT after chemoembolization with DEBs demonstrates contrast agent retention in 76% of cases, without significant contrast medium seen in the adjacent liver parenchyma. The presence or absence of contrast agent retention may prove to be useful in evaluating accurate targeting of a lesion., (Copyright © 2012 SIR. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To present our experience with the management of renal artery pseudoaneurysms following laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN)., Methods: Our bi-institutional LPN database of 259 patients from July 2001 to April 2008 was queried for patients diagnosed with a postoperative renal artery pseudoaneurysm. Demographic data, perioperative course, complications, and follow-up studies in identified subjects were analyzed. Postembolization success was defined as symptomatic relief, resolution of hematuria, and a stable hematocrit and serum creatinine., Results: We identified 6 patients (2.3%) who were diagnosed with a renal artery pseudoaneurysm after LPN. The mean age of our cohort was 61.2 years (49-76), mean operative time was 208 minutes (140-265), and mean estimated blood loss was 408 mL (50-800). Patients presented at a mean of 12.6 days (5-23) after the initial surgery. Five patients had gross hematuria and a decreased hematocrit, with 1 patient presenting with clinical symptoms of hypovolemia. The sixth patient was incidentally diagnosed. The diagnosis of a renal artery pseudoaneurysm was confirmed in all cases by angiography. Selective angioembolization was successfully performed in all patients. At a median follow-up of 8.3 months all patients (100%) remained without any evidence of recurrence., Conclusions: Although pseudoaneuryms are a rare postoperative complication of LPN, they are potentially life-threatening. Early identification and proper management can help reduce the potential morbidity associated with pseudoaneurysms. Our experience demonstrates the feasibility and supports the use of selective angioembolization as an excellent first-line option for patients who present with this form of delayed bleeding.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Patients with massive PE have a high mortality rate, with two of every three deaths occurring in the first hour. The mainstay of treatment for PE is anticoagulation. However, when the patient is in extremis, intravenous lysis of the clot is indicated. Recently, mechanical fragmentation with or without pharmacologic thrombolysis has been shown to have a role in therapy for patients with massive PE, as well as in those patients who have a contraindication to anticoagulation. We discuss our experience with mechanical fragmentation in the treatment of PE and review the literature.

A new technique for percutaneous gastrostomy of a decompressed excluded gastric segment after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) surgery is described and the results in a single institution are reviewed. Computed tomography guidance was used to place a 21- or 22-gauge needle into the lumen of the stomach and distend it to allow placement of a feeding catheter. Ten women underwent the procedure, and despite only three patients having clear access windows, gastrostomy placement was ultimately successful in all 10 patients. Percutaneous gastrostomy of the decompressed excluded gastric segment after RYGBP surgery can be challenging, but a high rate of success can be achieved.

Purpose: To retrospectively assess endoleak shapes and locations within aneurysms to differentiate type II from type I and type III endoleaks., Materials and Methods: The institutional review board granted an exemption for this HIPAA-compliant study; patient informed consent was not required. A retrospective review of arterial phase helical computed tomographic (CT) studies and medical records was performed for 39 patients (29 men, 10 women; age range, 60-89 years; mean, 78.5 years) who had an endoleak after endoaortic graft implantation for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm and who subsequently underwent angiography (n = 25), surgery (n = 8), or long-term follow-up (n = 6) to classify their endoleak into a specific type. At CT, endoleak shape (tubular or nontubular) and location (central or peripheral) were recorded. An endoleak was classified as type II if it contained a peripheral tubular component (PTC) near the aortic wall, with or without an identifiable feeding vessel. Endoleaks without these features were classified as type I or III. The Fisher exact test was used to assess associations between CT findings and endoleak type., Results: There were 22 type II and 17 type I or III endoleaks. CT enabled correct identification of 22 (100%) of 22 type II endoleaks, all of which contained a PTC. Of 17 type I or III endoleaks, only two (12%) contained a PTC and were misclassified as type II endoleaks; the remaining 15 (88%) were correctly classified. Overall, CT enabled correct identification of endoleaks as type II or type I or III in 37 (95%) of 39 patients. PTCs were significantly more common (P < .001) in type II than in type I or III endoleaks, with a sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value of 100%, 88.2%, 94.9%, 100%, and 91.7%, respectively., Conclusion: A PTC is a statistically significant predictor of type II endoleak in most patients., ((c) RSNA, 2006.)

Failure to treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Anticoagulation, although effective at preventing clot progression, is not able to prevent postthrombotic syndrome. Catheter-directed thrombolysis is a more aggressive alternative, with some small studies suggesting a better long-term outcome, but the associated risks are significant, and the treatment can require 2-3 days in a monitored setting. This report describes the power pulse technique, in which mechanical thrombectomy is combined with thrombolytic agents to maximize the effectiveness of the treatment and reduce the need for prolonged infusion and its associated risks. A 24-patient retrospective study showed complete thrombus removal (>90%) in 12 patients, substantial thrombus removal (50%-90%) in seven patients, and partial thrombus removal (<50%) in five patients. All 24 patients had resolution of presenting symptoms. Only two patients required blood transfusion, and one patient experienced temporary nephropathy.

In 1990 Juan C. Parodi performed the first endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair in Buenos Aires. Two years later, in 1992, Parodi and Claudio Schonholz visited Montefiore Medical Center in New York to perform with us the first endovascular AAA repair to be done in the United States. Since then the Montefiore/Einstein vascular group has performed 1522 endovascular grafts in 674 patients for many types of vascular lesions using a variety of both surgeon-made and industry-made devices. The purpose of the present article is to describe the events that surrounded the performance of the first seminal endovascular AAA repair at our institution on November 23, 1992.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety profile, pharmacokinetics, and thrombolytic activity of alfimeprase, a novel direct-acting thrombolytic agent, in patients with chronic peripheral arterial occlusion (PAO)., Materials and Methods: In this multicenter, open-label, single-dose, dose-escalation study, 20 patients with worsening symptoms of lower extremity ischemia within 6 months of enrollment were treated with alfimeprase in five escalating dose cohorts (0.025 mg/kg, 0.05 mg/kg, 0.1 mg/kg, 0.3 mg/kg, and 0.5 mg/kg) by means of intraarterial and sometimes intrathrombic pulsed infusion. The primary endpoint was safety assessed by adverse event rates. Additional safety assessments included vital sign monitoring, serum chemistry testing, hematologic testing, and coagulation testing for 28 days after the procedure, as well as alpha2-macroglobulin and antialfimeprase antibody testing for as long as 3 months after treatment. Pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated with use of an assay that measures free and alpha2-macroglobulin-bound (ie, total) alfimeprase., Results: No patient experienced a hemorrhagic adverse event. Mean plasminogen and fibrinogen concentrations were not substantially altered by treatment. Three transient treatment-related adverse events were reported in the same patient: one incidence each of increased blood fibrinogen level, skin rash, and headache. All three adverse events were graded as mild. The pharmacokinetic profile of alfimeprase suggested that the half-life for total alfimeprase ranges from 11 to 54 minutes (median, 25 min) in patients with PAO. The serum alpha2-macroglobulin concentrations decreased transiently in a dose response-like manner between 12 and 24 hours and returned to within normal limits approximately 14 days after alfimeprase exposure., Conclusions: Alfimeprase in doses as high as 0.5 mg/kg was generally well-tolerated in patients with chronic PAO. No bleeding complications were noted. The stable fibrinogen concentrations suggest that the activity of alfimeprase may be limited to the target thrombus. Alfimeprase holds the potential to achieve dissolution of thrombus with a diminished risk of hemorrhage.

Percutaneous treatment of peripheral arterial disease has evolved greatly. The prevalence of superficial femoral artery occlusions has necessitated new devices and techniques to treat these patients percutaneously. Presently several therapies are available or under investigation. These range from stents, drug eluting stents, covered stents, cryoangioplasty, laser recanilization, blunt micro dissection, and subintimal angioplasty. This paper will discuss the indications, technique, and results of subintimal angioplasty.

A healthy 17-year-old girl presented to the emergency department with a 1-day history of left upper quadrant abdominal pain associated with nausea and vomiting. Her hematocrit was 22. On physical examination, she had left upper quadrant fullness and tenderness. Initial computed tomography revealed a large, loculated, left-sided retroperitoneal hematoma. Blood pool scintigraphy with labeled red cells revealed a very large photon-deficient area with 3 areas of active bleeding in the upper margin of the cold area. An angiogram showed active extravasation from the left inferior phrenic artery. The patient was felt to have had spontaneous adrenal hemorrhage, likely within a preexisting, large adrenal cyst. Spontaneous hemorrhage into an adrenal cyst is a rare entity that can be life-threatening if not treated early in its course.

Abdominal aortoiliac aneurysms that are ruptured and treated with open surgical repair have high morbidity and mortality rates. We have employed endovascular approaches to treat this entity since 1994. Patients with presumed ruptured aortoiliac aneurysms were treated with restricted fluid resuscitation (hypotensive hemostasis), transport to the operating room, placement under local anesthesia of a brachial or femoral guidewire into the supraceliac aorta and arteriography. If aortoiliac anatomy was suitable, an endovascular graft repair was performed. If the anatomy was unfavorable, the aneurysm was repaired in a standard open fashion. Only if circulatory collapse occurred was a supraceliac balloon placed and inflated using the previously positioned guidewire. Of 36 patients so managed, 30 underwent endovascular graft repair and six required open repair. Four patients died within 30 days (operative mortality = 11%). Only 10 patients required supraceliac balloon control. Endovascular grafts, when combined with hypotensive hemostasis and other endovascular techniques, including proximal balloon control, may improve treatment outcomes with ruptured abdominal aortoiliac aneurysms. These techniques should become widely used for the treatment of ruptured aneurysms.

Ruptured abdominal aortoiliac aneurysms, when treated with open surgical repair, have high morbidity and mortality rates. Since 1994, the authors have used endovascular approaches to treat this entity. Patients with presumed ruptured aortoiliac aneurysms were treated with restricted fluid resuscitation (hypotensive hemostasis), transport to the operating room, placement under local anesthesia of a brachial or femoral guide wire into the supraceliac aorta, and arteriography. If aortoiliac anatomy was suitable, an endovascular graft (stent-graft) repair was performed. If the anatomy was unfavorable, standard open repair was performed. Only if circulatory collapse occurred was a supraceliac balloon placed and inflated using the previously positioned guidewire. Of 35 patients treated in this manner, 29 underwent endovascular graft repair, and 6 required open repair. Four patients died within 30 days (operative mortality rate, 11%). Only 10 patients required supraceliac balloon control. Endovascular grafts, when combined with hypotensive hemostasis and other endovascular techniques including proximal balloon control, may improve treatment outcomes with ruptured abdominal aortoiliac aneurysms. The authors believe these techniques will become widely used for the treatment of ruptured aneurysms.

Objective: Subintimal angioplasty (SIA) has been advocated to treat long segment lower extremity arterial occlusions, but many question its value. We evaluated the role of SIA in a group of patients with severe lower extremity arterial occlusive disease., Methods: During a 2.5-year period, 39 patients with arterial occlusions (median length, 8 cm; range, 2 to 31 cm) were treated on an intention-to-treat basis with SIA. Twenty-five patients had gangrene, five had rest pain, and nine had disabling (

Purpose: To demonstrate results in managing lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding with the use of superselective catheterization and intentional induction of vasospasm of the bleeding vessel without the use of embolic agents or vasospasm-inducing medications., Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 15 episodes of lower GI bleeding treated in the past 6 years by intentional catheter-induced vasospasm (CIV) to achieve thrombosis of a bleeding source was conducted. Nine patients had angiographically proven inferior mesenteric artery bleeding and six had angiographically proven superior mesenteric artery bleeding., Results: Bleeding was stopped initially in all patients after effective treatment of the feeding artery. Only one patient experienced a repeat episode of bleeding 2 days later, which required hemicolectomy. Two other patients who underwent adequate embolization underwent surgery at the discretion of the surgeon involved. The remainder were clinically observed and discharged after return of stable vital signs and hematocrit levels. None of the patients treated had clinically evident intestinal ischemia or infarction. There was one significant repeat incidence of bleeding 2 months after CIV that may have represented recurrent bleeding from the original site., Conclusion: CIV may be a safe and effective first-line method of embolizing known lower GI bleeding. Whether CIV is used as primary therapy or as the result of spasm incurred during superselective catheterization, the patient may be regarded as successfully treated and followed accordingly, thereby possibly avoiding acute surgical therapy.

Locoregional therapies are useful in treating patients with colorectal cancer metastatic to the liver. A prospective randomized phase II trial of hepatic artery embolization versus hepatic artery chemoembolization was conducted to evaluate the response rates and toxicities of these therapies in the second-line setting. Patients were required to have biopsy-proven adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum metastatic to the liver, with the liver as the sole or predominant site of metastatic disease. All patients had measurable disease and had failed at least one prior systemic chemotherapy treatment for metastatic disease. Patients were randomized to receive either embolization therapy with polyvinyl alcohol foam (Ivalon) administered as a single agent or chemoembolization using polyvinyl alcohol foam mixed with 750 mg/m2 of 5-fluorouracil and 9 million units of interferon. Drugs and embolic material were administered via the hepatic artery as a slurry with polyvinyl alcohol foam. Fifty eligible patients were enrolled. There were 24 patients in the chemoembolization arm and 26 in the embolization arm. Sixty-four percent of patients in both treatment arms had the liver as the sole metastatic site. The most common National Cancer Institute common toxicity criteria grade 3/4 toxicities were diarrhea (17%) and hepatic toxicity (8%). There was 1 (4%) treatment-related mortality due to a hepatic abscess. Four patients (15.4%) treated with embolization had a partial response (PR), and 5 patients (20.8%) treated with chemoembolization had a PR. The median survival for all patients was 11 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 8-15 months). Survival in patients with extrahepatic disease was 8 months (95% CI, 6-10 months). Survival in patients with liver-only metastases was 15 months (95% CI, 10-17 months). Embolization of the liver as second-line therapy in patients with liver-predominant metastases is safe and effective. Median survivals are comparable to other second-line therapies

Maintaining the patency of hemodialysis access grafts remains problematic. It is best to recognize the failing graft prior to its thrombosis by noting an increase in recirculation, decreased flow (as measured by a Transonics device), changes in Doppler ultrasound findings, elevation of venous pressures, or swelling of the arm. If a failing graft is suspected, an angiogram should be performed to evaluate the graft. If a problem is identified it should be corrected. If it is a graft thrombosis, it can be opened using percutaneous techniques. Percutaneous declotting has been evolving since its introduction in the early 1980s. At first, a low-dose thrombolytic infusion through a single catheter was used. Crossing catheters with a higher-dose infusion was then introduced. Finally, pharmacomechanical thrombolysis, which used crossing catheters and a pulse-spray technique, became popular. Several mechanical devices have proven to be efficacious as well. In 1997, we described the "lyse-and-wait" technique. We believe "lyse and wait" to be a simpler and quicker technique, and its initial success has been similar to that for the previously described techniques. After the graft is successfully declotted, the arterial plug must be mobilized and the stenotic lesion must be addressed either by angioplasty, stent placement, surgery, or any combination of these interventions.

Objective: To analyze the late complications after endovascular graft repair of elective abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) at the authors' institution since November 1992., Summary Background Data: Recently, the use of endovascular grafts for the treatment of AAAs has increased dramatically. However, there is little midterm or long-term proof of their efficacy., Methods: During the past 9 years, 239 endovascular graft repairs were performed for nonruptured AAAs, many (86%) in high-risk patients or in those with complex anatomy. The grafts used were Montefiore (n = 97), Ancure/EVT (n = 14), Vanguard (n = 16), Talent (n = 47), Excluder (n = 20), AneuRx (n = 29), and Zenith (n = 16). All but the AneuRx and Ancure repairs were performed as part of a U.S. phase 1 or phase 2 clinical trial under a Food and Drug Administration investigational device exemption. Procedural outcomes and follow-up results were prospectively recorded., Results: The major complication and death rates within 30 days of endovascular graft repair were 17.6% and 8.5%, respectively. The technical success rate with complete AAA exclusion was 88.7%. During follow-up to 75 months (mean +/- standard deviation, 15.7 +/- 6.3 months), 53 patients (22%) died of unrelated causes. Two AAAs treated with endovascular grafts ruptured and were surgically repaired, with one death. Other late complications included type 1 endoleak (n = 7), aortoduodenal fistula (n = 2), graft thrombosis/stenosis (n = 7), limb separation or fabric tear with a subsequent type 3 endoleak (n = 1), and a persistent type 2 endoleak (n = 13). Secondary intervention or surgery was required in 23 patients (10%). These included deployment of a second graft (n = 4), open AAA repair (n = 5), coil embolization (n = 6), extraanatomic bypass (n = 4), and stent placement (n = 3)., Conclusion: With longer follow-up, complications occurred with increasing frequency. Although most could be managed with some form of endovascular reintervention, some complications resulted in a high death rate. Although endovascular graft repair is less invasive and sometimes effective in the long term, it is often not a definitive procedure. These findings mandate long-term surveillance and prospective studies to prove the effectiveness of endovascular graft repair.