Search

The spontaneous rupture of a subcostal (12th intercostal) artery is exceptionally rare and could be fatal, requiring early diagnosis and treatment. Only one case of intercostal artery (ICA) bleeding in a patient undergoing hemodialysis (HD) has been reported. We additionally describe a 41-year-old man undergoing HD who presented with a spontaneous hemoperitoneum and shock resulting from a subcostal artery rupture. He initially complained of diffuse abdominal pain and dizziness at the emergency room. His abdomen was bloated, and there was tenderness in the right upper quadrant area. Enhanced computed tomography and arteriography revealed a rupture of the right subcostal artery. After the super-selection of the bleeding artery by a microcatheter, embolization was performed using a detachable coil and gelfoam. In a subsequent arteriogram, additional contrast leakage was no longer detected, and his blood pressure was restored to normal. The patient was discharged without any sequelae. He was followed up at our HD center without recurrence of ICA bleeding. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second case in the English literature documenting a spontaneous ICA rupture in a patient undergoing HD. This case indicates that injury to ICA should be suspected when patients undergoing HD complain of abdominal or chest pain and dizziness, although it is very rare.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of balloon blockage-guided intercostal angiography (BBIA) for simultaneous observation of intercostal arteries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight patients who underwent BBIA were retrospectively enrolled at a single institution from January 2018 to June 2019. All the procedures were performed during endovascular aneurysm repair. The patients’ demographics, angiographic parameters, and complications were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 69.4 ± 5.0 years and male: female ratio was 7:1. Mean body mass index was 24.1 ± 2.9 kg/m². The number of patients with smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia was 4 (50%), 7 (87.5%), 0 (0%) and 2 (25%), respectively. The total procedural duration, balloon-blocking time, and fluoroscopy time were averaged into 24.1 ± 3.0 min, 35.8 ± 5.0 s, and 5.6 ± 0.6 min, respectively. The mean contrast volume was 85.3 ± 11.6 ml and the mean radiation exposure was 417.3 ± 36.6 mGy. The technical success rate was 100%. A mean of 14 ± 2.5 intercostal arteries was finally visualized. No major complication related to intercostal artery angiography was noted; however, two minor complications were observed, one patient developed hematoma at the groin site after the procedure. Another patient presented with low back pain. CONCLUSIONS: BBIA is a safe and effective method for visualizing multiple intercostal arteries simultaneously. The technique may present an alternative for rapidly locating the pathologies at intercostal artery.

Small-diameter vascular grafts (SDVGs) are severely lacking in clinical settings. Therefore, our study investigates a new source of biological vessels—bovine and porcine decellularized intercostal arteries (DIAs)—as potential SDVGs. We utilized a combination of SDS and Triton X-100 to perfuse the DIAs, establishing two different time protocols. The results show that perfusing with 1% concentrations of each decellularizing agent for 48 h yields DIAs with excellent biocompatibility and mechanical properties. The porcine decellularized intercostal arteries (PDIAs) we obtained had a length of approximately 14 cm and a diameter of about 1.5 mm, while the bovine decellularized intercostal arteries (BDIAs) were about 29 cm long with a diameter of approximately 2.2 mm. Although the lengths and diameters of both the PDIAs and BDIAs are suited for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), as the typical diameter of autologous arteries used in CABG is about 2 mm and the grafts required are at least 10 cm long, our research indicates that BDIAs possess more ideal mechanical characteristics for CABG than PDIAs, showing significant potential. Further enhancements may be necessary to address their limited hemocompatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The occurrence of massive retroperitoneal hematoma caused by intercostal artery bleeding is exceedingly uncommon. Case presentation A middle-aged male presented to the hospital after a fall. Computed tomography scan revealed a massive retroperitoneal hematoma without any evidence of organ or major vessel rupture. The angiogram revealed extravasation from a branch of the twelfth intercostal artery, and successful transcatheter arterial embolization was performed on this specific artery. Conclusions The possibility of intercostal artery rupture should be considered in cases of retroperitoneal hematomas, and accurate diagnosis can be achieved through imaging studies. Transcatheter arterial embolization represents an effective treatment modality.

Background: The occurrence of massive retroperitoneal hematoma caused by intercostal artery bleeding is exceedingly uncommon. Case presentation: A middle-aged male presented to the hospital after a fall. Computed tomography scan revealed a massive retroperitoneal hematoma without any evidence of organ or major vessel rupture. The angiogram revealed extravasation from a branch of the twelfth intercostal artery, and successful transcatheter arterial embolization was performed on this specific artery. Conclusions: The possibility of intercostal artery rupture should be considered in cases of retroperitoneal hematomas, and accurate diagnosis can be achieved through imaging studies. Transcatheter arterial embolization represents an effective treatment modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the relationship between covering the intercostal artery branching of the Adamkiewicz artery (ICA-AKA) and spinal cord ischemia (SCI) during thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Methods: Patients who underwent TEVAR from 2008 to 2022 were enrolled. Stent grafts covered the ICA-AKA in 108 patients (covered AKA group) and stent grafts didn’t cover the ICA-AKA in 114 patients (uncovered AKA group). The characteristics of 58 patients from each group were matched based on propensity scores. Results: No significant differences in SCI rates were detected between the covered AKA (10%; 11/108) and uncovered AKA (3.5%; 4/114) groups (P = .061). Shaggy aorta (odds ratio [OR], 5.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.74-15.3, P = .003), iliac artery access (OR, 6.81; 95% CI, 2.22-20.9, P = .001), and procedural time (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.02, P = .003) were risk factors for SCI in the entire cohort. Although covering the ICA-AKA (OR, 2.60; 95% CI, 0.86-7.88, P = .058) was not a significant risk factor, shaggy aorta (OR, 8.15; 95% CI, 2.07-32.1, P = .003), iliac artery access (OR, 9.09; 95% CI, 2.22-37.2, P = .002), and procedural time (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.01-1.02, P = .008) were risk factors for SCI in the covered AKA group. No significant risk factors were detected in the uncovered AKA group. Conclusions: Covering the ICA-AKA was not an independent risk for SCI in TEVAR. However, covering the ICA-AKA was indirectly associated with the risk of SCI in patients with shaggy aorta, iliac access, and procedural time.

Introduction The risk of postoperative bleeding complications should be concerned to perform percutaneous nephrolithotripsy. Most of the vascular injuries occurred at the peripheral renal artery in the previous reports. We experienced a case of bleeding shock induced by the injury of the intercostal artery in the abdominal wall following percutaneous nephrolithotripsy. Case presentation A 56‐year‐old woman had been in the bleeding shock status on the 2nd day after percutaneous nephrolithotoripsy. Emergently, contrast‐enhanced computed tomography was performed and extravasation of contrast agents was seen in the abdominal wall. Injuries of the intercostal artery were identified in the angiography and controlled by transcatheter arterial embolization. Conclusion The intercostal arteries could be injured in the anterolateral zone of the abdominal wall over the end of the ribs. Contrast‐enhanced computed tomography was useful to detect the bleeding point. Transcatheter arterial embolization was an effective and safe method to control bleedings from them.

Coronary artery bypass grafting is acknowledged as a major clinical approach for treatment of severe coronary artery atherosclerotic heart disease. This procedure typically requires autologous small-diameter vascular grafts. However, the limited availability of the donor vessels and associated trauma during tissue harvest underscore the necessity for artificial arterial alternatives. Herein, decellularized bovine intercostal arteries were successfully fabricated with lengths ranging from 15 to 30 cm, which also closely match the inner diameters of human coronary arteries. These decellularized arterial grafts exhibited great promise following poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) grafting from the inner surface. Such surface modification endowed the decellularized arteries with superior mechanical strength, enhanced anticoagulant properties and improved biocompatibility, compared to the decellularized bovine intercostal arteries alone, or even those decellularized grafts modified with both heparin and vascular endothelial growth factor. After replacement of the carotid arteries in rabbits, all surface-modified vascular grafts have shown good patency within 30 days post-implantation. Notably, strong signal was observed after α-SMA immunofluorescence staining on the PMPC-grafted vessels, indicating significant potential for regenerating the vascular smooth muscle layer and thereby restoring full structures of the artery. Consequently, the decellularized bovine intercostal arteries surface modified by PMPC can emerge as a potent candidate for small-diameter artificial blood vessels, and have shown great promise to serve as viable substitutes of arterial autografts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beyond the commonly known clinical presentation of neurofibromatosis, vascular pathologies are increasingly becoming a known complication. We present a case of a 41-year-old adult with neurofibromatosis type 1 who came with a right-sided spontaneous hemothorax due to a ruptured 13-mm fusiform aneurysm of the right posterior T9 intercostal artery. Patient underwent a transcatheter angiographic embolization with subsequent video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for a retained hemothorax. Patient was discharged home on Hospital Day 5, and follow-up imaging demonstrated a complete resolution of the hemothorax. This presented case contributes to literature by demonstrating intra-arterial embolization as a viable option to obtain hemostasis in fragile vessels. However, this may not always result in hemostasis, and VATS should be considered to achieve and ensure complete hemostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While aortic injury is the most commonly cited thoracic arterial injury, non-aortic arterial injuries represent an uncommon but significant source of morbidity and mortality in blunt and penetrating thoracic trauma patients. Knowledge of the spectrum of vascular injury and anatomic considerations that dictate patterns of associated thoracic hemorrhage will assist the radiologist in the accurate and efficient diagnosis of these injuries. This article provides a review of anatomy, pertinent clinical exam and CT angiography findings, as well as therapeutic options for non-aortic thoracic arterial trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a case of a 69-year-old male with profound Cushing's syndrome and hypercortisolemia secondary to a cortisol-secreting adrenocortical carcinoma. Patient was not a surgical candidate and subsequently underwent a successful posterior approach tumor cryoablation. The procedure was complicated by a T11 intercostal artery injury and hemothorax. The detection of the culprit injury was almost immediate and the quick response time, and treatment of the injury via an intercostal artery embolization was critical to limiting the patient's morbidity and mortality. This case discusses the technical challenges of a posterior-approach ablation, the pitfalls to avoid, and the importance of attaining rapid hemostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spontaneous rupture of a subcostal (12th intercostal) artery is exceptionally rare and could be fatal, requiring early diagnosis and treatment. Only one case of intercostal artery (ICA) bleeding in a patient undergoing hemodialysis (HD) has been reported. We additionally describe a 41-year-old man undergoing HD who presented with a spontaneous hemoperitoneum and shock resulting from a subcostal artery rupture. He initially complained of diffuse abdominal pain and dizziness at the emergency room. His abdomen was bloated, and there was tenderness in the right upper quadrant area. Enhanced computed tomography and arteriography revealed a rupture of the right subcostal artery. After the super-selection of the bleeding artery by a microcatheter, embolization was performed using a detachable coil and gelfoam. In a subsequent arteriogram, additional contrast leakage was no longer detected, and his blood pressure was restored to normal. The patient was discharged without any sequelae. He was followed up at our HD center without recurrence of ICA bleeding. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second case in the English literature documenting a spontaneous ICA rupture in a patient undergoing HD. This case indicates that injury to ICA should be suspected when patients undergoing HD complain of abdominal or chest pain and dizziness, although it is very rare.

Rupture of intercostal artery aneurysms has been reported in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1. Many reports have demonstrated the efficacy of endovascular interventions. Herein, we present a case of successful treatment with thoracic endovascular aortic repair for traction-induced avulsion injury of the previously embolized intercostal artery. We further report the potential postoperative risk of rapid aneurysmal enlargement, possibly owing to changes in the thoracic arterial regional network. Even after successful treatment, vascular surgeons should pay attention to other aneurysmal events in the acute phase and avulsion injuries in the chronic phase. Close follow-up is essential.

Background: Pedicle screw insertion in posterior spinal surgery can cause vascular injuries, including rare intercostal artery pseudoaneurysms, which are typically discovered incidentally during reimaging. Onyx embolization is an effective treatment for small artery pseudoaneurysms., Observations: A 36-year-old man who had initially presented with back pain that remained unresponsive to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was diagnosed with a T7-8 sarcomatous lesion confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging and biopsy. He underwent a posterior resection and T5-10 stabilization with pedicle screws. After surgery, significant hemorrhage led to his transfer for digital subtraction angiography, which revealed a prominent vascular tumor blush and a pseudoaneurysm of the right T5 intercostal artery due to screw placement. The tumor and pseudoaneurysm were effectively embolized using superselective catheterization and Onyx., Lessons: This report highlights the dangers of intercostal artery damage from posterior spinal screws, emphasizing the need for meticulous postoperative imaging. Onyx embolization is an effective treatment for such complications. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24291.

Intercostal artery bleeding from trauma can result in potentially fatal massive hemothorax. Traumatic hemothorax has traditionally been treated with tube thoracostomy, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, or thoracotomy. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), a well-established treatment option for a variety of acute hemorrhage is not widely practiced for the management of traumatic hemothorax. We present 2 cases of delayed massive hemothorax following chest trauma which were successfully managed by transarterial embolization of intercostal arteries. The published studies are reviewed and a systematic approach to the selection of patients for TAE versus emergency thoracotomy is proposed.

Background Haemothoraces are a reported but extremely rare complication of pacemaker implantation. Haemothoraces can be a consequence of lead perforation through the right ventricle (RV) and pericardium into the pleural space, direct lung or vascular injury during access. Case summary A 72-year-old woman presented 24 h after a pacemaker implantation with chest pain and shortness of breath. Computed tomography of the chest confirmed perforation of the RV lead into the left pleural cavity with a large left sided haemothorax. Following percutaneous drainage of the left sided haemothorax, the patient became haemodynamically unstable necessitating emergent sternotomy. During surgery, the extra-cardiac portion of the pacing lead was cut, the RV repaired and a large haematoma evacuated from the left pleural space. Despite this, the patient remained hypotensive, and further exploration showed a bleeding intercostal artery that had been lacerated by the pacing lead. This was treated by electrocautery, and the patient's haemodynamic status improved. The RV lead remnant was removed transvenously via the subclavian vein, and the patient was left with a single chamber atrial pacemaker. Discussion Prompt recognition of RV lead perforation and its associated sequalae, often utilising multi-modality imaging, is vital to enable transfer to a centre with cardiac surgical expertise. In this case, the perforating RV lead lacerated an intercostal artery, and this was only identified at the time of surgery. In order to minimize the risk of perforation, multiple fluoroscopic views should be used, and care should be taken during helix deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intercostal artery aneurysms (ICA) are rare vascular disease. A rupture of ICA is a possible mechanism of intramural aortic hematoma (IH). We report a case with IH and ICAs without clear etiology. Case presentation: A 64-year-old man was admitted to our emergency room with a sudden onset of acute diffused abdominal and chest pain, radiating to the back. Without previous traumatic insult, a computed tomographic angiography scan (CTA) revealed an IH beginning inferior to the left subclavian artery extending to the level of the celiac trunk. Follow-up CTA demonstrated a stable maximal IH thickness diameter of 11 mm, maximal aortic diameter of 40 mm, a new left hemorrhagic pleural effusion, and a focal contrast enhancement at T9 level. Due to these findings, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) was performed. During follow up, T9 focal enhancement continues to grow and an additional one developed. Selective angiography was performed demonstrating a connection to the costal artery and the aortic lumen, confirming ICA. Successful embolization with micro coils was performed. During follow up, additional 2 ICAs developed and treated with embolization. CTA three months later showed a complete resolution of the IH and obliteration of all treated ICAs. Infectious, inflammatory and connective tissue disease investigations were undertaken without a clear etiology. Conclusions: This is a case of IH and ICAs, in the absence of a clear etiology which were successfully treated by endovascular procedures TEVAR and coil embolization. It is not clear whether the hematoma was the source of the ICA or the other way round. Lack of ICAs in the initial CTA might be due to the pressure exerted by the hematoma or that they were too small to be detected but continued to grow on follow up. Rupture of these micro-aneurysms is a possible mechanism of intramural aortic hematoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arterio-esophageal fistula (AEF) is a rare life-threatening cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Realizing the risk factors and clinical presentations of AEF will enable us to provide timely diagnosis, efficient treatment, and better outcome. We present a 43-year-old Taiwanese man who had histories of destructive lung, innominate artery-trachea fistula, and received bilobectomy. He was admitted to our hospital with fresh blood drainage from nasogastric tube. He was diagnosed as right fifth intercostal artery esophageal fistula by computed tomography angiography and transcatheter arterial embolization was performed. The bleeding stopped and the patient was discharged uneventfully. The risk factors of AEF include esophageal foreign body, vascular surgery, thoracic arterial malformations, and concurrent chemoradiotherapy in T4-esophageal cancer. Computed tomography angiography may be the most sensitive diagnostic test. Transcatheter arterial embolization or endovascular stent grafting may be considered as the first-line treatment of AEF in the future.

Persistent false lumen flow is common after thoracic endovascular aortic repair of type B aortic dissection and may contribute to continued aortic aneurysmal degeneration. We report an innovative technique of intercostal artery embolization within the false lumen for a patient who had incomplete false lumen thrombosis and progressive aortic enlargement after thoracic endovascular aortic repair of chronic type B aortic dissection. Technical success was facilitated by use of on-table cone beam computed tomography angiography, virtual vessel marking, and modern endovascular tools. The patient had no complications from the procedure. Postoperative imaging demonstrated complete thoracic false lumen thrombosis and favorable aortic remodeling with reduction in maximal aortic diameter.

Laceration of an intercostal artery is a rare but potentially catastrophic complication of pleural procedures such as thoracentesis. Recognition of this problem often occurs late in the bleeding process, only after hemodynamic decompensation has occurred. Aggressive and emergent measures are usually undertaken such as angiographic embolization or thoracotomy. In our review of the literature, manual pressure over the pleural space is not described as an intervention in case reports or case series. We demonstrate the first video proof of the immediate success of direct pressure over an intercostal site as a simple, rapid, and effective method for definitively stopping intercostal arterial hemorrhage after a pleural procedure.

Intercostal artery injury may be life-threatening and usually presents as hemothorax. We report a unique case of penetrating injury, causing hemoperitoneum due to intercostal artery injury, without thoracic involvement. During urgent laparotomy, no intra-abdominal organ injury was found. Hemostasis was successfully achieved via suturing through an additional lateral 10 cm incision through the left thorax.

Intercostal (IC) artery aneurysm due to underlying tuberculosis (TB) is very rare in adults and even rarer in children, and very few cases have been reported so far. The underlying mechanism is due to erosion of the arterial wall due to adjacent inflammation such as empyema, pericarditis, or cavitatory lesion. Aortic pseudoaneurysm or Rasmussen aneurysm is common in pulmonary TB. However, asymptomatic and incidentally detected pseudoaneurysm of the right IC artery in a child with disseminated TB is infrequent. Although the association of TB and Takayasu arteritis (TA) is well known, the association of IC artery aneurysm due to underlying TB along with TA has not been reported previously.

Abstract Background A pseudoaneurysm occurs as the result of a contained rupture of an arterial wall, yielding a perfused sac that communicates with the arterial lumen. Pseudoaneurysm of an intercostal artery is an extremely rare event but it carries with it a significant risk of rupture and subsequent hemothorax. It must be considered as a potential complication of thoracentesis. Case presentation Here, we report a rare case of an intercostal artery pseudoaneurysm following thoracentesis in an 82-year old male. The patient presented with respiratory distress 1 day after a therapeutic thoracentesis had been performed. Computed tomography (CT) with contrast revealed a left intercostal pseudoaneurysm with hemothorax and adjacent compressive atelectasis. Doppler ultrasound revealed bidirectional blood flow in the pseudoaneurysm sac. An intercostal arteriogram and thoracic aortogram aided in confirmation of the pseudoaneurysm and successful treatment with coil embolization. Conclusions An intercostal pseudoaneurysm complication following thoracentesis is very rare but important to rule out as a possible cause of hemothorax after the procedure. Capturing this finding with the aid of multiple imaging modalities allowed for diagnostic certainty and rapid treatment with coil embolization, leading to a successful patient recovery.

Abstract Background Vitamin K deficiency results in serious coagulation dysfunction, but hemorrhagic shock is rare. Herein, we describe a case of vitamin K deficiency and abnormality in the path of the intercostal artery, the combination of which led to hemorrhagic shock. Case presentation An 83-year-old woman was hospitalized for suspected gallstones. She developed septic shock after 4 days of hospitalization. We considered cholecystitis or cholangitis and performed abdominal ultrasonography, which revealed gallbladder enlargement, biliary sludge, and hyperplasia of the bile duct wall. Antibiotic treatment with sulbactam/ampicillin (SBT/ABPC) was initiated on day four, and percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) was performed on day five. The treatment was successful, but the patient developed bilateral pleural effusion because of hypoalbuminemia. We performed drainage for bilateral pleural effusion on days 13 and 17. The patient developed hypotension on day 18; blood tests showed anemia and severe coagulation dysfunction but a normal platelet count. We suspected vitamin K deficiency-induced coagulation dysfunction because of previous antibiotic treatment and restricted diet, and it led to hemorrhagic shock. Massive right hemothorax was observed by computed tomography, and urgent interventional radiology was performed. We observed no injury to the intercostal artery truncus but confirmed an abnormality in the course of the intercostal artery; therefore, we inferred that the cause of hemothorax in this case was injury to a small vessel, not truncus because of the abnormality. Because of the likelihood of rebleeding, we performed coil embolization from the seventh to the ninth intercostal artery. Because we confirmed vitamin K deficiency-induced coagulation dysfunction, we referred to the concentration of protein induced by vitamin K absence/antagonist-II (PIVKA-II), and it was found to increase by 23,000. Conclusions A combination of vitamin K deficiency and abnormality in the course of the intercostal artery led to hemorrhagic shock. When using certain antibiotics and restricting diet, it is important to measure coagulation function, even if the platelet count is normal. Further, when thoracentesis is performed, abnormalities in the course of the intercostal artery should be identified. Thoracentesis with ultrasound may prevent hemothorax.

Abstract Spontaneous intercostal artery bleeding is a rare disease seen in cirrhosis and can present with hemodynamically significant blood loss anemia, hypotension, and shock. Transcatheter arterial embolization is an effective treatment for severe cases.

Intercostal artery bleeding from trauma can result in potentially fatal massive hemothorax. Traumatic hemothorax has traditionally been treated with tube thoracostomy, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, or thoracotomy. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), a well-established treatment option for a variety of acute hemorrhage is not widely practiced for the management of traumatic hemothorax. We present 2 cases of delayed massive hemothorax following chest trauma which were successfully managed by transarterial embolization of intercostal arteries. The published studies are reviewed and a systematic approach to the selection of patients for TAE versus emergency thoracotomy is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Intercostal artery aneurysms are rare vascular abnormalities that are typically diagnosed following rupture in patients with predisposing conditions. Our report is the first to document a patient with unruptured intercostal artery aneurysms in the absence of any associated disease. Case presentation A 70-year-old male with prostatic adenocarcinoma was incidentally discovered to have multiple unruptured aneurysms of his intercostal arteries. Three of the aneurysms were embolized utilizing microcoils and glue. At six-month follow-up the patient remained asymptomatic. Conclusion We demonstrate successful endovascular management of a unique case of multiple idiopathic unruptured intercostal artery aneurysms. Appropriate diagnosis and prompt treatment of these rare vascular lesions is essential in preventing the potentially catastrophic consequences of rupture.

Purpose: To report the 1-month tumor response and safety of selective transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) via the intercostal artery (ICA) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in comparison with those of non-selective TACE.Methods: This retrospective study included 79 HCC patients who underwent TACE via the ICA selectively (selective TACE group; n = 26) or non-selectively (non-selective TACE group; n = 53) between January 2001 and December 2016. Selective TACE was defined when TACE was performed with selective catheterization of the tumor feeding branch of the ICA. TACE performed without selective catheterization of the tumor feeding branch was defined as non-selective TACE. One-month target and overall tumor responses and complications of the two groups were compared. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors.Results: Selective TACE group showed better 1-month target and overall tumor responses and lower frequency of complications than non-selective TACE group (P = .007, P = .018, and P < .001, respectively). Performing selective TACE was the only significant favorable factor for better target and overall tumor responses (P = .001 and P = .028, respectively). In univariate analysis for complications, serum α-fetoprotein > 200 ng/mL and non-selective TACE were statistically significant. However, multivariate analysis showed that performing non-selective TACE was the only significant risk factor (odds ratio 13.56; 95% confidence interval 3.51-52.5; P < .001).Conclusion: Compared to non-selective TACE via the ICA, selective TACE via the ICA for the treatment of HCC can achieve better tumor response and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background While esophageal fistula formation in the adjacent organs is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, the management of non-aortic arterio-esophageal fistula has not been frequently reported. Case presentation A 69-year-old Japanese man who had undergone definitive chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer was admitted to our hospital with hematemesis. He was diagnosed with mediastinal abscess caused by esophageal perforation, and esophageal bypass surgery was performed. After 3 days, he presented with fatal hemoptysis. As angiography revealed an intercostal artery pseudoaneurysm, transcatheter arterial embolization was performed. Conclusions When patients with esophageal cancer, especially those with a history of radiotherapy and/or mediastinitis, present with hematemesis and/or hemoptysis, the possibility of non-aortic arterio-esophageal fistula should be considered. Transcatheter arterial embolization is an effective treatment for non-aortic arterio-esophageal fistula.

Purpose: To report a case of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair treated with a multibranched stent-graft including a prophylactic branch for a large intercostal artery in a Marfan patient at risk for spinal cord ischemia (SCI). Case Report: A 43-year-old man with Marfan syndrome presented with a type IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) and history of multiple previous cardiac and aortic operations over the past 28 years. The maximum diameter of the aneurysm was 60 mm. The patient had 2 right renal arteries and 2 reimplanted segmental arteries (1 occluded). With the goal of preserving both right renal arteries and the large intercostal artery, a 6-branch, custom-made stent-graft was planned and manufactured. Bilateral femoral and right brachial artery access was used. The intercostal artery was catheterized and connected to the retrograde branch from a femoral access. Final angiography and predischarge computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed unimpeded flow to all 6 target vessels. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 10 without clinical signs of SCI. Six-month follow-up CTA demonstrated exclusion of the TAAA and patency of all 6 branches. Conclusion: Multibranched endovascular aortic repair with a branch to a large intercostal artery was technically feasible and clinically successful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

View large Download slide View large Download slide OBJECTIVES This study aimed to analyse the early patency rate and long-term outcomes of reattached segmental intercostal arteries using graft interposition, single-cuff anastomosis or island reconstruction. METHODS We selected 172 consecutive patients who underwent open surgery for the thoracoabdominal aorta with reattachment of segmental arteries between October 1999 and March 2018. The early patency of segmental arteries was analysed using enhanced computed tomography. Segmental arteries were reconstructed using graft interposition (n  = 111), single-cuff anastomosis (n  = 38) or island reconstruction (n  = 23). RESULTS The hospital mortality was 6.4%. Twenty patients developed spinal cord ischaemic injury (permanent, n  = 12 or transient, n  = 8). Spinal cord injury was found in 16, 3 and 1 patients in the graft interposition, single-cuff anastomosis and island reconstruction groups, respectively. Overall, 475 segmental arteries were reattached (mean number per patient 2.8 ± 1.3). The overall early patency rate was 63.4%. The patency rates in island reconstruction (91.2%) and single-cuff anastomosis (77.1%) were significantly better than that in graft interposition (54.0%; P  < 0.01). However, 6 patients with island reconstruction of segmental arteries had an aneurysm formation at the intercostal artery reconstruction site, of whom 4 patients underwent reoperation during follow-up. None of the patients with graft interposition or single-cuff reattachment had a patch aneurysm in segmental arteries. CONCLUSIONS Island reconstruction and single-cuff anastomosis might offer better patency rates and prevent spinal cord ischaemic injury than graft interposition. Because some patients with island reconstruction required reoperation for patch aneurysms in segmental arteries, single-cuff anastomosis is preferable in terms of early- and long-term outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many patients with type II endoleak after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) are closely observed without secondary intervention. Herein, we report a new technique of coil embolization for type II endoleak from intercostal arteries after TEVAR for ruptured acute type B aortic dissection. A hybrid procedure of exposing intercostal arteries via subcostal incision in the prone position and transcatheter technique enables embolization of intercostal arteries at their origin from the aorta. This technique could avoid lung injury and be applicable in multiple intercostal arteries. This technique may be a useful secondary intervention for type II endoleak after TEVAR caused by intercostal arteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spontaneous intercostal artery bleeding is a rare disease seen in cirrhosis and can present with hemodynamically significant blood loss anemia, hypotension, and shock. Transcatheter arterial embolization is an effective treatment for severe cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Foix-Alajouanine syndrome was originally reported by these authors in 1926, as rapidly progressive vasculitis on the background of a viral infection. The pathology was represented by the huge, more than 10 times, dilation either of the lumen, or the walls of the spinal vessels, either of the arteries, or the veins. There were no signs of thrombosis, no malformations. Massive necrosis was observed in the spinal cord. Though plenty of observations of the syndrome were reported over the past 100 years, most of them deal with arteriovenous malformations and/or thrombosis, which had not been revealed originally. We present the case of spinal viral vasculitis detected by means of spinal MR-angiography. The undoubted viral etiology of vasculitis allows us to attribute this observation to Foix-Alajouanine syndrome.

In the conventional way of thoraco-abdominal aortic replacement, the intercostal arteries are reimplanted directly to the main aortic graft or by the interposition of branch grafts. To overcome the disadvantages of these techniques, we adopted a different technique using a parallel side graft. The good patency rate of reimplanted intercostal arteries achieved by this technique and its potential technical advantages can contribute to the improvement of the surgical outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]