Treatment of the acute severe pulmonary embolism using endovascular methods

Purpose: To present a single-centre experience with endovascular treatment of patients with severe symptoms secondary to acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Material and methods: Twenty-five patients were treated due to contraindications or deficient effects of systemic thrombolytic therapy. The patients were treated with a combination of fragmentation and aspiration, only aspiration, or only fragmentation, and with catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy. Results: The saturation was improved following treatment in all patients, except in one where the procedure could not be completed. There were no immediate or late procedure-related complications. Conclusions: Endovascular treatment of severe PE is a safe and efficient option in patients with failing effect or contraindication to systemic thrombolysis

Conformation of Adjacent Self-expanding Stents: A Cross-Sectional In Vitro Study

We examined the proximal conformation of three commonly used self-expanding stents when the stents were deployed adjacent to one another in a tubular model, simulating a “kissing” stent technique. The stent pairs were evaluated by computed tomogrphy to determine the cross-sectional area excluded by the stents within the model. The mean areas associated with each stent pair were compared and significance evaluated by a t -test. A statistically significant difference was found when the area excluded by adjacent Wallstents was compared with both the Luminexx and SMART stents ( p < 0.001 and p < 0.002, respectively). The difference in the area excluded and differences in conformation might play a role in the lower patencies that have been observed in “kissing” stent series.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41328/1/270_2005_Article_33.pd

Non-traumatic vascular emergencies: imaging and intervention in acute arterial conditions

Methods of imaging and intervention in acute non-traumatic vascular arterial conditions has changed substantially during recent years. Computed tomography, MRI angiography and, more recently, intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) have replaced to a large extent conventional diagnostic angiography. An increasing number of patients are treated by endovascular interventions and numerous new treatment methods have been evaluated. Technical development of new equipment and instruments, increasing skill of interventional radiologists and better understanding of events following interventions improve continuously results of the treatment. Radiologic diagnosis and intervention have important roles in the treatment of acute non-traumatic vascular arterial conditions