Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection for the treatment of an iatrogenic hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Percutaneous transhepatic portal embolization is often performed to expand the indications for hepatic resection. Various etiologies of hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm have been reported, but regardless of the etiology, hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm is usually managed with an endovascular approach or open surgery, depending on the location and clinical symptomatology. However, it is difficult to manage hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm after percutaneous transhepatic portal embolization, since embolization of the hepatic artery may cause hepatic infarction</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 58-year-old Japanese man with hilar bile duct cancer underwent percutaneous transhepatic portal embolization to expand the indication for hepatic resection. Two days after percutaneous transhepatic portal embolization, our patient suddenly complained of abdominal pain. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography confirmed a pseudoaneurysm arising from a segmental branch of his right hepatic artery. Since embolization of the hepatic arterial branches may cause hepatic infarction, ultrasound-guided thrombin injection therapy was successfully performed for the pseudoaneurysm.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We performed a thrombin injection instead of arterial embolization to avoid hepatic infarction. The rationale of this choice may be insufficient. However, ultrasound-guided percutaneous thrombin injection therapy may be considered as an alternative to percutaneous transarterial embolization or surgical intervention for an iatrogenic hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm.</p

Management of Massive Arterial Hemorrhage After Pancreatobiliary Surgery: Does Embolotherapy Contribute to Successful Outcome?

Massive arterial hemorrhage is, although unusual, a life-threatening complication of major pancreatobiliary surgery. Records of 351 patients who underwent major surgery for malignant pancreatobiliary disease were reviewed in this series. Thirteen patients (3.7%) experienced massive hemorrhage after surgery. Complete hemostasis by transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) or re-laparotomy was achieved in five patients and one patient, respectively. However, 7 of 13 cases ended in fatality, which is a 54% mortality rate. Among six survivors, one underwent selective TAE for a pseudoaneurysm of the right hepatic artery (RHA). Three patients underwent TAE proximal to the proper hepatic artery (PHA): hepatic inflow was maintained by successful TAE of the gastroduodenal artery in two and via a well-developed subphrenic artery in one. One patient had TAE of the celiac axis for a pseudoaneurysm of the splenic artery (SPA), and hepatic inflow was maintained by the arcades around the pancreatic head. One patient who experienced a pseudoaneurysm of the RHA after left hemihepatectomy successfully underwent re-laparotomy, ligation of RHA, and creation of an ileocolic arterioportal shunt. In contrast, four of seven patients with fatal outcomes experienced hepatic infarction following TAE proximal to the PHA or injury of the common hepatic artery during angiography. One patient who underwent a major hepatectomy for hilar bile duct cancer had a recurrent hemorrhage after TAE of the gastroduodenal artery and experienced hepatic failure. In the two patients with a pseudoaneurysm of the SPA or the superior mesenteric artery, an emergency re-laparotomy was required to obtain hemostasis because of worsening clinical status. Selective TAE distal to PHA or in the SPA is usually successful. TAE proximal to PHA must be restricted to cases where collateral hepatic blood flow exists. Otherwise or for a pseudoaneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery, endovascular stenting, temporary creation of an ileocolic arterioportal shunt, or vascular reconstruction by re-laparotomy is an alternative

Correlation of Ankle-Brachial Index Values With Carotid Disease, Coronary Disease, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Women

BACKGROUND: Recent studies indicate that the use of ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurements helps identify patients with peripheral arterial disease. Previous research also reveals a relationship between peripheral arterial disease and higher incidence of cardiac mortality and morbidity. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of a low ABI (\u3c0.90 mm Hg) with coronary artery disease, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, body mass index greater than 25, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and carotid artery disease. METHODS: A descriptive correlational design was used to study a population (N = 810) of fairly healthy women who self-selected to undergo cardiovascular screening that they paid for out of pocket. Cardiac disease and most of the data on risk factors were obtained using questionnaires. Carotid artery stenosis was determined by ultrasound. Hypotheses were tested using χ and independent t test. RESULTS: A statistically significant relationship was found between a low ABI and the presence of moderate to severe carotid artery stenosis (χ = 5.90, P = .015). A low ABI (\u3c0.90 mm Hg) was not significantly related to cardiac disease (χ = 0.83, P = .362), diabetes (χ = 1.82, P = .177), hypercholesterolemia (χ = 0.01, P = .930), claudication (χ = 2.06, P = .151), physical activity (χ = 1.17, P = .884), or body mass index (t = 1.12, P = .270). CONCLUSION: The significant relationship between low ABI and carotid artery stenosis illustrates that atherosclerosis occurs in multiple arterial beds simultaneously. The lack of association between ABI and the other variables probably reflects the self-report nature of the data collected on these variables. Ankle-brachial index measurements may be useful in future research as a tool for early recognition of cardiovascular disease