Gastric variceal bleeding caused by an intrahepatic arterioportal fistula that formed after liver biopsy: a case report and review of the literature

An intrahepatic arterioportal fistula is a rare cause of portal hypertension and variceal bleeding. We report on a patient with an intrahepatic arterioportal fistula following liver biopsy who was successfully treated by hepatectomy after unsuccessful arterial embolization. We also review the literature on symptomatic intrahepatic arterioportal fistulas after liver biopsy. A 48-year-old male with bleeding gastric varices and hepatitis B virus-associated liver cirrhosis was transferred to our hospital; this patient previously underwent percutaneous liver biopsies 3 and 6 years ago. Abdominal examination revealed a bruit over the liver, tenderness in the right upper quadrant, and splenomegaly. Ultrasonographic examination, computed tomography, and angiography confirmed an arterioportal fistula between the right hepatic artery and the right portal vein with portal hypertension. After admission, the patient suffered a large hematemesis and developed shock. He was treated with emergency transarterial embolization using microcoils. Since some collateral vessels bypassed the obstructive coils and still fed the fistulous area, embolization was performed again. Despite the second embolization, the collateral vessels could not be completely controlled. Radical treatment involving resection of his right hepatic lobe was performed. For nearly 6 years postoperatively, this patient has had no further episodes of variceal bleeding

Variables decreasing tip movement of peripherally inserted central catheters in pediatric patients

BACKGROUND The position of the tip of a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) is crucial; malposition can lead to malfunction of the line or life-threatening events (e.g., arrhythmias, perforation). OBJECTIVE To determine what factors other than arm position and accessed vein might influence the tip position of a PICC. MATERIALS AND METHODS Inclusion criteria were upper limb PICC placement, body weight 0.05). CONCLUSION Silicone PICCs and PICCs inserted into the cephalic vein move less than PICCs made of polyurethane and PICCs inserted into the brachial and basilic veins. These findings might assist operators in deciding which PICC to place in children in a given clinical context

Localização inicial da ponta de cateter central de inserção periférica (PICC) em recém-nascidos Localización inicial de la punta del catéter central de inserción periférica (PICC) en recién nacidos Initial placement of the peripherally inserted central catheter's tip in neonates

Estudo transversal com coleta prospectiva de dados, que objetivouidentificar o posicionamento inicial da ponta do cateter central de inserção periférica (PICC) e verificar a prevalência de sucesso de sua inserção em neonatos. Os dados foram coletados no berçário anexo à maternidade do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, entre março e setembro de 2006. Dos 37 neonatos submetidos à inserção do cateter PICC, a taxa de sucesso no procedimento foi de 72,3% (27 neonatos); destes, quatro (14,8%) estavam com as pontas dos cateteres alojadas nas veias axilar ou inominada; outros três (11,1%), alojadas em veia jugular. Estes cateteres foram removidos por desvio de trajeto. 13 (48,2%) estavam com as pontas alojadas em átrio direito, cujos cateteres foram tracionados para reposicionamento da ponta para a veia cava superior.<br>Estudio transversal con recolección prospectiva de datos. La finalidad fue identificar la posición inicial de la punta del catéter central de inserción periférica (PICC) y verificar la prevalencia de éxitos durante su introducción en neonatos. Los datos fueron recolectados en un servicio de neonatología anexo a la maternidad del Hospital de las Clínicas de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de São Paulo, entre marzo y setiembre del 2006. De los 37 neonatos sometidos a introducción del catéter PICC, la tasa de éxito fue de 72.3% (27 neonatos), de ellos, cuatro (14.8%) estaban con las puntas de los catéteres alojadas en las venas axilar o no determinada, tres (11.1%) localizadas en la vena yugular. Siendo estos últimos retirados por desviación en su trayecto. El 48.2% (13) se encontraba con las puntas en el atrio derecho, siendo estos catéteres nuevamente posicionados en la vena cava superior.<br>This is a cross-sectional study aiming to identify the initial tip position of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) and to verify the prevalence of success in inserting such catheters in neonates. The study was carried out in the neonatal care unit of Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo. Data were collected prospectively from March to September 2006. 37 neonates underwent PICC insertion were included in the study. The rate of success for this procedure was 72.3% (27 neonates). Of them, four (14.8%) had the catheter tips placed in the axilary or inominate veins. Three others (11.1%) had them placed in a jugular vein. When these catheters were removed, 13 (48.2%) catheter tip were placed in the right atrium, and they were relocated to the superior vena cava

Direct Effective Dose Calculations in Pediatric Fluoroscopy-Guided Abdominal Interventions with Rando-Alderson Phantoms – Optimization of Preset Parameter Settings

The aim of the study was to calculate the effective dose during fluoroscopy-guided pediatric interventional procedures of the liver in a phantom model before and after adjustment of preset parameters.Organ doses were measured in three anthropomorphic Rando-Alderson phantoms representing children at various age and body weight (newborn 3.5kg, toddler 10kg, child 19kg). Collimation was performed focusing on the upper abdomen representing mock interventional radiology procedures such as percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and drainage placement (PTCD). Fluoroscopy and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) acquisitions were performed in a posterior-anterior geometry using a state of the art flat-panel detector. Effective dose was directly measured from multiple incorporated thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) using two different parameter settings.Effective dose values for each pediatric phantom were below 0.1mSv per minute fluoroscopy, and below 1mSv for a 1 minute DSA acquisition with a frame rate of 2 f/s. Lowering the values for the detector entrance dose enabled a reduction of the applied effective dose from 12 to 27% for fluoroscopy and 22 to 63% for DSA acquisitions. Similarly, organ doses of radiosensitive organs could be reduced by over 50%, especially when close to the primary x-ray beam.Modification of preset parameter settings enabled to decrease the effective dose for pediatric interventional procedures, as determined by effective dose calculations using dedicated pediatric Rando-Alderson phantoms