CT-guided percutaneous drainage of abdominopelvic collections: a pictorial essay

CT-guided percutaneous drainage is a safe and effective procedure that allows minimally invasive treatment of abdominopelvic abscesses and fluid collections. This technique has become an alternative for surgery with lower morbility and mortality rates. In this pictorial essay, we aim at providing an overview of the technical approaches, the main clinical indications and complications of CT-guided percutaneous drainage, in order to provide a practical guide for interventional radiologists, with a review of the recent literature. The focus will be the CT-guidance, preferred when the interposition of viscera, vascular and skeletal structures, counteracts the ultrasound guidance

Video-assisted mitral surgery through a micro-access: A safe and reliable reality in the current era

Background and aim of the study: Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery was introduced into clinical practice during the mid 1990s. The clinical benefits of the technique, namely a reduction of surgical trauma, increased patient comfort and shorter hospital stay, are achieved by using a video-assisted, mini-thoracotomy approach rather than a standard median sternotomy. Herein is described the authors' experience with video-assisted mitral surgery through a micro-access. Methods: Between September 2003 and September 2006, 100 patients (mean age 65.7 years; range: 16-84 years; 29 aged >75 years) underwent video-assisted port-access mitral valve surgery through a 4- to 6-cm anterior mini-thoracotomy. Mitral valve repair was carried out in 36 patients (36%) and mitral valve replacement (MVR) in 64 (64%) for degenerative (n = 54), rheumatic (n = 44), functional (n = 1) or infective disease (n = 1). Redo procedures were performed in 14 patients. Results: Peripheral extra-thoracic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was used in all cases, and Endoclamp occlusion of the ascending aorta in 94%. The median intensive care unit and hospital stays were 20.0 +/- 30.8 h and 7.0 +/- 5.9 days, respectively. Hospital mortality was 4% (n = 4). No patient required conversion to sternotomy. Five patients (5%) underwent minimally invasive surgical revision for bleeding, and one patient (1%) had an early reoperation for MVR during the immediate postoperative course due to failure of a mitral valve repair. There were no perioperative myocardial infarctions, permanent strokes, major vascular complications, or peripheral ischemic events. Among the patients, 63% had no complications at all during the postoperative course, and no wound infections were observed. Conclusion: Video-assisted mitral surgery through a micro-access may be performed safely, at low risk of morbidity and mortality, and with results and quality standards similar to those reported for a sternotomy approach. Of note, older patients may be successfully treated using this technique

Endovascular foreign body retrieval

ObjectiveThe number of endovascular procedures performed is increasing exponentially as technology improves. A serious complication of endovascular therapy is loss of a foreign body in the vasculature. We reviewed our experience and evaluated the cause, management, and outcomes of intravascular foreign body (IVFB) misplacement.MethodsWe completed a retrospective review of patients who underwent endovascular retrieval of IVFBs between 2005 and 2010. Patients were identified by current procedural terminology code or by our hospital's risk management team. Patients undergoing routine endovascular retrieval of temporary vena cava filters were excluded.ResultsTwenty-seven IVFBs were identified in 26 patients. Twenty patients were asymptomatic (76.9%). Six patients were symptomatic (22.2%) with either pain (n = 4) or abnormal physical findings (n = 2). There were 13 (48.1%) catheter fragments, six (22.2%) guidewires, five (18.5%) inferior vena cava (IVC) filter (embolisms), two (7.4%) stents, and one (3.7%) sheath fragment. There were five (15.6%) embolizations of an IVFB into the right heart, three (9.4%) into a pulmonary artery, eight (25%) into the vena cava, eight (25%) into peripheral veins, five (15.6%) into peripheral arteries, one (3.1%) into a coronary artery, one (3.1%) into a hepatic vein, and one (3.1%) into adjacent soft tissue. The mechanism of endovascular loss was device fracture in 16 (59.3%) cases, loss of control in six cases (22.2%), migration in four (14.8%) cases, and incorrect device deployment in one case (3.7%). The probable cause of foreign body loss was technical error in eight (29.6%) cases. In three cases, IVFB retrieval was not attempted. The misplacement and retrieval were completed during the same procedure in 13 (48%) cases. Twenty-four endovascular retrievals were performed. Fifteen (62.5%) procedures used a snare to remove the IVFB and two (8.2%) used balloon catheters. Three IVFBs could not be removed and two cases were converted to open procedures. Technical success was achieved in 19/24 cases (79.2%). There were no immediate complications related to the retrieval of the IVFB; however, there was a single late complication of pulmonary embolism after failed endovascular retrieval (1/24, 4.2%). Thirty-day survival was 100%.ConclusionsIntravascular foreign bodies are a serious complication of endovascular therapy that can be minimized with proper device selection and deployment. When an intravascular foreign body is identified, endovascular retrieval should be attempted due to its high success rate and minimal morbidity

Anatomy and radiology of the variations of aortic arch branches in 1,266 patients

Background: The most reliable data about arterial variations, which are very important in surgery and radiology, can be obtained from a large series of patients.Materials and methods: We examined angiographic and multislice computerised tomography (MSCT) images in a group of 1,265 patients and in 1 dissected specimen.Results: While in 946 (74.72%) of the patients a normal vascular pattern (type I) was noticed, in the remaining 320 (25.28%) patients variations of the branchesof the aortic arch were found, which were classified into types II through VIII and a few subtypes. Type II (2.84%) comprised a common origin of the left commoncarotid and subclavian arteries. Type III (15.56%) was related to an origin of the left subclavian artery from the brachiocephalic trunk. Type IV (0.55%) includedthe aortic origin of both common carotid and subclavian arteries, with the rightsubclavian artery having a retroesophageal course. Type V (0.24%) included thesame 4 supra-aortic branches, which, however, arose from a double or a right--sided aortic arch. Type VI (3.63%) comprised the aortic origin of the left vertebralartery, type VII (0.24%) the same origin of the right vertebral artery, and type VIII(2.22%) the aortic origin of the thyroideaima artery. A corresponding embryological background and clinical implications of the described aberrant vessels were presented.Conclusions: In more than one quarter of the cases, the branching pattern of the examined arteries did not follow the classical pattern. Detailed knowledge of aortic branch variations is of great significance in anatomy, embryology, andclinical medicine, especially in radiology and thoracic surgery

Surgical Treatment of Giant Cavernous Hemangioma Liver

In the past five years, 16 adults (10 females, age 25–61 years, mean 48) with giant cavernous hemangioma of the liver measuring 15–31 cm (mean-19) underwent surgery in a single Institution. Diagnosis was made with the help of multimodal investigations– ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), hepatic angiography, hepatic scintigraphy and fine needle biopsy. Ultrasound and CT had sensitivities of 69% and 82% respectively. Fourteen had preoperative selective hepatic artery embolization to study its effect on operative blood loss. Indication for surgery in all cases was a large abdominal mass with varying severity of pain. In addition, 5 had hemetological and/or coagulation abnormalities, hemobilia in and pyrexia in 1. Seven left lobectomies, 3 left lateral segmentectomies, 2 right lobectomies, 2 right trisegmentectomies and 4 non-anatomical resections of to 3 segments were performed. Postoperative complications developed in 25% with no operative mortality. Preoperative selective hepatic artery embolization helped to decrease the operative hemorrhage in 13 (mean blood loss– 1146 ml). In two cases severe bleeding required use of Cell-saver and massive donor blood transfusion. Our results suggest use of preoperative selective hepatic artery embolization and Cell-saver as an adjunct to the liver resection for these vascular tumors

Nonemergent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention on an Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Supported with Impella® Heart Pump in Patients Ineligible for Surgical Revascularization

© 2019 Perwaiz M. Meraj et al. Objectives. We sought to assess if ineligibility to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) constitutes a risk factor in patients who underwent a nonemergent unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with prophylactic Impella® heart pump support. Background. ULMCA PCI in patients not deemed eligible for CABG is associated with significantly worse outcomes compared to ULMCA PCI in eligible patients. Methods. Patients from the cVAD Registry and the PROTECT II trial who underwent a nonemergent ULMCA PCI were identified. We compared in-hospital mortality and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCE) rates as well as 30-day survival and MACCE rates between CABG ineligible and CABG eligible patients. Results. A total of 331 patients were included (293 Impella 2.5®, 38 Impella CP®); 227 were ineligible for CABG and 104 were eligible. Baseline characteristics were remarkable for a trend toward higher rate of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the ineligible patients. In-hospital mortality (3.52% vs. 5.77%; p=0.383) and MACCE (6.61% vs. 7.69%; p=0.816) rates as well as 30-day survival (92.0% vs. 93.4%; Log-Rank p-value =0.781) and MACCE (88.1% vs. 90.1%; Log-Rank p-value=0.648) rates were not different between the two groups. Conclusions. The results of our study suggest that prophylactic Impella support appears to mitigate the risks inherent to surgical ineligibility in patients undergoing a nonemergent ULMCA PCI. Our results require further investigation

Indirect revascularization in patients, suffering critical ischemia of the lower extremities on background of diabetes mellitus

Objective. Determination of clinical efficacy of the mesenchymal stem cells transplantation in patients, suffering critical ischemia of the lower extremities on background of diabetes mellitus. Materials and methods. There were examined 11 patients, suffering critical ischemia of the lower extremities on background of diabetes mellitus Type II with purulent-necrotic processes of the foot, in whom conditions for the direct revascularization of extremity were absent. Microbiological monitoring for the wound discharge, determination of the ankle brachial index and transcutaneous oximetry was performed. The technology elaborated have consisted of two stages. On the first of them a purulent focus sanation (in all the patients the distal amputations of the foot, preserving arterial arch) was done. On the second stage the therapy of the wounds was conducted, using negative pressure, injections of cellular suspension (mesenchymal stem cells) while applying long fine cannula under aponeurosis into the muscles along obliterated vessels in the (10 ± 5) ml quantity with subsequent closure of the wound surface, using fibroblastic matrix. Results. In a year after the treatment critical ischemia in 1 patient was noted, the ischemia Grade III - in 3, and in 7 a IIB Grade have persisted. Conclusion. Performance of indirect revascularization, using autologous mesenchymal stem cells, constitutes an effective and secure procedure

Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation for refractory cardiogenic shock after adult cardiac surgery:a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background - Postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS) refractory to inotropic support and intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) occurs rarely but is almost universally fatal without mechanical circulatory support. In this systematic review and meta-analysis we looked at the evidence behind the use of veno-arterial extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) in refractory PCCS from a patient survival rate and determinants of outcome viewpoint. Methods - A systematic review was performed in January 2017 using PubMed (with no defined time period) using the keywords “postcardiotomy”, “cardiogenic shock”, “extracorporeal membrane oxygenation” and “cardiac surgery”. We excluded papers pertaining to ECMO following paediatric cardiac surgery, medical causes of cardiogenic shock, as well as case reports, review articles, expert opinions, and letters to the editor. Once the studies were collated, a meta-analysis was performed on the proportion of survivors in those papers that met the inclusion criteria. Meta-regression was performed for the most commonly reported adverse prognostic indicators (API). Results - We identified 24 studies and a cumulative pool of 1926 patients from 1992 to 2016. We tabulated the demographic data, including the strengths and weaknesses for each of the studies, outcomes of VA ECMO for refractory PCCS, complications, and APIs. All the studies were retrospective cohort studies. Meta-analysis of the moderately heterogeneous data (95% CI 0.29 to 0.34, p 70 years, 95% CI −0.057 to 0.001, P = 0.058), and long ECMO support (95% CI −0.068 to 0.166, P = 0.412). Postoperative renal failure, high EuroSCORE (>20%), diabetes mellitus, obesity, rising lactate whilst on ECMO, gastrointestinal complications had also been reported. Conclusion - Haemodynamic support with VA ECMO provides a survival benefit with reasonable intermediate and long-term outcomes. Many studies had reported advanced age, renal failure and prolonged VA ECMO support as the most likely APIs for VA ECMO in PCCS. EuroSCORE can be utilized to anticipate the need for prophylactic perioperative VA ECMO in the high-risk category. APIs can be used to aid decision-making regarding both the institution and weaning of ECMO for refractory PCCS

Treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea leads to improved microvascular endothelial function in the systemic circulation

Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common and potentially reversible cause of systemic hypertension. The mechanisms whereby OSA leads to hypertension and the effects of treatment on arterial function, however, are not well established. Microvascular arterial endothelial and smooth muscle function was assessed in subjects with OSA before and after treatment with continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP). Methods: Ten subjects of mean (SE) age 49 (8) years with at least moderately severe OSA had detailed forearm vascular reactivity studies before and after 3 months of CPAP treatment. The systemic circulation was assessed by measuring brachial artery pressure, flow and resistance responses to intra-arterial infusions of acetylcholine (ACh; an endothelium dependent vasodilator), sodium nitroprusside (SNP; an endothelium independent vasodilator), L-NMMA (a nitric oxide (NO) antagonist), and L-arginine (the substrate for NO). Results: Before CPAP, ACh and SNP infusions increased forearm blood flow in a dose dependent manner (p,0.01). After CPAP, endothelium dependent dilation to ACh was significantly increased (434 (23)% of baseline after CPAP v 278 (20)% before CPAP, p,0.001), whereas SNP induced dilation was unchanged. Resting NO production was higher after CPAP, evidenced by a significantly greater reduction in basal flow by L-NMMA (p = 0.05). L-Arginine reversed the effect of L-NMMA in all cases. Conclusion: In patients with OSA, treatment with CPAP improves baseline endothelial NO release and stimulates endothelium dependent vasorelaxation in the systemic circulation. This is a potential mechanism for improving systemic and vascular function in patients with OSA treated with CPAP