Inflammatory markers as prognostic factors of survival in patients affected by hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing transarterial chemoembolization

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a good choice for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment when surgery and liver transplantation are not feasible. Few studies reported the value of prognostic factors influencing survival after chemoembolization. In this study, we evaluated whether preoperative inflammatory factors such as neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and platelet to lymphocyte ratio affected our patient survival when affected by hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods. We retrospectively evaluated a total of 72 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma that underwent TACE. We enrolled patients with different etiopathogeneses of hepatitis and histologically proven HCC not suitable for surgery. The overall study population was dichotomized in two groups according to the median NLR value and was analyzed also according to other prognostic factors. Results. The global median overall survival (OS) was 28 months. The OS in patients with high NLR was statistically significantly shorter than that in patients with low NLR. The following pretreatment variables were significantly associated with the OS in univariate analyses: age, Child-Pugh score, BCLC stage, INR, and NLR. Pretreated high NLR was an independently unfavorable factor for OS. Conclusion. NLR could be considered a good prognostic factor of survival useful to stratify patients that could benefit from TACE treatment

Endovascular management of giant visceral artery aneurysms

Endovascular management of small visceral artery aneurysms is an established treatment with satisfactory outcomes. However, when size exceeds 5 cm visceral aneurysms are considered as “giant” (giant visceral artery aneurysms or GVAAs) and management is significantly more complex. Between August 2007 and June 2019 eleven cases of GVAAs that were endovascularly treated were retrospectively reviewed and included in this single center study. Mean size was 80 mm (± 26.3 mm) x 46 mm (+ -11.8 mm). Nine of the lesions were true aneurysms, and two were pseudoaneurysms. In 8 patients, the lesion was causing compression symptoms in the surrounding organs, one patient developed a contained rupture while 2 patients were completely asymptomatic. However, all patients were hemodynamically stable at the time of treatment. Technical success was defined as immediate complete exclusion of the aneurysmal sac, and clinical success as complete relief from clinical symptoms. Follow-up was performed with CT angiography, ultrasound and clinical examination. Mean follow-up was 45 months (range 6–84). Technical and clinical success were both 91%. Complications were one lack of control of contained rupture that was subsequently operated, one case of self-limiting non-target spleen embolization and one case of splenic abscess. Three patients died, one due to the contained rupture 15 days after procedure, the other two for other causes and occurred during the long-term follow-up. This series suggests that endovascular treatment of giant visceral artery aneurysms and pseudoaneuryms is a valid minimally invasive solution with very satisfactory immediate and long-term outcomes unless the aneurysm is already ruptured. A variety of endovascular tools may be required for successful treatment

Secondary Endoleak Management Following TEVAR and EVAR.

Endovascular abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysm repair and are widely used to treat increasingly complex aneurysms. Secondary endoleaks, defined as those detected more than 30 days after the procedure and after previous negative imaging, remain a challenge for aortic specialists, conferring a need for long-term surveillance and reintervention. Endoleaks are classified on the basis of their anatomic site and aetiology. Type 1 and type 2 endoleaks (EL1 and EL2) are the most common endoleaks necessitating intervention. The management of these requires an understanding of their mechanics, and the risk of sac enlargement and rupture due to increased sac pressure. Endovascular techniques are the main treatment approach to manage secondary endoleaks. However, surgery should be considered where endovascular treatments fail to arrest aneurysm growth. This chapter reviews the aetiology, significance, management strategy and techniques for different endoleak types

Omecamtiv mecarbil in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, GALACTIC‐HF: baseline characteristics and comparison with contemporary clinical trials

Aims: The safety and efficacy of the novel selective cardiac myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil, in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is tested in the Global Approach to Lowering Adverse Cardiac outcomes Through Improving Contractility in Heart Failure (GALACTIC‐HF) trial. Here we describe the baseline characteristics of participants in GALACTIC‐HF and how these compare with other contemporary trials. Methods and Results: Adults with established HFrEF, New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA) ≥ II, EF ≤35%, elevated natriuretic peptides and either current hospitalization for HF or history of hospitalization/ emergency department visit for HF within a year were randomized to either placebo or omecamtiv mecarbil (pharmacokinetic‐guided dosing: 25, 37.5 or 50 mg bid). 8256 patients [male (79%), non‐white (22%), mean age 65 years] were enrolled with a mean EF 27%, ischemic etiology in 54%, NYHA II 53% and III/IV 47%, and median NT‐proBNP 1971 pg/mL. HF therapies at baseline were among the most effectively employed in contemporary HF trials. GALACTIC‐HF randomized patients representative of recent HF registries and trials with substantial numbers of patients also having characteristics understudied in previous trials including more from North America (n = 1386), enrolled as inpatients (n = 2084), systolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg (n = 1127), estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (n = 528), and treated with sacubitril‐valsartan at baseline (n = 1594). Conclusions: GALACTIC‐HF enrolled a well‐treated, high‐risk population from both inpatient and outpatient settings, which will provide a definitive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of this novel therapy, as well as informing its potential future implementation

Management of malignant biliary tract obstruction

Description of the indications, techniques and complications of the interventional radiological procedures used in management of malignant biliary tract obstructio

Percutaneous Treatment of Intrahepatic Biloma Using a Ureteral Double J Stent

No abstract availabl