Fluoroscopy-guided retrieval of tracheal tubular metallic stents: analysis of 45 cases / 介入放射学杂志

Objective To discuss the indications,feasibility and safety of fluoroscopy-guided retrieval of tracheal tubular metallic stents.Methods Between January 2010 to December 2014,fluoroscopy-guided retrieval of tracheal tubular metallic stent was performed in 45 patients.The stents included 36 covered stents and 9 naked stents.The mean retention time of the covered and naked stents was (3.2±0.7) months and (2.5± 1.2) months respectively.Before the retrieval of the 36 covered stents,granulation tissue hyperplasia in different degrees was observed at both ends of 15 stents,and stent fracture was found in 3 stents.Granulation tissue hyperplasia was seen in all 9 naked stents.Among the 9 naked stents,5 stents were completely embedded in the tracheal submucosal area,and 2 stents were fractured.Results Of the 45 stents,41 stents were successfully retrieved (success rate of 91.1％),including 34 covered stents (94.4％,34/36) and 7 naked stents (77.8％,7/9).Of the 41 patients whose stents were successfully retrieved,massive hemoptysis occurred in 4 patients with a mean bleeding amount of 100 ml,tracheal mucosa tear was detected in 5 patients,emergency airway stent implantation because of tracheal collapse after stent retrieval was needed in one patient,and emergency surgical suture of the trachea due to tracheal rupture was carried out in one patient.No procedure-related death occurred.Conclusion The indications of fluoroscopy-guided retrieval of tracheal tubular metallic stents include stent fracture,local excessive proliferation of granulation tissue or tumor tissue that causes tracheal restenosis,temporary tracheal stent placement for benign tracheal stenosis,intolerance to stent implantation,etc.The technique of fluoroscopy-guided retrieval of tracheal tubular metallic stent is relatively safe and less invasive;this technique can solve the complications induced by long-term retention of the stents.

Microwave ablation: results in ex vivo and in vivo porcine livers with 2450-MHz cooled-shaft antenna / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Imaging-guided thermal ablation using different energy sources continues to gain favor as a minimally invasive technique for the treatment of primary and metastatic hepatic malignant tumors. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of microwave ablation with 2450-MHz internally cooled-shaft antenna in ex vivo and in vivo porcine livers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>All studies were animal care and ethics committee approved. Microwave ablation was performed using a noncooled or cooled-shaft antenna in 23 ex vivo (92 ablations) and eight in vivo (36 ablations) porcine livers. Diameters of the coagulation zone were observed on gross specimens. The coagulation diameters achieved in different microwave ablation parameter groups were compared. Curve estimation analysis was performed to characterize the relationship between applied power and treatment duration and coagulation diameter (including short-axis and long-axis diameter).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Coagulation zones were elliptical and an arrowed-shaped carbonization zone around the shaft was observed in all groups. But the antenna track was also coagulated in the noncooled-shaft antenna groups. In ex vivo livers, the short-axis diameter correlated with the power output in a quadratic curve fashion (R(2) = 0.95) by fixing ablation duration to 10 minutes, and correlated with the ablation duration in a logarithmic curve fashion (R(2) = 0.98) by fixing power output to 80 W. The short-axis reached a relative plateau within 25 minutes. In in vivo livers, short-axis diameter correlated with the coagulation duration in a sigmoidal curve fashion (60 W group R(2) = 0.76, 80 W group R(2) = 0.87), with a relative plateau achieved within 10 minutes for power settings of 60 W and 80 W.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The internally cooled microwave antenna may be advantageous to minimize collateral damage. The short-axis diameter enlargement has a plateau by fixing power output.</p>

CT guided 125iodine seed implantation for portal vein tumor thrombus in primary hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>This study evaluated the clinical application of CT guided 125iodine implantation in patients with portal vein tumor thrombus in primary hepatocellular carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The ten patients (9 males and 1 female, aged from 36 to 72 years) with portal vein tumor thrombus accompanying hepatocellular carcinoma had been treated with comprehensive therapy including surgery, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, radiotherapy ablation, microwave ablation or percutaneous ethanol injection. The average diameter of each tumor thrombus was 21.5 mm x 30.5 mm. Seeds of 30 MBq 125I were implanted 5 mm apart within the portal vein tumor thrombus. The follow-up after 4 months included enhanced spiral CT.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CT screening of the tumours indicated that 4 out of 10 patients showed complete response to the therapy, 5 partial response and 1 stable disease. Adverse effects included aggravated abdominal dropsy and temporarily increased transaminase, which were controlled by medical management. Severe complications such as haemorrhage, biliary fistula, hepatic abscess, pancreatic fistula and hepatic function failure were not observed. Implanted seeds migrated to lung and left hepatic lobe in 1 case.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CT guided implantation of 125iodine seeds, can effectively treat portal vein tumor thrombus accompanying hepatocellular carcinoma with minimal damage and few complications.</p>