Usefulness of intraopertive ultrasonography during directional atherectomy using SilverHawk/TurboHawk system

PURPOSE: Directional atherectomy (DA) was introduced for the management of infrainguinal arterial stenosis or occlusive lesions. The procedure success rate in the DEFINITIVE LE study was determined using radiologic imaging. The aim of our study was to determine the usefulness of intraoperative ultrasonography (USG) during DA for evaluating the early results of this procedure. METHODS: Patients who underwent DA from January to December 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. Twenty lesions from 14 patients with femoral artery stenosis (>70% stenosis) with short segment occlusive lesions (<2 cm in length) were treated. Among 20 lesions, 3 were treated with the TurboHawk system with a protective device due to lesion calcification. The percentage of stenosis during and after DA was determined with USG. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 5.1 months, and the procedural success rate (<30% stenosis at the end of the procedure) was 100% on angiography, but only 30% on intraoperative USG. On USG, median residual stenosis was 40% (range, 28%–42%) at the end of DA, 40% (range, 30%–55%) at 1 month, 55% (range, 35%–85%) at 6 months, and 64% (range, 60%–100%) at 1 year. There was one dissection, but no cases of perforation, pseudoaneurysm, or thrombosis. Primary patency, which was defined as a peak systolic velocity ratio ≤3.5 with no reintervention at 6 months, was found in 18 lesions (90%), and 11 of 14 patients (78.6%) were free of ischemic symptoms such as claudication at 6 months. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that DA with intraoperative USG is an effective treatment option for short segment occlusive lesions of the femoral artery.

Experience of direct percutaneous sac injection in type II endoleak using cone beam computed tomography

Cone beam CT, usually used in dental area, could easily obtain 3-dimensional images using cone beam shaped ionized radiation. Cone beam CT is very useful for direct percutaneous sac injection (DPSI) which needs very precise measurement to avoid puncture of inferior vena cava or vessel around sac or stent graft. Here we describe two cases of DPSI using cone beam CT. In case 1, a 79-year-old male had widening of preexisted type II endoleak after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). However, transarterial embolization failed due to tortuous collateral branches of lumbar arteries. In case 2, a 72-year-old female had symptomatic sac enlargement by type II endoleak after EVAR. However, there was no route to approach the lumbar arteries. Therefore, we performed DPSI assisted by cone beam CT in cases 1, 2. Six-month CT follow-up revealed no sign of sac enlargement by type II endoleak.

Early Experience of Iron-Intern Usage during Modified Radical Neck Dissection / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: Modified radical neck dissections (MRND) in papillary thyroid cancer surgery usually leave a long incision in the neck, causing cosmetic problems. We introduce a new surgical approach to MRND, with minimal lateral extension of transverse collar incisions, using the Iron-Intern. METHODS: Between Jan 2008 and Dec 2008, 135 patients with papillary thyroid cancer who had undergone MRND were enrolled in this study. Total thyroidectomy and central node dissection with Kocker transverse collar incision with minimal additional lateral extension were performed before MRND. MRND were performed including level II, III, IV and V. Among 135 patients, we performed MRND with the Iron-Intern in 70 patients (Group I) and 65 patients who had MRND performed without the Iron-Intern (Group II) were included as a control group. In Group I, the Iron-Intern, with some modifications, was applied during the dissection of the level II area. The postoperative outcomes of the patients were analyzed and compared retrospectively. RESULTS: The median hospital stay was significantly lower in Group I compared to Group II (P=0.003). The median operation time was significantly higher in Group I than Group II (P=0.002). The median numbers of harvested central and lateral lymph nodes were 10, 29 (group I) and 8, 23 (group II), respectively (P=0.073, P=0.148). Median levothyroxine off thyroglobulin levels were 1.2 and 1.8 in Group I and II, respectively (P=0.110). CONCLUSION: MRND, with minimal lateral extension using the Iron-Intern, can be easily and safely performed, leaving only minor scars in the neck.