Safety and effectiveness of introducing a robotic-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention program in a tertiary center: a prospective study.

Background: Robotic-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a novel technology that permits remote operation of interventional devices. However, little is known about the safety and effectiveness of introducing a robotic PCI program in a hospital already experienced in traditional coronary angioplasty. Methods: Prospective single-arm survey to assess the safety and effectiveness of robotic-assisted PCI in comparison to pre-defined performance goals. The study cohort comprised all consecutive cases treated with robotic PCI since its introduction. The safety primary endpoint was a composite of (I) overall death or (II) non-fatal adverse events related to target vessel complications (stent thrombosis, myocardial infarction, vessel perforation or cardiac tamponade, or repeat invasive treatment) during the index hospitalization. The efficacy primary endpoint was robotic-assisted procedural success, a composite of (I) successful dilatation of the target lesion and (II) successful robotic assistance, defined as absent non-planned manual conversion. Results: A total of 83 patients and 112 lesions were prospectively enrolled. The rate of angiographic success was 99.1%. From these, 97 lesions (86.6%) were treated with only robotic PCI or with hybrid according to the pre-interventional plan. The rates of efficacy and safety primary endpoints were 85.7% and 2.4% respectively (P<0.01 for non-inferior to the pre-defined performance threshold). Conclusions: Introduction of robotic-assisted PCI in a tertiary center was associated with safe and effective results, comparable to pre-defined goals of optimal performance.

Cocaine-Induced Renal Artery Dissection as a Cause of Secondary Hypertension: A Rare Presentation.

BACKGROUND Cocaine abuse is a globally recognized problem with great socioeconomic and health impacts on society. We report a case of dissection of vertebral arteries and right renal artery after cocaine abuse that clinically presented as atypical headache and hypertension. CASE REPORT A 36-year-old male sought emergency care due to cervical pain after cocaine abuse. The pain was located to the right cervical side with irradiation to the homolateral temporal region. He had no previous comorbidities, except for cocaine abuse on a weekly basis. Angiotomography showed alterations compatible with recent arterial dissection of the right vertebral artery, confirmed on angioresonance. The patient received double anti-aggregation and antihypertensive drugs and was discharged. He was readmitted 5 days later due to hypertensive crisis and mild abdominal pain. Abdominal ultrasound with a Doppler of renal arteries showed signs right renal artery stenosis. Magnetic resonance angiography confirmed dissection of the same vessel. The patient underwent arteriography with stent implantation in the right renal artery. During outpatient follow-up, he progressed with gradual reduction of antihypertensive drugs. CONCLUSIONS There is only 1 case report correlating renal artery dissection with cocaine use and none with concomitant presentation of dissection in the vertebral and renal arterial beds. The scarcity of reports is a consequence of many problems. Therefore, young patients presenting with new-onset hypertension or abdominal pain and cocaine abuse history should raise suspicion for renal artery dissection.

Safety and Effectiveness of Suture-mediated Arterial Closure Device in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Who Underwent Drug-Eluting Beads Transarterial Chemoembolization.

BACKGROUND: The number of transarterial percutaneous procedures has risen over the years, consequently reducing puncture site related complications has become a necessity. To this end, the use of arterial closure devices has been growing progressively and their benefits have become a focus of research. The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and effectiveness of a suture-mediated closure device, Perclose ProGlide® (Abbott Vascular, Redwood City, CA), in patients with liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent transarterial liver chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort of 253 hepatocellular carcinoma patients who underwent 449 procedures of transarterial liver chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads using the Perclose Proglide device was prospectively studied. The main endpoints evaluated were the technical success of the device, defined as complete hemostasis achieved within 3 min after the closure, and the incidence of puncture-site complications. The secondary endpoints evaluated were the correlation between epidemiological factors, coagulation profile and degree of liver disease, and the occurrence of complications. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in 96% of the cases. Among patients who underwent repeated procedures using the same vascular access, this rate was 95.3%. Puncture-site complications were observed in 7 procedures (1.56%); 4 (0.89%) were due to hemorrhage, 2 (0.44%) hematomas and 2 (0.44%) pseudoaneurysms; 2 (0.44%) due to limb ischemia; and 1 (0.22%) due to arterial dissection. Among them, 3 cases required intervention. The statistical analysis of demographic characteristics, Child-Pugh classification, and coagulation status did not show a significant correlation with the occurrence of complications. Of the 449 procedures, only 4 (0.89%) needed hospitalization due to puncture-site complications. CONCLUSIONS: The use of Perclose Proglide is safe and effective in patients with liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent transarterial liver chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads.

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of endovascular management for transplant renal artery stenosis

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular intervention with angioplasty and stent placement in patients with transplant renal artery stenosis. METHODS: All patients diagnosed with transplant renal artery stenosis and graft dysfunction or resistant systemic hypertension who underwent endovascular treatment with stenting from February 2011 to April 2016 were included in this study. The primary endpoint was clinical success, and the secondary endpoints were technical success, complication rate and stent patency. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients with transplant renal artery stenosis underwent endovascular treatment, and three of them required reinterventions, resulting in a total of 27 procedures. The clinical success rate was 100%. All graft dysfunction patients showed decreased serum creatinine levels and improved estimated glomerular filtration rates and creatinine levels. Patients with high blood pressure also showed improved control of systemic blood pressure and decreased use of antihypertensive drugs. The technical success rate of the procedure was 97%. Primary patency and assisted primary patency rates at one year were 90.5% and 100%, respectively. The mean follow-up time of patients was 794.04 days after angioplasty. CONCLUSION: Angioplasty with stent placement for the treatment of transplant renal artery stenosis is a safe and effective technique with good results in both the short and long term.

Occurrence of Vascular Lake Phenomenon as a Predictor of Improved Tumor Response in HCC Patients That Underwent DEB-TACE.

PURPOSE: To evaluate incidence and predictive factors for the vascular lake phenomenon (VLP), as well as to compare local and overall tumor response in patients with and without VLP induced during DEB-TACE for HCC. METHODS: A total of 200 consecutive patients with 323 HCC nodules underwent first-session DEB-TACE from 2011 to 2014. Patients were divided in two groups, according to the presence of the VLP during DEB-TACE. Pre- and post-treatment imaging studies (CT or MRI) were performed. Primary endpoint was assessment of tumor response, evaluated by mRECIST. Comparison of response rates between the VLP group and the non-VLP group was performed. Secondary endpoints were the determination of incidence rate and predictive factors for the VLP. RESULTS: The VLP was observed in 39/323 (12.1%) of the nodules treated. At multivariate logistic regression analysis, tumor size ≥3 cm in diameter (OR 13.95; 95% CI 3.60-54.05), presence of a pseudocapsule (OR 6.67; 95% CI 1.45-30.59) and alpha-fetoprotein levels (OR 1.004; 95% CI 1.000-1.007) remained predictive for the VLP occurrence. On a nodule-based analysis (p < 0.001), target lesion response analysis (p = 0.003) and overall response analysis (p = 0.004) the VLP group presented a higher objective response rate than the non-VLP group. CONCLUSION: VLP is observed in 12% of the patients and happens more frequently in large and encapsulated tumors. It seems to be associated with better local and overall responses in HCC patients who underwent DEB-TACE.

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of endovascular management for transplant renal artery stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular intervention with angioplasty and stent placement in patients with transplant renal artery stenosis. METHODS: All patients diagnosed with transplant renal artery stenosis and graft dysfunction or resistant systemic hypertension who underwent endovascular treatment with stenting from February 2011 to April 2016 were included in this study. The primary endpoint was clinical success, and the secondary endpoints were technical success, complication rate and stent patency. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients with transplant renal artery stenosis underwent endovascular treatment, and three of them required reinterventions, resulting in a total of 27 procedures. The clinical success rate was 100%. All graft dysfunction patients showed decreased serum creatinine levels and improved estimated glomerular filtration rates and creatinine levels. Patients with high blood pressure also showed improved control of systemic blood pressure and decreased use of antihypertensive drugs. The technical success rate of the procedure was 97%. Primary patency and assisted primary patency rates at one year were 90.5% and 100%, respectively. The mean follow-up time of patients was 794.04 days after angioplasty. CONCLUSION: Angioplasty with stent placement for the treatment of transplant renal artery stenosis is a safe and effective technique with good results in both the short and long term.

Safety and feasibility of same-day discharge of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with transarterial chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads in a liver transplantation program.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of same-day discharge of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with transarterial chemoembolization with the use of drug-eluting beads (DEBs) and elucidate the prognostic factors for hospital admission. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 266 DEB chemoembolization procedures in 154 consecutive patients listed for liver transplantation or identified for potential HCC downstaging were performed with the outpatient treatment protocol. Endpoints evaluated were admission to the hospital after the procedure for clinical reasons, readmission to the hospital within 1 month of the procedure, and procedure-related morbidity and mortality. In the evaluation of prognostic factors for admission, parameters of patients discharged the same day were compared with those of patients admitted overnight. RESULTS: Same-day discharge was feasible in 238 cases (89.5%), and 28 (10.5%) needed overnight admission. The main reason for overnight admission was postprocedural abdominal pain (n = 23; 67.8%). The procedure-related complication rate was 2.6%, and there were no readmissions or deaths during the first 30 days after chemoembolization. Chemoembolization performed for downstaging and the use of more than one vial of embolic agent were associated with an increased need for overnight admission (P = .012 and P = .007, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Same-day discharge of patients with HCC treated with DEB chemoembolization in a liver transplantation program is safe and feasible, with low complication and admission rates. Treatment for HCC downstaging and the use of more than one vial of embolic agent were associated with an increased need for hospital admission.

Safety, efficacy, and prognostic factors in endovascular treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of transcatheter embolization using coils for treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) and to elucidate prognostic factors for clinical success. METHODS: Data were retrospectively analyzed from 113 women with PCS who underwent endovascular embolization of ovarian and pelvic varicose veins at Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain between January 2001 and January 2011. Pain score was evaluated before and after the procedure via a visual analog scale (VAS). Associated symptoms (dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, urinary urgency, and lower limb symptoms) were also evaluated. Patients were followed up for 12 months. RESULTS: The technical and clinical success was 100%. At 12 months, 53% of patients had no pelvic pain and 47% reported a reduction in pelvic pain. The average VAS was 7.34 before the procedure and 0.47 at 12 months. Complete relief of pain and associated symptoms was achieved for 37% of patients. Urinary urgency, lower limb symptoms, and vulvar and lower limbs varicosities were prognostic factors related to incomplete treatment success. The global complication rate was low (5/113, 4.4%). CONCLUSION: Transcatheter embolization was a safe and effective treatment for PCS. Lower limb symptoms, urinary urgency, and varicosities were associated with incomplete clinical success.