Role of Interventional Radiology in the Management of Early Vascular Complications After Liver Transplant.

OBJECTIVES: A hepatic vascular complication after liver transplant is a critical situation, often resulting in graft failure and potentially leading to patient death. Early diagnosis and treatment of vascular complications can provide prolonged graft survival and prohibit further complications. This study presents our experiences with endovascular treatment during the first week after liver transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2012 and February 2021, 240 liver transplants were performed, with 43 patients having early endovascular treatment (37 men; mean age 27 ± 2.9 years) at a single center. Early endovascular interventions were carried out 1 to 7 days (mean ± SD of 2.7 ± 0.24 days) after transplant. Patients with vascular complications were grouped by arterial, venous, and portal complications. In addition, arterial complications were subgrouped by occlusive (hepatic artery thrombosis) and nonocclusive (hepatic artery stenosis/splenic artery steal syndrome) complications. Patients had median follow-up of 47 ± 4 months. RESULTS: In the first week after liver transplant, vascular complications included splenic artery steal syndrome in 27 patients (62.7%), hepatic complications in 10 patients (23.2%) (7 with hepatic artery thrombosis, 3 with hepatic artery stenosis), hepatic venous outflow complications in 4 patients (9.3%), and portal vein complications in 2 patients (4.6%). Only 1 patient required revision surgery because of excessive arterial kinking; the remaining patients with arterial complications were successfully managed with multiple endovascular treatment attempts. Patients with splenic artery steal syndrome were treated by selective arterial embolization with coil devices. Resistivity index, peak systolic velocity of hepatic arteries, and portal vein maximal velocity significantly improved (P < .001). Patients with hepatic venous outflow and portal vein complications who had endovascular treatments and vascular structures maintained good results over follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Early endovascular intervention is feasible and safe for hepatic vascular complications following liver transplant, with high success treatment rates with advances in interventional radiology.

An Alternative Treatment of Stump Occlusion of the Superficial Femoral Artery with Percutaneous Direct Puncture Followed by Antegrade Recanalization.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the "percutaneous direct puncture of occluded superficial femoral artery (SFA)" technique for recanalization of SFA, after failure of antegrade recanalization in patients with limited access to retrograde popliteal and crural arteries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between April 2014 and November 2017, 10 patients with CLI (Critical limb ischemia) underwent endovascular recanalization with direct percutaneous puncture of occluded SFA after failed antegrade recanalization. All patients had a long segment (39,9 ±â€¯2.8 cm) occluded SFA without stump causing failed antegrade recanalization with a cannulated guidewire in the SFA origin. After unsuccessful attempts with the antegrade approach, the retrograde direct puncture technique of the occluded SFA was performed and followed by antegrade recanalization. Patients were followed up clinically with Doppler ultrasonography and according to the Rutherford scale at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after discharge. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in 8/10 patients (80%).The mean follow-up period was 25,1 ±â€¯9,6 months. One patient underwent major amputation, resulting in 90% limb salvage rate at 12 and 24 months. Amputation-free survival estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis was 60% at 12 and 24 months. Primary patency rates were 62.5% at 12 and 24 months and secondary patency rates were 87.5% at 12 and 24 months. CONCLUSION: Treatment of SFA occlusions without a stump in CLI patients via the percutaneous direct puncture of occluded SFA approach improved technical success and clinical recovery, especially in cases unsuitable for conventional antegrade and retrograde approaches.

Combined percutaneous direct puncture of occluded artery - antegrade intervention for recanalization of below the knee arteries.

PURPOSE: We aimed to assess the technical success of the combined percutaneous direct puncture of occluded artery - antegrade intervention technique, as well as the clinical effectiveness of treatment, on the basis of changes in the Rutherford classification. METHODS: Between June 2015 and July 2018, 441 patients underwent endovascular recanalization due to lower limb peripheral arterial disease at our center. Of these, 18 patients (4%; 15 males, 3 females; mean age, 63.2 years) had failed antegrade recanalization and percutaneous retrograde access because of long segment occlusion, arterial rupture or dissection. Combined percutaneous direct puncture of occluded artery and antegrade approach was applied to these patients. Clinical follow-up examinations were performed at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and annually thereafter. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 22.8±10.9 months. The mean procedure time was 93.6±28.2 min. Technical success was achieved in 14 patients (78%). Complete restoration of arterial flow in the punctured vessel could not be achieved in 4 patients (22%). Minor complications occurred in 4 of 18 procedures (22%). Amputation-free survival and limb salvage rates (83.3% and 100%, respectively) were the same for 12 and 24 months. CONCLUSION: Technical success in lower limb peripheral arterial disease may be improved with the use of a combined percutaneous direct puncture of occluded artery - antegrade intervention, particularly for patients in whom other techniques are not a viable option.

Endovascular Recanalization of Thromboangiitis Obliterans (Buerger's Disease) in Twenty-Eight Consecutive Patients and Combined Antegrade-Retrograde Intervention in Eight Patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the technical success of the procedure and the clinical efficacy of treatment in patients with thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) (Buerger's disease) based on a change in the Rutherford classification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 28 consecutive patients (26 males, 2 females, mean age 43.3 ± 5.32 years) underwent endovascular recanalization with a diagnosis of TAO, between April 2015 and July 2018. After unsuccessful attempts using the antegrade approach, retrograde approaches were used in 8 patients under ultrasound guidance. Clinical follow-up was routinely performed at 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year intervals. RESULTS: A total of 28 TAO patients underwent 40 procedures in 32 limbs. Technical success was achieved in 28 of the 32 limbs (87.5%). In total, 45 of 59 (76.2%) below the knee arteries were treated successfully. One major amputation was performed, providing a 96.8% rate for limb salvage both at 12 and 24 months. Amputation-free survival estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis was 84% at 12 and 24 months. Primary patency rates at 12, 24, and 36 months were 84%, 78%, and 75%, respectively. Secondary patency rates were 87.5% both at 12 and 24 months. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment is a technically feasible and potentially effective treatment modality for Buerger's disease. Combined antegrade and retrograde interventions in TAO patients may improve technical success and clinical recovery, especially in cases where the antegrade approach has failed.

Bisphosphonate-induced bilateral acute renal cortical necrosis.

Renal cortical necrosis (RCN), a rare cause of renal failure in which there is death of the renal cortex but sparing of the medulla, is a catastrophic entity with high mortality. Its incidence and severity are higher in developing countries, mostly due to pregnancy-related complications. This paper presents the case of a 65-year-old woman who had bilateral renal cortical necrosis caused by bisphosphonate medication that was diagnosed by CT scan during the acute initial phase of the disease.