[Vascular interventional radiology: a fundamental procedure for the management of paediatric trauma]. / Radiología vascular intervencionista: un arma para el tratamiento del niño politraumatizado. Experiencia en un centro de Trauma Pediátrico.

INTRODUCTION: The management of active bleeding with haemodinamic lability in the paediatric trauma patient is difficult and generally leads to damage control surgery. Vascular Interventional Radiology (VIR) techniques are useful for the diagnosis as for the definitive treatment. AIM: The aim of our study was to describe our experience and evaluate effectiveness of VIR in the management of the paediatric trauma patient with active bleeding signs. METHODS: Retrospective analysis (2003-2014) of politraumatic patients who showed contrast blush on computed tomography and then treated by VIR techniques. RESULTS: In the reported study period 16 patients underwent VIR procedures. Medium age was 13 years (5-17). The most frequent lesion mechanism was traffic accident (8 out of 17) and 93,75% were blunt traumas. Findings on initial Computed Tomography were 12 contrast blushes and 2 absences of arterial flow. In 2 cases the contrast blush appeared 48 hours after the accident. Arteriography allowed us to localize the bleeding vessels in all the cases, performing selective or supraselective renal (7), pelvic (5), hepatic (3), splenic (1) and intercostal (1) embolization. One patient required an endoprothesis for renal revascularization. Two cases needed additional surgical procedures (2 nephrectomies) because of complete section of the renal artery (1) and disruption of the ureteropelvic junction (1). One case required hemofiltration in relation to rhabdomyolysis. CONCLUSION: In our experience VIR is a valuable diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for the management of paediatric trauma patients, with high effectiveness and a low complication rate.

INTRODUCCION: El tratamiento del sangrado activo en niños politraumatizados con labilidad hemodinámica es difícil y generalmente obliga a realizar una cirugía de control de daños. La aplicación de técnicas de Radiología Vascular Intervencionista (RVI) ayuda al diagnóstico y tratamiento definitivo. OBJETIVO: Describir nuestra experiencia y valorar la eficacia de la RVI en el tratamiento del paciente traumático pediátrico con signos de sangrado activo. MATERIAL Y METODO: Análisis retrospectivo (2003-2014) de los pacientes politraumatizados tratados mediante RVI en los cuales la AngioTC mostraba fuga de contraste o ausencia de captación. RESULTADOS: En el periodo de estudio se trataron 16 pacientes, con una media de edad de 13 años (5-17). El mecanismo lesional más frecuente fue el accidente de tráfico. El 93,75% fueron traumatismos cerrados. Los hallazgos de la angioTC inicial fueron 12 sangrados activos, 2 ausencias de flujo arterial. Dos sangrados se produjeron a las 48 horas del trauma. La arteriografía permitió localizar los vasos sangrantes, realizándose embolización selectiva o supraselectiva a nivel renal (7), pélvico (5), hepático (3), esplénico (1) e intercostal (1). Un paciente preciso revascularización renal con endoprótesis. Un paciente requirió nefrectomía urgente tras la angiografía por avulsión arterial completa y en 1 caso se realizó nefrectomía a las 48 horas por fuga de contraste y disrupción de la unión pieloureteral. En un caso se observó rabdomiólisis como complicación que requirió hemofiltración. CONCLUSION: La RVI constituye un procedimiento diagnóstico y terapéutico en el abordaje del paciente pediátrico traumático, con alta efectividad y escasas complicaciones, siendo una herramienta fundamental en un centro de trauma pediátrico.

Radiología vascular intervencionista: un arma para el tratamiento del niño politraumatizado. Experiencia en un centro de Trauma Pediátrico / Vascular interventional radiology: a fundamental procedure for the management of paediatric trauma

Introducción. El tratamiento del sangrado activo en niños politraumatizados con labilidad hemodinámica es difícil y generalmente obliga a realizar una cirugía de control de daños. La aplicación de técnicas de Radiología Vascular Intervencionista (RVI) ayuda al diagnóstico y tratamiento definitivo. Objetivo. Describir nuestra experiencia y valorar la eficacia de la RVI en el tratamiento del paciente traumático pediátrico con signos de sangrado activo. Material y método. Análisis retrospectivo (2003-2014) de los pacientes politraumatizados tratados mediante RVI en los cuales la AngioTC mostraba fuga de contraste o ausencia de captación. Resultados. En el periodo de estudio se trataron 16 pacientes, con una media de edad de 13 años (5-17). El mecanismo lesional más frecuente fue el accidente de tráfico. El 93,75% fueron traumatismos cerrados. Los hallazgos de la angioTC inicial fueron 12 sangrados activos, 2 ausencias de flujo arterial. Dos sangrados se produjeron a las 48 horas del trauma. La arteriografía permitió localizar los vasos sangrantes, realizándose embolización selectiva o supraselectiva a nivel renal (7), pélvico (5), hepático (3), esplénico (1) e intercostal (1). Un paciente preciso revascularización renal con endoprótesis. Un paciente requirió nefrectomía urgente tras la angiografía por avulsión arterial completa y en 1 caso se realizó nefrectomía a las 48 horas por fuga de contraste y disrupción de la unión pieloureteral. En un caso se observó rabdomiólisis como complicación que requirió hemofiltración. Conclusión. La RVI constituye un procedimiento diagnóstico y terapéutico en el abordaje del paciente pediátrico traumático, con alta efectividad y escasas complicaciones, siendo una herramienta fundamental en un centro de trauma pediátrico

Introduction. The management of active bleeding with haemodinamic lability in the paediatric trauma patient is difficult and generally leads to damage control surgery. Vascular Interventional Radiology (VIR) techniques are useful for the diagnosis as for the definitive treatment. Aim. The aim of our study was to describe our experience and evaluate effectiveness of VIR in the management of the paediatric trauma patient with active bleeding signs. Methods. Retrospective analysis (2003-2014) of politraumatic patients who showed contrast blush on computed tomography and then treated by VIR techniques. Results. In the reported study period 16 patients underwent VIR procedures. Medium age was 13 years (5-17). The most frequent lesion mechanism was traffic accident (8 out of 17) and 93,75% were blunt traumas. Findings on initial Computed Tomography were 12 contrast blushes and 2 absences of arterial flow. In 2 cases the contrast blush appeared 48 hours after the accident. Arteriography allowed us to localize the bleeding vessels in all the cases, performing selective or supraselective renal (7), pelvic (5), hepatic (3), splenic (1) and intercostal (1) embolization. One patient required an endoprothesis for renal revascularization. Two cases needed additional surgical procedures (2 nephrectomies) because of complete section of the renal artery (1) and disruption of the ureteropelvic junction (1). One case required hemofiltration in relation to rhabdomyolysis. Conclusion. In our experience VIR is a valuable diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for the management of paediatric trauma patients, with high effectiveness and a low complication rate

Hemorragia digestiva: papel de la radiología / Gastrointestinal bleeding: the role of radiology

La hemorragia digestiva (HD) supone un problema diagnóstico tanto en su forma de presentación aguda, que requiere una rápida localización del punto de sangrado, como en la crónica, que precisa de exploraciones repetidas para determinar su etiología. El diagnóstico y tratamiento se basa en estudios endoscópicos, aunque los estudios radiológicos mediante angiografía por tomografía computarizada (TC) en la hemorragia aguda y mediante TC enterografía en la crónica son cada día más utilizados en la práctica clínica, a pesar de no estar incluidos todavía en las guías clínicas de la HD. La TC puede ser una exploración diagnóstica de primera elección en la hemorragia aguda masiva, sustituyendo a la angiografía, y una exploración diagnóstica complementaria a la cápsula endoscópica y la gammagrafía en la hemorragia crónica o recurrente cuando se sospecha un origen en el intestino delgado. La angiografía es actualmente un método terapéutico complementario a la endoscopia en el manejo de esta afección (AU)

Gastrointestinal bleeding represents a diagnostic challenge both in its acute presentation, which requires the point of bleeding to be located quickly, and in its chronic presentation, which requires repeated examinations to determine its etiology. Although the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding is based on endoscopic examinations, radiological studies like computed tomography (CT) angiography for acute bleeding or CT enterography for chronic bleeding are becoming more and more common in clinical practice, even though they have not yet been included in the clinical guidelines for gastrointestinal bleeding. CT can replace angiography as the diagnostic test of choice in acute massive gastrointestinal bleeding, and CT can complement the endoscopic capsule and scintigraphy in chronic or recurrent bleeding suspected to originate in the small bowel. Angiography is currently used to complement endoscopy for the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding (AU)

[Gastrointestinal bleeding: the role of radiology]. / Hemorragia digestiva: papel de la radiología.

Gastrointestinal bleeding represents a diagnostic challenge both in its acute presentation, which requires the point of bleeding to be located quickly, and in its chronic presentation, which requires repeated examinations to determine its etiology. Although the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding is based on endoscopic examinations, radiological studies like computed tomography (CT) angiography for acute bleeding or CT enterography for chronic bleeding are becoming more and more common in clinical practice, even though they have not yet been included in the clinical guidelines for gastrointestinal bleeding. CT can replace angiography as the diagnostic test of choice in acute massive gastrointestinal bleeding, and CT can complement the endoscopic capsule and scintigraphy in chronic or recurrent bleeding suspected to originate in the small bowel. Angiography is currently used to complement endoscopy for the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Post-pancreaticoduodenectomy hemorrhage. Incidence, diagnosis, and treatment.

BACKGROUND: Although mortality post-pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has decreased, morbidity rates continue to be high, ranging from 30% to 50%. Among complications, hemorrhage stands out; it is associated with high mortality and there is no standard management. The aim of the present study was to analyze the incidence, diagnosis, and treatment of hemorrhage post-cephalic PD at our center. METHODS: From January 2005 to December 2008, 107 PDs were performed. A retrospective review of characteristics of patients with postoperative hemorrhage was made from our prospective database. Demographic data, diagnosis, treatment (medical, laparotomy, interventional radiology), association with fistula (pancreatic or biliary), intra- or extraluminal hemorrhage, bleeding time (early or late), severity (moderate/severe), and mortality were analyzed. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (18/107; 16.82%) hemorrhaged after PD. Hemorrhage appeared early (< 24 h) in 4 of these 18 patients (22.2%), and it was severe in 13/18 (72%). Hemorrhage-related mortality was 11% (2/18) and hospital mortality was 22.2% (4/18). Arteriography was performed in 8/18 patients (44.4%) and was effective in 6/8 (75%); laparotomy was performed in 8/18 (44.4%). Re-bleeding occurred in 5 of these 18 patients after the first treatment (27.8%). An association between hemorrhage and fistula was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Hemorrhage after pancreatic resection must be considered a complication with relatively high mortality. Diagnosis should be established and treatment applied rapidly. Pancreatic and/or biliary fistulae were significantly associated with a higher risk of postoperative hemorrhage. Interventional radiology is a good therapeutic option.

No-touch hepatic hilum technique to treat early portal vein thrombosis after pediatric liver transplantation.

A 'no-touch' hilum technique used to treat early portal vein complications post-liver transplantation in five children with body weight <10 kg is described. Four patients developed thrombosis and one portal flow absence secondary to collateral steal flow. A vascular sheath was placed through the previous laparotomy in the ileocolic vein (n = 2), inferior mesenteric vein (n = 1) or graft umbilical vein (n = 1). Portal clots were mechanically fragmented with balloon angioplasty. In addition, coil embolization of competitive collaterals (n = 3) and stent placement (n = 1) were performed. The catheter was left in place and exteriorized through the wound (n = 2) or a different transabdominal wall puncture (n = 3). A continuous transcatheter perfusion of heparin was subsequently administered. One patient developed recurrent thrombosis 24 h later which was resolved with the same technique. Catheters were removed surgically after a mean of 10.6 days. All patients presented portal vein patency at the end of follow-up. Three patients are alive after 5 months, 1.5 and 3.5 years, respectively; one patient required retransplantation 18 days postprocedure and the remaining patient died of adenovirus infection 2 months postprocedure. In conclusion, treatment of early portal vein complications following pediatric liver transplantation with this novel technique is feasible and effective.

Angiomiolipomas renales: presentación, tratamiento y resultado de 20 casos / Renal angiomyolipoma: presentation, treatment and results of 20 cases

Introducción: Los angiomiolipomas renales son tumores benignos. Ocasionalmente la ruptura espontánea de los mismos puede poner en peligro la vida de los pacientes. Tanto el tratamiento quirúrgico como la embolización arterial selectiva son tratamientos válidos para dichas lesiones. Objetivos: Analizar los casos de angiomiolipomas renales tratados en nuestro centro, la presentación clínica y el tratamiento indicados en cada uno. Material y método: Se revisan de forma retrospectiva 20 pacientes con angiomiolipomas renales tratados durante el período comprendido entre marzo de 1996 y marzo de 2006. Se describen las características de dichos tumores, el tratamiento recibido y los resultados obtenidos. Resultados: Los pacientes afectados de esclerosis tuberosa (20%) presentaban tumores múltiples y bilaterales, aunque de tamaño similar a los del resto de pacientes. El diagnóstico de síndrome de esclerosis tuberosa fue el único factor asociado a la ruptura espontánea de las lesiones. Cuatro de los 9 pacientes embolizados de urgencia presentaron resangrado (44,4%) y 4 del total de los 16 casos embolizados (25%) sufrieron el síndrome post-embolización, sin hallar ningún factor predictor para ninguna de las dos situaciones. Un 58,4% de los tumores embolizados presentaron reducciones del tamaño inferiores a un tercio de linicial, caracterizándose éstos por ser múltiples, bilaterales y de mayor tamaño que el resto. No se hallaron diferencias significativas en los niveles de creatinina plasmática antes y después de cada tratamiento. Conclusiones: Los angiomiolipomas renales parecen comportarse de forma más agresiva en los pacientes con síndrome de esclerosis tuberosa. No hemos hallado factores predictores de resangrado ni del síndrome post-embolización. Tanto la cirugía como la embolización arterial no parecen comprometer la función renal de los pacientes tratados (AU)

Introduction: Renal angiomyolipoma is a benign tumour, but its spontaneous rupture may become threatening for patient’s live. Both surgery and selective arterial embolization are accepted treatments for this lesion. Objectives: Analyze renal angyolipoma treated in our center, their clinical outcome and treatment purposed in each case. Material and Methods: We retrospectively analyse 20 cases of patients with renal angiomyolipoma treated in our centre from March 1996 to March 2006. We describe tumour characteristics, treatment followed and results obtained. Results: Patients suffering from tuberous sclerosis (20%) showed multiple bilateral tumours, with size similar to the rest of patients. Diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis was the only factor attached to spontaneous rupture of those lesions. Four of 9 emergency embolized patients (44.4%) required from second treatment because of recurrent haemorrhage, and 4 of the 16 embolization episodes (25%) presented post-embolization syndrome, both with no predicting factors attached. Reduction of less than one third of the inicial diameter was observed in 58.4% of embolized tumours, which used to be multiple, bilateral and of size larger to the rest. No significative differences were observed in plasmatic creatinine after and before treatments. Conclusions: Renal angiomyolipoma may behave in an aggressive way in patients with tuberous sclerosis. No predicting factors of recurrent haemorrhage or post-embolization syndrome were observed. Both surgery and arterial embolization have proved not to compromise renal function in treated patients (AU)

Pancreatitis and haemobilia due to arterioportal fistula after percutaneous liver biopsy resolved by selective arterial embolization.

Haemobilia and arterioportal fistula are uncommon complications secondary to percutaneous liver biopsy. We report the case of a patient who developed haemobilia and subsequently acute pancreatitis as a result of a liver biopsy. Selective hepatic angiogram showed an arterioportal fistula. Transcatheter arterial embolization successfully occluded the fistula. The patient remained asymptomatic 4 months later. We review the published literature concerning acute pancreatitis associated with haemobilia and draw conclusions for management of similar cases in the future.

Improved diagnosis of hepatic perfusion disorders: value of hepatic arterial phase imaging during helical CT.

The liver has a unique dual blood supply, which makes helical computed tomography (CT) a highly suitable technique for hepatic imaging. Helical CT allows single breath-hold scanning without motion artifacts. Because of rapid image acquisition, two-phase (hepatic arterial phase and portal venous phase) evaluation of the hepatic parenchyma is possible, improving tumor detection and tumor characterization in a single CT study. The arterial and portal venous supplies to the liver are not independent systems. There are several communications between the vessels, including transsinusoidal, transvasal, and transplexal routes. When vascular compromise occurs, there are often changes in the volume of blood flow in individual vessels and even in the direction of blood flow. These perfusion disorders can be detected with helical CT and are generally seen as an area of high attenuation on hepatic arterial phase images that returns to normal on portal venous phase images; this finding reflects increased arterial blood flow and arterioportal shunting in most cases. Familiarity with the helical CT appearances of these perfusion disorders will result in more accurate diagnosis. By recognizing these perfusion disorders, false-positive diagnosis (hypervascular tumors) or overestimation of the size of liver tumors (eg, hepatocellular carcinoma) can be avoided.

Accuracy of helical computed tomographic angiography for the diagnosis of colonic angiodysplasia.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The diagnosis of colonic angiodysplasia is often challenging and relies on endoscopy or catheter angiography. We investigated whether computed tomographic angiography (CTA) contributes to the diagnosis of colonic angiodysplasia. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with suspected bleeding from colonic angiodysplasia were prospectively evaluated. Gastrointestinal bleeding was investigated by colonoscopy plus visceral angiography and by CTA. The level of agreement between CTA and the former procedures was determined. RESULTS: CTA images of diagnostic quality were obtained in 26 patients. Eighteen patients were diagnosed with colonic angiodysplasia by colonoscopy plus visceral angiography, and 14 by CTA (kappa = 0.68; P < 0.001). Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values of CTA for detection of colonic angiodysplasia were 70%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. CTA signs including accumulation of vessels in the colonic wall, early filling vein, and supplying enlarged artery were present in 55%, 50%, and 22% of cases, respectively. None of these signs were present in the 8 patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and negative diagnostic investigation of the digestive tract. CONCLUSIONS: CTA is a sensitive, specific, well-tolerated, and minimally invasive tool for the diagnosis of colonic angiodysplasia.