Percutaneous use of ePTFE/FEP-covered metallic stent for palliation of malignant biliary obstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Placement of self-expanding metallic stents has been a standard palliative treatment for patients with inoperable biliary malignancy, aiming at improving quality of life via a minimally invasive procedure. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous placement of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene/fluorinated ethylene propylene-covered metallic stents for palliation of inoperable biliary malignancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between February 2012 and April 2013, 11 patients with inoperable malignant biliary obstruction were treated with stent implantation. Serum bilirubin and liver enzyme levels were measured before/immediately after stent placement and at one, three, and six months. Patient survival and stent patency were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: No migration occurred. Patients showed clinical improvement immediately and one month after stent placement, with a significant reduction in mean serum bilirubin level (p < 0.05). At six months, bilirubin levels were <1.5 mg/dL in all cases. One patient developed acute liver failure four days after stent implantation, leading to death. Survival rates were 90% at three months and 70% at six months. Primary patency rates were 100%, 100%, and 90% at one, three, and six months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous placement of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene/fluorinated ethylene propylene-covered metallic stents offered an effective palliative therapy for patients with inoperable biliary malignancy.

Infusion of recombinant human tissue plasminogen activator through the superior mesenteric artery in the treatment of acute mesenteric venous thrombosis.

Acute mesenteric venous thrombosis is an uncommon condition that is usually treated with systemic anticoagulation. Catheter-directed thrombolysis through the superior mesenteric artery may be a viable adjunct to treat this morbid condition. In the present article, we have described a case of superior mesenteric venous thrombosis treated with catheter-directed infusion of tissue plasminogen activator through the superior mesenteric artery.

Endovascular techniques and procedures, methods for removal of intravascular foreign bodies.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of intravascular embolization of venous catheters reported in the world medical literature corresponds to 1% of all the described complications. However, its mortality rate may vary between 24 to 60%. Catheter malfunction is the most likely signal of embolization, since patients are usually asymptomatic. OBJECTIVE: To report the method of removing intravascular foreign bodies, catheters with the use of various endovascular techniques and procedures. METHODS: This is a two-year retrospective study of 12 patients: seven women and five men. The average age was 29 years (ranging from two months to 65 years). RESULTS: Technical performance was 100% successful. Ten port-a-caths, one intra-cath and one PICC were extracted. The most common sites for the lodging of one of the ends of the intravascular foreign bodies were the right atrium (41.6%) and the right ventricle (33.3%). In 100% of the cases, only one venous access was used for extraction of foreign bodies, and in 91.6% of the cases (11 catheters) the femoral access was used. The loop-snare was used in 10 cases (83.3%). The most common cause of intravascular foreign body insertion was a catheter fracture, which occurred in 66.6% of the cases (eight cases). One major complication, the atrial fibrillation, occurred (8.3%), which was related to the intravascular foreign body extraction. The mortality rate in 30 days was zero. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous retrieval of intravascular foreign bodies is considered gold standard treatment because it is a minimally invasive, relatively simple, safe procedure, with low complication rates compared to conventional surgical treatment.

Táticas e técnicas endovasculares para retirada de corpos estranhos intravenosos / Endovascular techniques and procedures, methods for removal of intravascular foreign bodies

INTRODUÇÃO: A incidência da embolização de cateteres intravenosos, na literatura mundial, é de 1 por cento dentre todas as complicações descritas. Porém, possui taxa de mortalidade podendo variar de 24 a 60 por cento. O não funcionamento do cateter é a suspeita diagnóstica principal da embolização, visto que, habitualmente, os pacientes são assintomáticos. OBJETIVO: Relatar o manejo na extração de corpos estranhos intravenosos, com o uso de táticas e técnicas endovasculares diversas. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo com 12 pacientes, no período de dois anos. Sete pacientes eram do sexo feminino e cinco do sexo masculino, com média de idade de 29 anos (dois meses a 65 anos). RESULTADOS: Sucesso técnico foi obtido em 100 por cento dos casos. Foram extraídos 10 port-a-caths, um intra-cath e um PICC. Os locais mais frequentes de alojamento de uma das extremidades dos corpos estranhos intravenosos foram o átrio direito (41,6 por cento) e o ventrículo direito (33,3 por cento). Em 100 por cento dos casos se utilizou um único acesso venoso. O acesso femoral foi o mais utilizado, em 91,6 por cento dos casos (11 cateteres). Utilizou-se o laço (loop-snare) em 10 (83,3 por cento) casos. O motivo mais frequente da presença do corpo estranho intravascular foi a fratura do cateter, que ocorreu em 66,6 por cento dos casos (oito pacientes). Houve uma complicação, fibrilação atrial (8,3 por cento), relacionada à extração de corpo estranho intravenoso. A taxa de mortalidade em 30 dias foi igual a zero. CONCLUSÃO: A retirada de corpos estranhos intravenosos por via percutânea é considerada tratamento padrão ouro, por se tratar de procedimento minimamente invasivo, relativamente simples, seguro e com baixas taxas de complicações quando comparada ao tratamento cirúrgico convencional.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of intravascular embolization of venous catheters reported in the world medical literature corresponds to 1 percent of all the described complications. However, its mortality rate may vary between 24 to 60 percent. Catheter malfunction is the most likely signal of embolization, since patients are usually asymptomatic. OBJECTIVE: To report the method of removing intravascular foreign bodies, catheters with the use of various endovascular techniques and procedures. METHODS: This is a two-year retrospective study of 12 patients: seven women and five men. The average age was 29 years (ranging from two months to 65 years). RESULTS: Technical performance was 100 percent successful. Ten port-a-caths, one intra-cath and one PICC were extracted. The most common sites for the lodging of one of the ends of the intravascular foreign bodies were the right atrium (41.6 percent) and the right ventricle (33.3 percent). In 100 percent of the cases, only one venous access was used for extraction of foreign bodies, and in 91.6 percent of the cases (11 catheters) the femoral access was used. The loop-snare was used in 10 cases (83.3 percent). The most common cause of intravascular foreign body insertion was a catheter fracture, which occurred in 66.6 percent of the cases (eight cases). One major complication, the atrial fibrillation, occurred (8.3 percent), which was related to the intravascular foreign body extraction. The mortality rate in 30 days was zero. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous retrieval of intravascular foreign bodies is considered gold standard treatment because it is a minimally invasive, relatively simple, safe procedure, with low complication rates compared to conventional surgical treatment.

Hepatic veins and inferior vena cava thrombosis in a child treated by transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

We report the case of a 9-year-old boy with portal hypertension, due to Budd-Chiari syndrome, and retrohepatic inferior vena cava thrombosis, submitted to a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) by connecting the suprahepatic segment of the inferior vena cava directly to the portal vein. After 3 months, the withdrawal of anticoagulants promoted the thrombosis of the TIPS. At TIPS revision, thrombosis of the TIPS and the main portal vein and clots at the splenic and the superior mesenteric veins were found. Successful angiography treatment was performed by thrombolysis and balloon angioplasty of a severe stenosis at the distal edge of the stent.

Chronic portal vein thrombosis after liver transplantation in a child treated by a combined minimally invasive approach.

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) after orthotopic liver transplantation is an infrequent complication, and when it is present surgical treatment is considered for traditional management. Percutaneous transhepatic portal vein angioplasty has been described as an option to treat PVT with a lower morbidity than conventional surgical treatments. This article describes a case of chronic PVT in a child after a living donor liver transplantation managed by percutaneous transhepatic and surgical approaches.

Aneurisma idiopático da artéria radial na região da tabaqueira anatômica: relato de caso / Idiopathic radial aneurysm in the anatomical snuffbox: case report

Paciente do sexo feminino, 73 anos, negra, lavadeira/lavradora, hipertensa, apresentava tumor pulsátil de 1,5 x 0,5 cm em região de tabaqueira anatômica da mão direita há 10 anos, de crescimento lento e progressivo, associado a dor local. Não apresentava alterações neurológicas, cianose de extremidades, sinais de infecção ou trauma local. O teste de Allen resultou negativo, e o Eco-Doppler colorido demonstrou aneurisma de artéria radial na tabaqueira anatômica. Procedeu-se a aneurismectomia de artéria radial na tabaqueira anatômica com ligadura dupla proximal e distal. Houve boa evolução operatória, sem sinais de isquemia digital. O exame anatomopatológico confirmou diagnóstico de parede arterial (aneurisma verdadeiro). O paciente encontra-se em acompanhamento ambulatorial, no momento assintomático. Não há definição de quais aneurismas distais à artéria axilar possam ser acompanhados sem conduta cirúrgica. Como a paciente, neste caso, apresentava teste de Allen normal e dor local, optou-se pela ligadura proximal e distal, com bom resultado.

We report a case of a 73-year-old female, laundress/farmer, hypertensive, with symptomatic pulsatile lump of 1.5 x 0.5 cm at the right anatomical snuffbox of the right hand, with slow and progressive growth and local pain in the past 10 years. The patient presented no neurological symptoms, cyanosis, infection or local trauma history. Allen"s test was negative, and color Doppler ultrasound confirmed presence of radial artery aneurysm in the anatomical snuffbox. Surgical treatment via aneurysmectomy of radial artery in the snuffbox with proximal and distal ligation was carried out. She had good operative course with no signs of digital ischemia. Histopathological test confirmed diagnosis of arterial wall (true aneurysm). She remains asymptomatic in outpatient follow-up. There is no definition as to which aneurysms distal to the axillary artery could be followed without a surgical procedure. As the patients had normal Allen"s test and local pain, proximal and distal ligation was chosen and had good outcome.

Bilateral popliteal artery entrapment syndrome: case report / Síndrome do aprisionamento da artéria poplítea bilateral: relato de caso

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome occurs due to an extrinsic compression of the popliteal vessels that results in vascular damage. It is one of the most frequent causes of intermittent claudication in young patients. The authors describe a case of bilateral syndrome by anomalous position of the gastrocnemius muscle, with abnormal slip of its medial head (Rich's type III). During the operation the occluded right side was reconstructed by autologous saphenous vein bypass from femoral superficial to peroneal artery and on the left side the slip muscle was transected by posterior approach. Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome should be treated by surgery despite the degree of symptoms. Surgical treatment technique has released the vessel by extracting the muscle that caused entrapment, and reconstructing the narrow lumen bypass grafting.

A síndrome do aprisionamento da artéria poplítea ocorre em função de compressão extrínseca dos vasos poplíteos, que resulta em lesão vascular. Trata-se de uma das causas mais freqüentes de claudicação intermitente em pacientes jovens. Os autores descrevem um caso de síndrome bilateral devida à posição anômala do músculo gastrocnêmio, com deslizamento de sua cabeça média (tipo III da classificação de Rich). Durante a cirurgia, o lado direito ocluído foi reconstruído por derivação da veia safena autóloga da artéria superficial femoral para a artéria peroneal e, do lado esquerdo, o músculo que sofreu o deslizamento foi secionado através de via posterior. A síndrome do aprisionamento da artéria poplítea deve ser tratada por cirurgia, independente do grau dos sintomas. A técnica de tratamento cirúrgico liberou o vaso, extraindo o músculo que causava o aprisionamento e reconstruindo o lúmen estreito por derivação.