Percutaneous Endovascular Management of a Splenic Vein Pseudoaneurysm Secondary to Pancreatic Pseudocyst.

CLINICAL IMPACT: This case report sheds light on a rare complication of pancreatitis, splenic vein pseudoaneurysm. The pseudoaneurysm was successfully treated percutaneously using a covered stent. The article also emphasizes the utilization and safety of transhepatic approach to interventions related to portal vein and its tributaries.

Endoscope-Assisted Traversal of a Ureteral Stricture From Percutaneous Nephrostomy Access.

Interventional radiology-operated endoscopy has a small but growing number of applications. In this clinical case report, we describe the use of an endoscope to assist the traversal of a high-grade ureteral stricture from percutaneous nephrostomy (i.e., antegrade) access. Direct visualization of the stricture allowed the identification of a central channel that was not present in fluoroscopic images, making endoscopy essential to the technical success of the procedure. Endoscopy is a powerful adjunct to image-guided techniques, particularly in challenging interventions or cases with complex anatomy.

Isolated limb infusion with cytotoxic agents: a simplified approach for venous access.

BACKGROUND: Isolated limb infusion (ILI) of cytotoxic agents is a regional therapy for cutaneous malignancies in a single extremity. Conventional ILI technique requires retrograde catheterization of the contralateral femoral vein. A novel modified ILI technique uses an ipsilateral popliteal venous approach. The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of ILI using the 2 different approaches. METHODS: Data from patients who underwent lower-extremity ILI at the authors' institution between October 2005 and June 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. The authors compared the 2 ILI approaches with regard to overall procedure time, fluoroscopy time, and the number of callbacks to the operating room (OR) for flow-related issues. The Student t test and Fisher exact test were used. Adverse events, including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the treated limb, were recorded. RESULTS: Between October 2005 and June 2008, 67 lower-extremity ILI procedures (15 using a contralateral venous access approach and 52 using an ipsilateral venous access approach) were performed in 62 patients (28 men and 34 women aged 31-82 years). The mean fluoroscopy times for the contralateral and ipsilateral groups were 17.9 and 8.3 minutes, respectively (P = .0019). No significant difference in the overall procedure time and number of callbacks to the OR for flow-related issues between the 2 groups was identified. CONCLUSIONS: The ipsilateral popliteal venous approach is a simplified and safe ILI technique with significantly lower overall fluoroscopy procedure times required for catheter placement and no difference in catheter-related adverse events, when compared with the conventional contralateral approach.

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome presenting as ischemic pancreatitis in systemic lupus erythematosus.

CONTEXT: Antiphospholipid syndrome is often associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. Both syndromes have different clinical manifestations based on organ involvement. Antiphospholipid syndrome commonly causes spontaneous abortions, cerebral vascular occlusion, and deep venous thrombosis. Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome occurs when three or more organ systems are affected by thromboses in less than a week. CASE REPORT: We report a unique case of a young woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome who presented with recurrent ischemic pancreatitis. Pancreatitis was refractory to anticoagulation and low dose steroids. Secondary to recurrence of pancreatitis and other organ involvement, she was treated as a presumed case of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome. Aggressive treatment with plasmapheresis, corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, and anticoagulation eventually led to her recovery. CONCLUSION: Awareness of this rare, rapidly fatal medical condition prompts vital, early intervention to improve patients' survival. This case report aims to add to the limited therapeutic data available as well as suggest a possible approach to treating this rare syndrome with very high morbidity and mortality.

Results of general internal medicine consultations for diabetes mellitus in 283 cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a major reason for patient referral to the General Internal Medicine (GIM) Department at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Previous studies of various factors that affect diabetes care have not focused on cancer patients. The objective of this study was to examine the level of diabetic care received by cancer patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 283 consecutive GIM patients with diabetes in the years 2000 to 2001. For each patient, data were collected about the cancer, diabetes-related history, and the general internist's recommendations for further diabetes care. Patients were stratified by whether their cancer was controlled (stable or in remission) or uncontrolled (being actively treated by an oncologist or said to be progressive). chi tests and t tests were used to compare means for controlled cancer and uncontrolled cancer patient groups, with a value of P < 0.05 being considered significant. RESULTS: Patients with controlled cancer were more likely to have a lipid profile ordered (P < 0.001) or to be referred for diabetes-specific ophthalmology evaluation (P = 0.02). On logistic regression analysis, increasing patient age was associated with less frequent HgbA1c testing (P = 0.01), and both advanced age and uncontrolled cancer were associated with less lipid testing and ophthalmology referral. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with uncontrolled advanced cancer were not as aggressively treated for diabetes, especially if they were elderly. Further work should evaluate whether the observed level of diabetes care was appropriate and could affect patient outcome.