Denali, Tulip, and Option Inferior Vena Cava Filter Retrieval: A Single Center Experience.

PURPOSE: To compare the technical success of filter retrieval in Denali, Tulip, and Option inferior vena cava filters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of Denali, Gunther Tulip, and Option IVC filters was conducted. Retrieval failure rates, fluoroscopy time, sedation time, use of advanced retrieval techniques, and filter-related complications that led to retrieval failure were recorded. RESULTS: There were 107 Denali, 43 Option, and 39 Tulip filters deployed and removed with average dwell times of 93.5, 86.0, and 131 days, respectively. Retrieval failure rates were 0.9% for Denali, 11.6% for Option, and 5.1% for Tulip filters (Denali vs. Option p = 0.018; Denali vs. Tulip p = 0.159; Tulip vs. Option p = 0.045). Median fluoroscopy time for filter retrieval was 3.2 min for the Denali filter, 6.75 min for the Option filter, and 4.95 min for the Tulip filter (Denali vs. Option p < 0.01; Denali vs. Tulip p < 0.01; Tulip vs. Option p = 0.67). Advanced retrieval techniques were used in 0.9% of Denali filters, 21.1% in Option filters, and 10.8% in Tulip filters (Denali vs. Option p < 0.01; Denali vs. Tulip p < 0.01; Tulip vs. Option p < 0.01). DISCUSSION: Filter retrieval failure rates were significantly higher for the Option filter when compared to both the Denali and Tulip filters. Retrieval of the Denali filter required significantly less amount of fluoroscopy time and use of advanced retrieval techniques when compared to both the Option and Tulip filters. The findings of this study indicate easier retrieval of the Denali and Tulip IVC filters when compared to the Option filter.

Strut penetration: local complications, breakthrough pulmonary embolism, and retrieval failure in patients with Celect vena cava filters.

PURPOSE: To investigate strut penetration in patients with Celect filters, specifically local complications and association with breakthrough pulmonary embolism (PE) or retrieval failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective single-center study was conducted to evaluate patients who received Celect filters between January 2007 and May 2013. A total of 595 filters were placed during the study period. Primary indications included thromboembolic disease (93%) and primary surgical prophylaxis (7%). Complications and retrieval data were assessed by computed tomography (CT) and electronic medical records. RESULTS: A total of 193 patients underwent follow-up abdominal CT at a mean follow-up interval of 176.2 days (range, 0-1,739 d). The rate of strut penetration more than 3 mm outside the caval wall was 28.5% (n = 55). One patient had CT evidence of clinically major strut penetration (1.8%) with strut compression of the right ureter causing hydronephrosis. Indwelling filter time longer than 100 days was associated with strut penetration (P < .001). Age, sex, and history of thromboembolic disease were not associated with strut penetration (P = .51, P = .81, and P = .89). Sixty-three patients presented for follow-up CT pulmonary angiography at a mean of 128.1 days (range, 1-895 d). The rate of breakthrough PE was 12.7%. The overall retrieval success rate was 96.7% (n = 150). Strut penetration was not associated with breakthrough PE or retrieval failure (P = .49 and P = .22). CONCLUSIONS: Although strut penetration is a common complication with Celect filters, there is no association with breakthrough PE or retrieval failure. CT evidence of local complications associated with strut penetration is rare.

Long-term outcomes of percutaneous venoplasty and Gianturco stent placement to treat obstruction of the inferior vena cava complicating liver transplantation.

PURPOSE: Evaluation of long-term outcomes of venoplasty and Gianturco stents to treat inferior vena cava (IVC) obstruction after liver transplantation. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed records from 33 consecutive adult patients referred with the intent to treat suspected IVC obstruction after liver transplantation. Treatment was performed for occlusion or stenosis with a gradient exceeding 3 mmHg. The primary treatment was venoplasty and, if refractory, Gianturco stent placement. Recurrence prompted repeat venoplasty or stent placement. RESULTS: Of the 33 patients, 25 (aged 46.9 ± 12.2 years) required treatment at a mean of 2.3 years (14 days to 20.3 years) after transplantation. For technically successful cases, primary treatment was venoplasty alone (14) or with stent placement (10). Technical success was 96 % (24 of 25) reflecting failure to cross one occlusion. Clinical success was 88 % (22 of 25) reflecting the technical failure and two that died of unrelated complications within 5 weeks. Cumulative primary patencies were 57.1 % at 6 months (n = 21) and 51.4 % at 1 (n = 10), 3 (n = 7), 5 (n = 6), and 7 (n = 5) years. Cumulative primary assisted patency was 95.2 % at 6 months (n = 21) and at 1 (n = 15), 3 (n = 9), 5 (n = 8), and 7 (n = 8) years. The 17 patients stented for refractory (n = 10) or recurrent (n = 7) stenosis had cumulative primary and primary assisted patencies of 86.0 and 100 %, respectively, from 6 months (n = 14) to 7 years (n = 3). No major complications occurred; one fractured stent was observed after 11.6 years. CONCLUSION: For IVC obstruction following liver transplantation, excellent long-term outcomes can be achieved by venoplasty and Gianturco stent placement.

Percutaneous thrombin injection in an infant to treat hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm after failed embolization.

Percutaneous thrombin injection has been described in case reports as an alternative to surgical intervention for the treatment of hepatic artery pseudoaneurysms associated with high-grade liver lacerations in adults. However, there is limited description in the literature of this technique being applied in children, particularly in preadolescents, and no published literature describes its use in infants. The procedure can be performed by pediatric radiologists and pediatric interventional radiologists skilled in ultrasound-guided aspiration techniques. We report successful application of percutaneous thrombin injection in an infant to treat a pseudoaneurysm of a left hepatic arterial branch in an 11-month-old girl with a grade IV liver laceration after superselective transcatheter arterial embolization failed to achieve thrombosis.

Preoperative ultrasound measurements predict the feasibility of gallbladder extraction during transgastric natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Extraction of a gallbladder through an endoscopic overtube during natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) transgastric cholecystectomy avoids potential injury to the esophagus. This study examined the rate of successful gallbladder specimen extraction through an overtube and hypothesized that preoperative ultrasound findings could predict successful specimen passage. METHODS: Gallbladder specimens from patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were measured, and an attempt was made to pull the specimens through a commercially available overtube with an inner diameter of 16.7-mm. A radiologist blinded to the outcomes reviewed the available preoperative ultrasound measurements from these patients. Ultrasound dimensions including gallbladder length, width, and depth; wall thickness; common bile duct diameter; and size of the largest gallstone (LGS) were recorded. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine whether ultrasound findings and patient characteristics (age, body mass index [BMI], and sex) could predict the ability of a specimen to pass through the overtube. RESULTS: Of 57 patients, 44 (77%) who had preoperative ultrasounds available for electronic review were included in the final analysis. Gallstones were present in 35 (79%) of these 44 patients. Intraoperative gallbladder perforation occurred in 18 (41%) of the 44 patients, and 16 (36%) of the 44 gallbladders could be extracted through the overtube. Measurement of LGS was possible for 23 patients, and indeterminate gallstone size (IGS) was determined for 12 patients. The rate for passage of perforated versus intact gallbladders was similar (40% vs. 23%; p = 0.054). The LGS (odds ratio [OR], 1.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.33; p = 0.021) and IGS (OR, 22.97; 95% CI, 1.99-265.63; p = 0.025) predicted failed passage on multivariate logistic regression analysis. The passage rate was 80% for LGS smaller than 10 mm or no stones present, 18% for LGS 10 mm or larger, and 8% for IGS (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A majority of cholecystectomy specimens cannot pass through an endoscopic overtube. Preoperative ultrasound findings can predict successful specimen extraction. An IGS or a gallstone 10 mm or larger should be considered a relative contraindication to transgastric NOTES cholecystectomy.

A comprehensive review of laparoscopic redo fundoplication.

BACKGROUND: The last decade has seen the publication of multiple case series investigating the feasibility of performing reoperative fundoplications using laparoscopic techniques. Most of these studies are small and reflect initial experiences with the procedure. To examine the collective experience with laparoscopic redo fundoplications, a systematic review was conducted. METHODS: The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases (January 1999 to March 2010) were reviewed. A total of 17 series representing 1,167 cases were selected. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 51.8 years, and 42.8% of the patients were men. The most common indication for reoperation was recurrent gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and the most common etiology of failure was herniation of the wrap. The mean operative time was 172 min, and the mean hospital stay was 2.8 days. Intraoperative complications occurred in 18.6% of cases, and the most common complication was gastrointestinal perforations (14.2%). The rate of conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery was 7.4%. The average postoperative follow-up period was 18 months. Postoperative complications were encountered with 16.9% of the patients, and the most common categorized complication was incisional hernia (1.6%). Success rates, defined variably, averaged 81%. CONCLUSIONS: This review demonstrates that although technically challenging, redo laparoscopic fundoplication can be an effective tool in the operative management of clinically significant problems after primary fundoplication.