Percutaneous cholecystostomy in the management of acute cholecystitis-comparative analysis of before and after the COVID 19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) is a minimally invasive temporary treatment for patients with acute cholecys-titis (AC) who are at high risk for surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of patients with AC treated with PC before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) pandemic. METHODS: The data of patients who underwent PC with the diagnosis of AC between 2019 and 2021 were analyzed by scanning the hospital registry system. During the COVID 19 pandemic period of March 11, 2020, to March 11, 2021, 110 patients with AC were treated with PC. In the pre-pandemic period of March 2019 to March 2020, 99 patients who underwent PC were added to the study as a control group. The data of the 209 patients included in the study were recorded, and descriptive statistical analysis was performed. The patient characteristics of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Evaluation was made of 209 patients who were diagnosed with AC between March 2019 and March 2021 and could not be operated on due to the high risk of surgery. The average age of the patients was 63.84 years (21-97) in the pandemic period and 68.43 years (31-100) in the pre-pandemic period. The rate of female patients was 45.5% in the pandemic group and 44.5% in the pre-pandemic group. The mean procedure-discharge time was 3.85 days in the pandemic period and 3.34 days pre-pandemic. The American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification (PS) was determined to be 1 or 2 in 56.4% of the pandemic group patients and 3 or 4 in 78.8% of the pre-pandemic group. There was no comorbidity accompanying AC in 45 (40.9%) patients in the pandemic period, and at least one comorbid condition accompanying AC was detected in 77 (77.8%) patients in the pre-pandemic period. The severity grading for AC was 2 (moderate) in 97.3% of the patients in the pandemic group and 3 (severe) in 26.3% of the patients in the pre-pandemic group. Of the 110 patients in the pandemic period, 14 were Covid 19 positive or suspected. PC-related mortality was not observed in either group. CONCLUSION: PC is an effective and safe treatment method that reduced the operating room and intensive care burden during the exacerbation of the COVID 19 pandemic. Therefore, it seems like a logical option to expand the PC indications at times when the number of COVID 19 patients increases.

Non-traumatic spontaneous ruptured hepatocellular adenoma after selective transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization for reduction of tumor mass: A case report.

It is important to detect hepatic adenomas, which are generally well-confined lesions, as urgent treatment is required due to the risk of bleeding and conversion to malignancy. Dimensions can vary between 1 and 15 cm, and the risk of hemorrhage is higher in large and multiple-focus adenomas. The case is here presented of a patient with spontaneous ruptured liver adenoma after selective transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization for reduction of tumor mass, with discussion of the clinical, computed tomography, angiographic findings, and treatment strategies.

Percutaneous cholecystostomy in the treatment of acute calculous cholecystitis in elderly patients with COVID-19 and high comorbidity.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to review the efficacy, safety, and outcomes of percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) in elderly patients with acute calculous cholecystitis (ACC), high comorbidity, and COVID-19. METHODS: The hospital registry data were examined of patients aged >65 years who were diagnosed with ACC and COVID-19 between March 2020 and June 2020 and who underwent PC treatment in the interventional radiology unit. RESULTS: A total of 18 patients were diagnosed with ACC and COVID-19, then underwent PC. The patients comprised 14 (78%) males and 4 (22%) females with an average age of 73.4 years (range, 67-81 years). In 17 (94%) patients, symptoms associated with acute cholecystitis decreased within 48-72 h of the PC treatment and a clinical improvement was determined. The success rate of PC was 100% and no complications. In 3 (16.6%) patients followed up with intubation in intensive care after the procedure, mortality developed due to COVID-19-associated pneumonia and subsequent acute respiratory distress syndrome, and 15 (83.4%) patients were discharged with an elective cholecystectomy plan. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 infection can be fatal especially in patients over 65 years of age due to additional comorbidities. PC treatment, which can be performed under local anesthesia as a minimally invasive procedure, is an alternative treatment option in this patient group. PC can also act as a bridge in transition to elective surgery in this process management.

Combination of temporary bridging device (Comaneci) and permanent stenting in the treatment of unruptured wide neck bifurcation aneurysms.

The double stent-assisted techniques for the treatment of wide neck bifurcation aneurysms (WNBAs) may be more complicating than single stent-assisted or balloon-assisted coiling. The Comaneci device (Rapid Medical, Yokneam, Israel) is a new temporary bridging device developed for covering the aneurysm neck during coiling. This new design enabled us to treat unruptured WNBAs with the use of single stent-assisted coiling instead of double stent in eight patients. At the 1-year angiographic follow-up, there was no filling in any aneurysm. There was no mortality or morbidity cases related to the procedure. In this study, we are reporting our experience of using single stent-assisted coiling combined with a Comaneci device in the treatment of unruptured WNBAs.

Can pre-procedural MRI signal intensity ratio predict the success of uterine artery embolization in treatment of myomas?

Background/aim: Magnetic resonance (MR) images, signal intensity ratios calculated using region of interests (ROI) in T2W images by proportioning the dominant myoma to iliac muscle can aid patient selection and, thus, in achieving better outcomes with the uterine artery embolization (UAE) procedure. The present study investigates the association between the success of UAE treatment with signal intensity (SI) ratio of the dominant myoma to the iliac muscle in MR imaging performed prior to the procedure. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study and included 30 patients who admitted to our clinic between February 2017 and July 2019 due to symptoms associated with myoma and who underwent MR imaging before and after UAE treatment. All patients, MR images obtained before UAE treatment and at the 12th month after the procedure were evaluated. In MRI, SI values were calculated by proportioning the dominant myoma to the iliac muscle using circular ROI in T1 weighted (W), T2W, and post-contrast T1W images. In the present study, 50% or more volumetric regression of the myoma with infarction of fibroids (loss of enhancement) at the 12-month follow-up MRI after the procedure was considered a successful procedure. Results: Myoma volumes calculated in MR images showed significant differences between the MRI performed before UAE procedure and the MRI performed at the 12th month after the procedure (p < 0.0001). SI ratio calculated from pre-procedure T2W MR images was found to be a significant determinant of 50% or more volumetric regression in the myoma after UAE procedure (p = 0.017), T1W, post-contrast T1W images were not statistically significant (p = 0.211). Conclusion: Our results indicate that SI ratio of the dominant myoma to the iliac muscle calculated using ROI in T2W images of MR studies performed before UAE procedure can predict the success of the procedure.

Endovascular embolisation treatment in a rare acute abdomen spontaneous rectus sheath haematoma.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to review spontaneous rectus sheath hematoma (RSH) and the results of endovascular therapy in patients presenting with a rare acute abdomen. METHODS: We evaluated the patients with RSH because of acute abdominal pain and applied endovascular embolization treatment who were admitted to our hospital emergency department retrospectively between December 2016 and December 2018. RESULTS: Rectus muscle sheath bleeding is an extremely rare and urgent emergency intervention. In the etiology, chronic severe cough crises and trauma may be the cause of haemorrhage in the elderly patient group; spontaneous bleedings may be seen with the increase in the use of anticoagulants. In this study, a total of six patients, 53-95 years old (mean 75.5) endovascular embolization treatment was administered on who were admitted to our hospital with the diagnosis of RSH and long-term anticoagulant use. In our series, physical examination findings, laboratory values, computed tomography (CT), CT angiography and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) findings were presented. The findings showed an active extravasation from the superficial circumflex iliac artery in two patients and the inferior epigastric artery in three patients. We had no bleeding focus in only one patient. An ultrasound-guided 5 Fr arterial sheath was placed on the side of the hematoma in the procedure. Then, the inferior epigastric artery and deep circumflex arteries were selectively catheterized using the Vertebral Diagnostic Catheter (5 Fr or 4 Fr). Superselective catheterization, with the help of microcatheter from the existing diagnostic catheter, was used to embolize the arteries and branches with active extravasation using a detachable coil. In the control angiographies performed after embolization, pathological staining disappeared, and complete embolization was achieved. There were no complications associated with the endovascular procedures. No active extravasation was detected in angiography examination, and inpatient follow-up, blood transfusion, antibiotics and analgesic support were performed in only one patient. However, it was ex as a result of reasons related to advance heart failure. CONCLUSION: RSH is a life-threatening condition that may cause acute abdominal pain, and endovascular embolization is a safe and effective treatment option that can be applied quickly in this patient group.

Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the Characterization of Solitary Pulmonary Lesions.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary lesions on magnetic resonance imaging. AIMS: To investigate the value of diffusion weighted imaging on the differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary lesions. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized prospective study. METHODS: This prospective study included 48 solitary pulmonary nodules and masses (18 benign, 30 malignant). Single shot echo planar spin echo diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) was performed with two b factors (0 and 1000 s/mm(2)). Apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were calculated. On diffusion weighted (DW) trace images, the signal intensities (SI) of the lesions were visually compared to the SI of the thoracic spinal cord using a 5-point scale: 1: hypointense, 2: moderately hypointense, 3: isointense, 4: moderately hyperintense, 5: significantly hyperintense. For the quantitative evaluation, the lesion to thoracic spinal signal intensity ratios and the ADCs of the lesions were compared between groups. RESULTS: On visual evaluation, taking the density of the spinal cord as a reference, most benign lesions were found to be hypointense, while most of the malignant lesions were evaluated as hyperintense on DWI with a b factor of 1000 s/mm(2). In contrast, on T2 weighted images, it was seen that the distinction of malignant lesions from benign lesions was not statistically significant. The ADCs of the malignant lesions were significantly lower than those of benign lesions (mean ADC was 2.02×10(-3) mm(2)/s for malignant lesions, and 1.195×10(-3)±0.3 mm(2)/s for benign lesions). Setting the cut-off value at 1.5×10(-3), ADC had a sensitivity of 86.7% and a specificity of 88.9% for the differentiation of benign lesions from malignant lesions. CONCLUSION: DWI may aid in the differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary lesions. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02482181).