Effects of different intraabdominal pressures on internal jugular vein, liver and kidney functions in obese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether there was a difference in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) performed with either 10 mmHg or 13 mmHg intraabdominal pressures. Effects of these pressures on the internal jugular vein (IJV) diameter and flow along with the liver and kidney function tests were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients were divided into two groups with respect to the intraabdominal pressure performed during LSG (either 10 or 13 mmHg). The patients' age, comorbidities, surgical history, height, weight, body mass index, family history, duration of surgery, length of hospital stay, serum liver and kidney function tests (Urea, creatinine, Aspartate transaminase, Alanine transaminase, Gamma-glutamyltransferase, Alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin) and the right IJV diameter and flow measured by Duplex ultrasound before intubation (t1), 10 min after insufflation (t2), and at the end of insufflation (t3) were recorded. RESULTS: Preoperative and postoperative kidney and liver function values of the patients in both groups were within the reference range. In both groups, there was a significant decrease in the IJV diameter and flow measurement values at t2 compared to t1, and a significant increase was observed at t3 compared to t2 (p < 0.05). The mean IJV diameter and flow were significantly higher in the 10 mmHg pressure group compared to the 13 mmHg group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Neither of the peak pressures performed intraabdominal during LSG caused an adverse effect on liver or kidney functions. Our study emphasizes that low insufflation pressure does not have an advantage in terms of liver and kidney functions. But laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with low intra-abdominal pressure may be beneficial especially in patients who require central vein catheterization during the operation. We consider that LSG performed with CO2 pneumoperitoneum at 10 mmHg is a safe, effective and feasible method that can facilitate the insertion of the intraoperative central venous catheter due to lesser charges in the IJV diameter and flow compared to the standard technique.

Modified balloon-assisted coiling instead of acute stenting in the treatment of ruptured wide necked intracranial aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficiency of the modified balloon assisted coiling (mBAC) technique in endovascular treatment (EVT) of ruptured wide-necked aneurysms (WNAs) to avoid stent placement in the acute phase of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: The local neurointerventional radiology database was retrospectively reviewed to identify patients who underwent EVT due to ruptured WNAs by the authors. According to the EVT technique performed, the study sample was divided into 3 groups: conventional BAC, stent assisted coiling (SAC), and mBAC. The patient demographics, aneurysm features, technical and clinical complications, aneurysm occlusion grades, morbidity, and mortality rates were comparatively analyzed. RESULTS: This study involved a total of 113 patients who had ruptured WNAs. The mBAC technique was performed on 26 aneurysms (23 saccular and 3 fusiform) in 26 patients to avoid acute phase stenting. The mean continuous balloon inflation time was 7.1 ± 2.12 min. The initial and follow-up angiographic and clinical outcomes were better in the mBAC group than in the SAC group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The mBAC technique offers a prolonged, continuous balloon inflation time during the whole coiling process in the treatment of ruptured WNAs. The mBAC technique has the potential to obviate the need for SAC in patients who are candidates for stenting during the acute phase of SAH, and it might be considered a safe and effective endovascular approach with low complication rates and good angiographic and clinical outcomes.

Early choroidal structure and choroidal vascularity index change after carotid stenting.

PURPOSES: We aimed to evaluate changes in subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) in the first postoperative day and month in patients with severe internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis after ICA stenting. METHOD: The patients who diagnosed with severe ICA stenosis and was performed ICA stenting were included in the study. Patients with any ocular disease and refractive error more than 3 diopters were not included in the study. The imaging of the choroid was performed using enhanced depth imaging (EDI) techniques by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) (OptovueRTVue XR, Optovue Inc., Fremont, CA).The choroidal vascularity index (CVI), total choroidal area (TA), luminal area (LA), and stromal area (SA) were measured in the subfoveal 2 mm area. These measurements before ICA stenting was compared with the first day and first month after ICA stenting. RESULTS: The study included 41 eyes from 41 patients (11 women [26.83%]; 30 men [73.17%]). The mean age of patients was 62.25 ± 4.85 (57-71) years. The differences in subfoveal CT, TA, LA, SA between before ICA stenting and 1 day after ICA stenting, before ICA stenting and 1 month after ICA stenting was statically significant(p<0.05 for each). CONCLUSION: We have observed increases in SFCT, CVI, LA, SA, and TA on the 1st day and 1st month after ICA stenting in patients with severe carotid stenosis.  Improvement in choroidal thickness and choroidal vascular flow is seen even in the early period of ICA stenting.

Targeted and Staged Treatment for Ruptured Wide-neck Intracranial Aneurysms: Bleb Coiling Strategy as a New Approach.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility, safety, and efficiency rates of the bleb coiling technique for the treatment of acute ruptured wide-neck bifurcation aneurysm (WBNAs) by comparing it with device-assisted coiling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with ruptured WNBAs who underwent endovascular treatment (EVT) were reviewed. The study sample was divided into five groups according to treatment type: bleb coiling, single catheter coiling, balloon-assisted coiling (BAC), neck remodeling mesh-assisted coiling, and stent-assisted coiling (SAC). The feasibility, safety, efficiency and complication rates of the bleb coiling technique were compared with each group. RESULTS: This study included 109 patients with ruptured WNBAs. Bleb coiling was performed in 24 blebs of 20 WNBAs. The mean time interval between initial and complementary treatment in the bleb coiling group was 12.53± 5 .27 weeks (min-max: 4-23 weeks). No rebleeding occurred during this interval time, and no mortality or new permanent neurologic deficit caused by the bleb coiling technique was noted. The bleb coiling technique had a lower complication rate than other techniques (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: The bleb coiling strategy led to favourable clinical outcomes with low complication rates and it can be considered as an alternative treatment option at acute phase of SAH in the endovascular treatment of ruptured WBNAs with coilable-bleb.

Assessment of Imaging Features of Crohn's Disease with MR Enterography.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the frequency of pathological findings determined on magnetic resonance (MR) enterography (MRE) in patients with Crohn's Disease. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the MRE images was made in 34 female and 41 male patients (mean age 41 years) with Crohn's disease. The prevalence of bowel wall (mural thickening, mural edema, mural fat deposits, mucosal enhancement, ulceration, cobblestone appearance, pseudopolyps) and mesenteric fatty tissue alterations (fatty tissue proliferation, mesenteric hypervascularity, enlarged lymph nodes, peri-enteric inflammation, reactive fluid), complications due to penetrating (fistula, sinus tract, abscess) and stenosing processes (fibrotic and inflammatory stenosis, obstruction, dilatation), and involvement of the colon were determined. RESULTS: The most frequently observed changes in the bowel wall and mesenteric fatty tissue were mural thickening (98.7%) and enlargement of mesenteric lymph nodes (76%), respectively. Stenosis was the most common complication (76%). The most frequently seen pathology of the colon was ileocecal valve thickening and enhancement (74.7%). CONCLUSION: MR enterography is a useful imaging modality for the evaluation of changes in both the mesenteric fatty tissue and the bowel wall. As there is no use of ionizing radiation, MR enterography should be the preferred imaging modality during follow-up of patients with Crohn's disease.

Strut remodeling with hypercompliant balloon: A new approach to Y stent-assisted coil embolization in the treatment of complex wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to present the long-term safety and effectiveness of strand remodelling with a hypercompliant balloon. METHODS: Patients with complex wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms (WNBAs) who underwent strand remodelling with a hypercompliant balloon via Y-stent-assisted coil embolization (Y-SACE) between September 2016 and January 2020 were included in the study. The feasibility, safety, effectiveness, and complication rates of the strand remodelling technique were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 12 patients (6 females, 6 males) were included in this study. Significant expansion was obtained in the intersection zone after remodelling. No regression was observed in the expansion rates during follow-up. There was no additional morbidity or mortality. No delayed thromboembolic complications occurred in our patients during long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Performing strand remodelling to reduce thromboembolic complications triggered by structural faults caused by the Y-stent configuration is feasible, safe, and effective. This new approach can aid in the prevention of thromboembolic complications in Y-SACE.

Analysis of branch artery orifice angulation: Feasibility of the shelf technique for the treatment of wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of the shelf technique by analyzing the angle between the two branch orifices and to present its safety and effectiveness compared with that of the double-stent technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with complex wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms (WNBAs) who underwent stent-assisted coiling (SAC) were reviewed. The study sample was divided into two groups: single SAC (shelf technique) and double SAC. The angle between the lines connecting the superior and inferior points of each branch orifice (α angle) was measured by two neurointerventional radiologists in both groups. The inter- and intraobserver repeatability and consistency of the α angle were assessed. The effect of the α angle on the feasibility of using the shelf technique to treat WNBA was analyzed. Technical and clinical success rates were investigated by comparing both groups. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients (32 shelf technique and 16 double-stent technique) were included. There was excellent agreement between the intra- and interobserver repeatability and consistency of α angle measurements. The α angle was smaller in the shelf technique group than in the double-SAC group (p < 0.001). The technical and clinical success rates of both groups were similar based on long-term follow-up (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: WNBA treatment with the shelf technique is safe and effective. The α angle is a useful parameter to evaluate the performance of the shelf technique. The shelf technique is more suitable for WNBAs with a narrow α angle.

Predictors of long-term outcomes after polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent-graft repair of peripheral arterial aneurysms, pseudo-aneurysms, and arterio-venous fistulas.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the primary patency rate at three years for the infra-aortic peripheral arterial pathologies treated with polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent-grafts. METHODS: Patients treated with self-expandable polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent-grafts for infra-aortic peripheral arterial aneurysms, pseudo-aneurysms, and arterio-venous fistulas were evaluated retrospectively. A total of 48 patients (35 male, 13 female; mean age: 53.8 ± 13.5) were included with 29.0 ± 16.5 months (median 27, range 4-70) mean follow-up period. The primary objective was to determine the primary patency rate at three years. The secondary objectives were to compare type and localization of pathology, and length and diameter of the stent-grafts with primary patency rate. Kaplan-Meier test was used as the main statistical method. RESULTS: Overall mean primary patency rate at three years was 77.10%. Polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent-graft implantation in aneurysms had worse primary patency rate than pseudo-aneurysms and arterio-venous fistulas (66.6%, P = 0.03; 76.9%, P = 0.03; 88.2%, P = 0.01, respectively). Stent-graft location, length, and diameter are not associated with primary patency rate (P > 0.05) but stent diameter is associated with better primary assisted and secondary patency rates (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pathology of the lesion is associated with the long-term primary patency rate of polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent-grafts but not the stent-graft location, length, or diameter. Stent diameter is associated with primary assisted and secondary patency rates.

Microwire navigation and microcatheter positioning by balloon manipulation for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: An intracranial aneurysm (IA) is a life-threatening condition and endovascular treatment (EVT) is a demanding procedure, especially in IAs with an unfavorable anatomy. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of balloon-assisted microwire navigation and microcatheter positioning in the EVT of IAs with challenging anatomies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included patients that underwent balloon-assisted microwire navigation and microcatheter positioning in the EVT of IAs between September 2016 and January 2019. All EVT procedures and data collection were performed by the same two neurointerventional radiologists. Technical success and complication rates, safety, and efficiency of the balloon manipulation method were evaluated. Statistical software was used to analyze the basic descriptive data of the patients and aneurysms. RESULTS: This study included 14 patients. The microwire navigation of the target artery with balloon manipulation was used in 4 aneurysms of 4 patients. Microcatheter positioning with balloon manipulation was used in 10 aneurysms of 10 patients. There was no complication caused by the balloon manipulation technique. The technical success rate was 100%. CONCLUSION: In the EVT of IAs with challenging anatomies, the presented technique is a safe and effective option without additional complications, especially in the target artery with an acute angle and in small aneurysms.

The Significance and Reliability of Imaging Findings in Pseudotumor Cerebri.

The objective of our study was to provide a comparative assessment of previously reported magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters in primary and secondary pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) patients, to examine their diagnostic contribution, and to evaluate their association with symptoms, neuro-ophthalmological findings, laboratory results, and cerebrospinal fluid characteristics. Twenty-eight consecutive patients with PTC were included in the study. Age- and sex-matched 20 individuals with normal neurologic examination served as the control group. Modified Dandy Criteria were used for the diagnosis of PTC. Orbital and cranial MRI and MR venography of all patients and controls were assessed by three radiologists. According to our study, posterior flattening of the globe (64% sensitive, 100% specific), optic nerve sheath distention (46% sensitive, 100% specific), vertical tortuosity of the optic nerve (30% sensitive, 95% specific), and partial empty sella (43% sensitive, 100% specific) emerged as particularly valuable markers for a diagnosis of PTC.

Bronchial Artery Embolization with Large Sized (700-900 µm) Tris-acryl Microspheres (Embosphere) for Massive Hemoptysis: Long-Term Results (Clinical Research).

PURPOSE: To investigate the safety, efficacy and long-term results of bronchial artery embolization with microsphere particles (Embosphere® Microspheres, BioSphere Medical, Rockland, MA) 700-900 µm in size for massive hemoptysis. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-four patients (94 female, 80 male; mean age 39.4 ± 5.7) who had bronchial artery embolization for massive hemoptysis between January 2010 and October 2015 were incorporated in the study. Patients had hemoptysis with a mean volume of 525 ± 150 mL (median 500 mL, range 300-1200 mL) over a 24-h period. Underlying pathologies included bronchial artery hypertrophy due to bronchiectasis (56.3% [98/174]), lung cancer (29.9% [52/174]), tuberculosis (10.3% [18/174]) and the rest remained idiopathic (3.4% [6/174]). Mean bronchial artery diameter before the intervention was 3.8 ± 1.5 mm (median 4 mm, range 3.1-7.5 mm). Median follow-up period was 56 months (range 10-82 months). Primary objectives were the technical and clinical success. RESULTS: Technical success was 100%. Clinical success for preventing massive hemoptysis was 91.9% (160/174). There was no procedure-related mortality or morbidities. Minor complications such as chest pain were observed in nine patients (5.0%). Recurrent hemoptysis (8.1%) was observed within 6 months in 14 patients, ten of whom were treated with a second embolization session and the remaining four with a total of three embolization sessions. CONCLUSION: Bronchial artery embolization for massive hemoptysis with Embosphere particles 700-900 µm in size is a safe and effective method with high technical and clinical success rates. Long-term results are excellent.

Imaging pearls of pediatric Behçet's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To emphasize the diverse diagnostic imaging findings of pediatric Behçet's disease and to define the fundamental imaging clues for pulmonary, vascular, gastrointestinal and central nervous system involvements of Behçet's disease in pediatric age group. We also aim to list the major imaging differences of Behçet's disease in childhood and adulthood. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of pediatric Behçet's disease is challenging. Imaging can narrow the differential diagnosis by using some substantial clues and prevent diagnostic delays.

Atrium Advanta V12 Large Diameter Stent-Graft Applications for Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Pseudoaneurysms (due to Behcet Disease): Safety and Efficacy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine the safety and effectiveness of Atrium Advanta V12 large diameter stent-graft applications for infrarenal abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysms (due to Behcet disease [BD]). METHODS: Data of Advanta V12™ (Atrium Europe B.V, Mijdrecht, the Netherlands) applied 12 female patients (mean age 30.5 ± 6.3, range 26-44) with infrarenal abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysms were analyzed retrospectively. All Advanta V12 large diameter stent grafts were implemented from right or left sided 12F femoral sheaths. Stent grafts with 12-16 mm in size and 29-61 mm in length were utilized. Technical success rate, procedure-related mortality and morbidity, and primary patency rate at 4 years were evaluated. RESULTS: Technical success rate was 100%. Neither procedure-related mortality nor morbidity was determined. The mean aortic diameter was 14.0 ± 0.8 mm for pseudoaneurysmatic abdominal aortas. The mean follow-up period was 46.5 ± 40.3 months (range 18-75). During follow-ups, only one recurrent aneurysm has evolved at the stenting site due to patients' withdrawal of immunosuppressive treatment. The advent of a new aneurysm proximal or distal to the stent-graft region or at the femoral access localization was not observed. There were no stent occlusions. Primary patency rate at 4 years was 100%. Complete aneurysm exclusion was achieved 100% at 48 months. CONCLUSIONS: The use of Advanta V12 large diameter stent grafts for infrarenal abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysms (due to BD), especially in female patients with small aortic diameter, is safe and efficient. Primary patency rate of the stent grafts at 4 years is excellent.

Misdiagnosed epigastric mass: Ectopic liver.

We discuss an ectopic liver misdiagnosed as an abdominal mass and the importance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in liver positional anomalies. A solid midline mass midline adjacent to the liver was found in a 45-year-old female at an external center during an ultrasound investigation conducted for occasional abdominal pain of many years. The patient was referred to us for MRI. MRI revealed a solid epigastric lesion adjacent to the liver but unrelated to the liver parenchyma. The mass was of similar intensity as the liver in all sequences and in postcontrast dynamic phases following hepatospecific contrast material administration. We also observed contrast material excretion into the solid lesion from the biliary ducts in the hepatobiliary phase. The lesion was diagnosed as ectopic liver tissue with these findings. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;45:761-763.