T Branch Repair of Ruptured a Type IV Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Complicated by Renal Branch Occlusion.

A 60-year male patient presented with a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm rupture, which was treated emergently with a modified off-the-shelf t-Branch stent-graft (COOK Medical Inc). The sole renal branch occluded 1 month after TEVAR due to branch compression, and the patient became anuric and temporarily dialysis-dependent. Despite the prolonged renal ischemia time, the occluded renal branch was successfully opened with thrombolysis and reinforced with a bare-metal stent. The patient recovered his renal function and came off dialysis.

Intra-arterial lidocaine administration during uterine fibroid embolization to reduce the immediate postoperative pain: a prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate if intra-arterial lidocaine administrated immediately after the embolisation endpoint reduces the pain. METHODS: Forty patients were randomised and 36 completed the study for purposes of analysis. In one group, the patients got 1% 10 ml lidocaine (100 mg) administered into each uterine artery immediately after embolisation with microspheres. The other group was embolised without supplementary lidocaine. The patients scored their pain on a visual analogue scale (VAS) 2 h, 4 h, 7 h, 10 h and 24 h after embolisation, and the total amount of used morphine was noted. Three-month follow-up MRI control was scheduled for all the patients to investigate the infarction rate. RESULTS: Embolisation was performed without any complications and with embolisation of both uterine arteries in all cases. Intra-arterial lidocaine was administered in all 20 patients without complications, and 20 patients in a control group did not receive lidocaine intra-arterial. VAS schemes showed a significant reduction in pain experience 2 h after UFE where mean pain score in the lidocaine group was 42.7 ± 21.4 compared with the control group in which the mean pain score was 61.1 ± 20.4 (p < 0.02). There was no significant difference in pain score 4 h, 7 h, 10 h and 24 h after UFE. In the lidocaine group, the mean amount of used morphine was significantly less with 11.2 mg compared with 20.2 mg in the control group (p < 0.03). Three months of MR follow-up control showed no significant difference in the grade of fibroid infarction. CONCLUSION: Intra-arterial Lidocaine administration after embolisation is safe and effective in reducing post-procedural pain in the early hours and opioid usage in the first 24 h following UAE.

Correction to: Preliminary experience with the micro vascular plug for the treatment of pulmonary arteriovenous malformation: case series of four patients.

In the published article (Duvnjak et al. 2018) the statement under the subheading 'Consent for publication' is incorrect.

Long-Term Single-Center Retrospective Follow-Up After Embolization of Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations Treated Over a 20-year Period: Frequency of Re-canalization with Various Embolization Materials and Clinical Outcome.

PURPOSE: The present study is a register-based observational study of an unselected consecutive patient cohort with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) from a single national hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and PAVM embolization center. The aim was to investigate the frequency of re-embolizations and the clinical outcome after embolization with the use of different embolization materials further, to define which PAVM morphology and size of feeding arteries that most often were re-embolized, and to estimate the clinical outcome of the patients including those that were re-embolized. METHODS: The population was included from 1996 until 2016 and was made up of a total of 136 patients with 322 PAVMs. Median follow-up was 38.3 (0.3-241 months). RESULTS: The re-embolization rate was 9.3%. None of the PAVMs treated with detachable silicone balloons were re-embolized, while 4.5% treated with vascular plugs and 11.7% treated with coils were re-embolized (p=0.07). In total, 16/74 complex PAVMs were re-embolized compared with 14/248 simple PAVMs. In big-sized feeding arteries ≥ 6mm, 16/112 were re-embolized compared with 14/210 with smaller-sized feeding arteries. Out of the 30 re-embolized PAVMs, 23 resulted in a successful clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that standard coils probably should not be the first choice for embolization of PAVMs, and vascular plug alone or in combination with coils might be a better primary option for embolization in these patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3A, non-randomized case controlled cohort/follow-up study.

Endovascular Treatment of Aorta-Iliac Aneurysms with a Flared Iliac Limb.

Endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair (EVAR) relies on the quality of the proximal and distal landing zone. Reinterventions are higher in patients with suboptimal landing zone. The study aimed to evaluate reintervention rate after endovascular treatment of an aorta-iliac aneurysm using the flared iliac limbs. The retrospective study included 179 patients treated with EVAR at a single university hospital institution from January 2011 to January 2014 of which 75 patients (42%) were treated with flared iliac limb stent graft and 104 patients (58%) were treated with a nonflared iliac limb stent graft. There were 165 male patients (92%), mean age was 75.8 ± 6.6 years. Thirty-six patients underwent secondary treatment accounting for overall reintervention rate of 20%. Endoleak type 1b occurred in 13 patients (7%), followed by endoleak type 1a in six patients (3%). Endoleak type 2 occurred in seven patients (4%) requiring the treatment due to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) enlargement, endoleak type 3 in three patients (2%), and leg stent graft thrombosis in seven patients (4%). In 143 patients (80%), there were no secondary interventions during the follow-up period. Reintervention due to endoleak type 1b was statistically significantly higher in a flared iliac limb group ( p < 0.02) with the rate of 7.2% compared with 1.9% rate in nonflared iliac limb group. The mean follow-up was 44.3 ± 20.4. Overall mortality was 33%. Flared iliac limb with a distal diameter of ≥ 20 mm, show a higher rate of iliac limb reintervention in a follow-up period due to endoleak type 1b.

Two cases of high-output heart failure as initial presentation of iliac arteriovenous fistula.

We present two cases of females in their 40s presenting with biventricular heart failure being the consequence of a large arteriovenous fistula. Both patients had undergone abdominal surgery several years prior to the heart failure event with the initial finding of moderate pulmonary hypertension and high-output heart failure. CT revealed a large arteriovenous fistula between the common iliac artery and vein which subsequently was closed percutaneously.

Preliminary experience with the micro vascular plug for the treatment of pulmonary arteriovenous malformation: case series of four patients.

BACKGROUND: To describe the preliminary experience using Micro Vascular Plug (MVP) for treatment of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) with small feeding arteries (3 -5 mm) in four patients with Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: One female and three male patients with PAVMs have been treated during 2017. The mean age was 32.5 years; (range: 20-53). All patients underwent contrast echocardiography and computed tomography of the chest to establish the diagnosis. RESULTS: Four patients with PAVMs were treated with embolisation using the MVP-3Q and MVP-5Q micro plugs. All MVP were placed without complications and with following immediate occlusion of the PAVMs in all three cases. In one case MVP was placed semi selectively. All cases were with the good clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: MVP is a new detachable embolisation material which is easy to use. Maximal control during the deployment and immediate occlusion of the target vessels can be achieved.

Computed tomography scan based prediction of the vulnerable carotid plaque.

BACKGROUND: Primary to validate a commercial semi-automated computed tomography angiography (CTA) -software for vulnerable plaque detection compared to histology of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) specimens and secondary validating calcifications scores by in vivo CTA with ex vivo non-contrast enhanced computed tomography (NCCT). METHODS: From January 2014 to October 2016 53 patients were included retrospectively, using a cross-sectional design. All patients underwent both CTA and CEA. Sixteen patients had their CEA specimen NCCT scanned. The semi-automated CTA software analyzed carotid stenosis using different HU values defining plaque components. The predictive values of CTA based detection of vulnerable plaques were calculated. Quantification of calcifications on CTA using region of interest (ROI)-function and mathematical equations was done manually, and validated by NCCT of the CEA specimen. RESULTS: The semi-automated CTA software had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 89.1% (95% CI, 73.6% - 96.4%), 31.3% (95% CI, 12.1% - 58.5%), 75% (95% CI, 59.3% - 86.2%) and 55.6% (95% CI, 22.6% - 84.6%). Strong correlation between in vivo CTA and ex vivo NCCT in quantification of calcification was observed, but CTA systematically underestimated calcificationsscore (CALS) with increasing calcification. CONCLUSION: The CTA-software cannot be used in risk assessment of patients, due to poor specificity and NPV. The correlation between in vivo CTA and ex vivo NCCT was strong, proposing it to be used in both scientifically and clinical settings, but studies with larger sample sizes are needed.

Magnetic Resonance Signal Intensity Ratio Measurement Before Uterine Artery Embolization: Ability to Predict Fibroid Size Reduction.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal intensity (SI) ratio between the dominant fibroid and the periphery striated muscle can predict fibroid volume reduction >50% after uterine fibroid embolization (UFE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 2013 until May 2016, 52 patients were included in this prospective study. The SI ratio before UFE was calculated using circular region of interests placed on the dominant fibroid and the iliac muscle. The SI fibroid-to-iliac muscle ratio was calculated as SI of the dominant fibroid/SI of the iliac muscle on T1-, T2-, and T1 post-contrast-weighted sequences. The dominant fibroid volume was measured and analyzed before and after UFE. RESULTS: In all, 46 patients who completed the three-month follow-up MRI were available for analysis. The correlation between SI fibroid-to-muscle ratio at the T2-weighted sequence and imaging volume reduction outcome was statistically significant (p < 0.002). All other parameters showed no statistically significant reduction in fibroid volume: (p < 0.68) for SI ratio at T1-weighted, (p < 0.13) for SI ratio at T1 post-contrast, and (p < 0.58) for fibroid volume. Spearman's rank showed positive correlation (r = 0.439, p < 0.003) between the fibroid-to-muscle SI ratio on T2-weighted sequence. The area under curve (AUC) for SI fibroid-to-muscle ratio on T2-weighted sequence was 0.776. For the other parameters, the AUC values were 0.512, 0.671, and 0.578, respectively. CONCLUSION: SI dominant fibroid-to-muscle ratio at T2-weighted sequence before UFE was significantly related to dominant fibroid volume reduction after UFE and may be used for better patient selection.

Uterine fibroid embolization with acrylamido polyvinyl microspheres: prospective 12-month clinical and MRI follow-up study.

Background Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is an effective minimally invasive treatment aimed to obtain complete fibroid infarction. Purpose To evaluate the degree of fibroid infarction after embolization with acrylamido polyvinyl alcohol microspheres (Bead Block). Material and Methods This prospective study included 26 pre-menopausal women in the period October 2013 to January 2015. UFE with the use of Bead Block microspheres 700-900 µm was obtained until flow stasis was achieved. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to define residual contrast enhancement in the total fibroid burden and enhancement >10% was defined as insufficient embolization. The dominant fibroid volume and total uterine volume changes were assessed. Clinical outcome was analyzed using the quality of life questionnaire (UFS-QOL). Results Twenty-four of the 26 patients (92%) had a technically successful UFE with complete flow-stop in both uterine arteries. Twenty-two of the 26 patients (85%) completed 3 months of MRI control and 20 patients (77%) completed 12 months of MRI control. There were 16 of 22 patients (73%) with complete fibroid burden infarction and/or without residual contrast enhancement of the fibroids of more than 10% at 3 months of control. Six of 22 patients (27%) had insufficient fibroid burden infarction with residual contrast enhancement of more than 10%. Twenty-two and 18 of 26 patients completed the 3-month and 12-month questionnaire, respectively. UFS-QOL analyses showed that 91% of the patients had significant clinical improvement. Conclusion Sixteen of the 22 patients had complete fibroid burden infarction using Bead Block microspheres (700-900 µm); however, unacceptably high insufficient fibroid burden infarction in almost one-fourth of the patients were recorded.

Endovascular Management of Type I Endoleak with Fenestrated Aortic "Cuff" and Afterwards Treatment of Endoleak Type III.

Endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) has become preferable treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms because of proven mortality reduction as well as complications reduction compared with open surgery. Endoleak remains a primary complication of EVAR, however, and occurs in 20 to 25% of the patients. EVAR patients thus undergo lifelong surveillance for the presence of aneurysm expansion and endoleaks usually via computed tomographic angiography. We describe the endovascular management of an enlarged aneurysmal sac size 3 years after EVAR due to combined endoleak of types 1 and 3. We needed to use a fenestrated aortic cuff, a main body graft extension, and an aortouniiliac converter device to seal the leak. This case highlights the potential challenges in identifying and treating type III endoleaks.

Endovascular treatment of aortoiliac aneurysms: From intentional occlusion of the internal iliac artery to branch iliac stent graft.

Approximately 20%-40% of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms can have unilateral or bilateral iliac artery aneurysms and/or ectasia. This influences and compromises the distal sealing zone during endovascular aneurysm repair. There are a few endovascular techniques that are used to treat these types of aneurysms, including intentional occlusion/over-stenting of the internal iliac artery on one or both sides, the "bell-bottom" technique, and the more recent method of using an iliac branch stent graft. In some cases, other options include the "snorkel and sandwich" technique and hybrid interventions. Pelvic ischemia, represented as buttock claudication, has been reported in 16%-55% of cases; this is followed by impotence, which has been described in 10%-17% of cases following internal iliac artery occlusion. The bell-bottom technique can be used for a common iliac artery up to 24 mm in diameter given that the largest diameter of the stent graft is 28 mm. There is a paucity of data and evidence regarding the "snorkel and sandwich" technique, which can be used in a few clinical scenarios. The hybrid intervention is comprised of a surgical operation, and is not purely endovascular. The newest branch stent graft technology enables preservation of the anterograde flow of important side branches. Technical success with the newest technique ranges from 85%-96.3%, and in some small series, technical success is 100%. Buttock claudication was reported in up to 4% of patients treated with a branch stent graft at 5-year follow-up. Mid- and short-term follow-up results showed branch patency of up to 88% during the 5-6-year period. Furthermore, branch graft occlusion is a potential complication, and it has been described to occur in 1.2%-11% of cases. Iliac branch stent graft placement represents a further development in endovascular medicine, and it has a high technical success rate without serious complications.

Clinical Long-Term Outcome and Reinterventional Rate After Uterine Fibroid Embolization with Nonspherical Versus Spherical Polyvinyl Alcohol Particles.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the long-term clinical outcome and frequency of reinterventions in patients with uterine fibroids treated with embolization at a single center using polyvinyl alcohol microparticles. METHODS: The study included all patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids treated with uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) with spherical (s-PVA) and nonspherical (ns-PVA) polyvinyl alcohol microparticles during the period January 2001 to January 2011. Clinical success and secondary interventions were examined. Hospital records were reviewed during follow-up, and symptom-specific questionnaires were sent to all patients. RESULTS: In total, 515 patients were treated with UFE and 350 patients (67 %) were available for long-term clinical follow-up. Median time of follow-up was 93 (range 76-120.2) months. Eighty-five patients (72 %) had no reinterventions during follow-up in the group embolized with ns-PVA compared with 134 patients (58 %) treated with s-PVA. Thirty-three patients (28 %) underwent secondary interventions in the ns-PVA group compared with 98 patients (42 %) in s-PVA group (χ(2) test, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Spherical PVA particles 500-700 µm showed high reintervention rate at long-term follow-up, and almost one quarter of the patients underwent secondary interventions, suggesting that this type of particle is inappropriate for UFE.

Low mortality and morbidity after endovascular repair of ruptured aortic aneurysm.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to describe the implementation and to evaluate the short-term outcome of the first Danish experience with endovascular repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA). METHODS: This was a historical prospective cohort study including all patients at Odense University Hospital, Denmark, treated for RAAA and/or iliac artery aneurysm rupture from 1 October 2012 to December 2013. RESULTS: A total of 53 patients were treated due to RAAA or iliac aneurysms at our institution in this period. Twenty-seven (51%) of these patients were treated with endovascular aneurysm repair and 26 (49%) with open repair. Two patients (7%) died within the first 30 days post-operatively in the endovascular group. One patient died perioperatively due to myocardial infarction verified by autopsy. The other patient died due to massive coagulopathy and multiorgan failure shortly after the procedure. In the group with open repair, seven patients (30.7%) died within 30 days. This yields a mortality of all patients treated for rupture at our institution of 19% compared with 32% in Denmark at large. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment of RAAA is feasible, and the overall post-operative mortality and morbidity of RAAA can probably be reduced by implementation of RAAA.

Palliative treatment of superior vena cava syndrome with nitinol stents.

This study aims to retrospectively evaluate the outcomes following nitinol stent placement for malignant superior vena cava syndrome. A total of 25 patients with thoracic malignancies were treated with self-expanding nitinol stents for superior vena cava syndrome (E*Luminexx [Bard GmbH/Angiomed, Karlsruhe, Germany], Sinus-XL [OptiMed Medizinische Instrumente GmbH, Ettlingen, Germany], and Zilver Vena [Cook Medical Inc., Bloomington, IN]). It was seen that the procedural success rate was 76% with all stents deployed as intended and no procedure-related complications but in five patients with 50% residual stenosis and one patient with stent occlusion within 48 hours after stent deployment. Stent occlusion occurred in further two patients during follow-up: one patient developed infection, thrombosis, and occlusion in the stent seen at 2-month follow-up, and one patient had stent occlusion at 4-month follow-up. The clinical success rate was 96%. Stent compression leading to a greater than 50% reduction in stent diameter was observed in three patients at follow-up. Overall 22 patients died at a mean follow-up of 3.5 months for reasons related to their underlying malignancy. It was concluded that the stent treatment for superior vena cava syndrome is a safe treatment with good clinical effect in patients with superior vena cava syndrome in the terminal phase of malignant disease. In this small patient population, no trends were observed which would suggest that outcomes vary by stent type, though additional, large-scale studies are needed.

[Endovascular treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm].

Endovascular treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (REVAR) is increasingly used. Retrospective pooled data indicate that REVAR is associated with decreased morbidity and mortality, but in two small randomized clinical trials this has not been evidenced. However, REVAR seems associated with lower total costs and better long-term survival rates than open surgical repair. Consequently, REVAR could be at least as good a treatment as open surgery in suitable patients, when local facilities and expertise exist.

[Endovascular repair of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm].

Endovascular repair of ruptured aortic aneurysm (REVAR) has been used worldwide in high volume centres since 1994. Observational studies indicate that this treatment modality is equally as good as or maybe even better than open surgery. Until recently, open surgery was the only treatment option in Denmark, but since 2012 REVAR has been introduced at Odense University Hospital and is now performed around the clock in eligible patients. We present a case report of the first patient in Denmark treated with REVAR and briefly discuss complications, prognosis and cost-effectiveness.

[Primary benign schwanomma in trachea]. / Primært benignt schwannom i trachea.

We report a rare case of a primary schwanomma in trachea causing airway symptoms in a 78-year-old male. Benign tracheal tumours are often misdiagnosed as asthma or chronic lung disease and should be considered in patients who present with symptoms as upper airway obstruction and haemoptysis. In this case story the patient was treated with endoscopic resection of the tumour.