Efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial embolization of omental artery aneurysm: A single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Omental artery aneurysm (OAA) is an extremely rare visceral artery aneurysm. Ruptured OAAs are associated with a high mortality rate. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) has been used to treat OAA in recent years. However, the risk of omental ischemia due to TAE remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of TAE of OAA as a first-line treatment. METHODS: Fifteen patients with true aneurysms or pseudoaneurysms who underwent OAA-TAE between 1 April 2010 and 31 December 2022 were included in this study. The technical and clinical outcomes, the incidence of omental infarction after TAE as a major complication, OAA-TAE techniques, radiological findings on computed tomography angiography and angiogram, and patient characteristics were evaluated. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (nine men, six women; age, 69.8 ± 18.59 years) underwent TAE of OAAs (mean aneurysm size of 9.30 ± 6.10 mm) located in the right gastroepiploic (n = 9), left gastroepiploic (n = 1), and epiploic (n = 5) arteries. All patients with ruptured (n = 6) and unruptured (n = 9) OAA successfully underwent TAEs using coils, n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate, or gelatin sponges. Hepatic artery thrombosis and coil migration were observed during the procedure; however, these adverse events were manageable. Transfusion of red blood cell units (4.66 ± 1.63 units) was required only in cases with ruptured OAAs after TAE. Additional surgery or TAE due to rupture or rerupture of OAA and omental infarction was not required during the postoperative and follow-up periods. CONCLUSION: The OAA-TAE can effectively treat ruptured and unruptured OAAs, and the risk of omental infarction after OAA-TAE may not be high.

Silver-Mixed Port Reduces Venous Access Port Related Infection Rate Compared to Non-Silver-mixed Port: A Single-center Retrospective Analysis.

PURPOSE: Totally implantable venous access ports (TIVAPs) are increasingly used as safe and convenient central venous access devices. However, several TIVAP-related complications occur, with port/catheter infection being most common. Silver-mixed ports have recently been introduced in anticipation of reducing TIVAP infection. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of this device in reducing port infection by examining groups with and without silver-mixed devices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 2017 to July 2022, silver-mixed ports (S group) and non-silver-mixed port group (NS group) were reviewed at our institution. The incidence of TIVAP-related infections, patient characteristics, and bacteriological data were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate risk factors for TIVAP-related infection. RESULTS: A total of 607 patients (S group, n = 203; NS group, n = 404) were enrolled. The rates of TIVAP-related infection were 3.0% (n = 6) and 7.7% (n = 31) in the S and NS groups, respectively. The incidence of total infection per 1000 catheter-days were 0.114 and 0.214 the S and NS groups, respectively. In the entire group, the rates of infection were 6.1% (n = 37) and the incidence of total infection per 1000 catheter-days was 0.187. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed a significantly lower TIVAP-related infection rate in S group than NS group (p = 0.0216, odds ratio = 2.88 confidence interval: 1.17-7.08). No gram-negative rods were detected in the S group as port infection. CONCLUSION: Silver-mixed port may be feasible in preventing port infection. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3, Local non-random sample.

Schwannoma assumedly originating from the submandibular ganglion or glandular branches radiologically mimicking a submandibular gland tumor.

Schwannoma is a benign nerve sheath tumor composed of Schwann cells. Schwannomas originating from ganglia are rare, and schwannomas of the submandibular ganglion or glandular branches have not been reported to date. We present a case of a Japanese woman in her sixties with a submandibular schwannoma originating from the submandibular ganglion, mimicking a submandibular gland tumor on radiological findings. As the radiological findings were nonspecific, the key finding in the present case may be the characteristic location of the tumor suspended from the undersurface of the lingual nerve and situated above the deep portion of the submandibular gland.

[A case of small-cell lung cancer effectively treated by bi-weekly administration of amrubicin].

The patient was a 62-year-old man with small-cell lung cancer (limited disease). He was treated with cisplatin (CDDP) plus etoposide(ETP) and concurrent radiotherapy as first-line treatment. Although a complete response was achieved, his pro-GRP elevated 10 months later. He was treated with several anticancer agents including, CDDP plus irinotecan (CPT-11), CPT-11, paclitaxel and amrubicin (AMR). Although, as a monotherapy, the administration of AMR (30 mg/m(2)) for 3 consecutive days (3-day schedule) seemed to be most effective, severe myelosuppression was observed, and this treatment was discontinued. We changed the treatment schedule to biweekly administration of AMR (30 mg/m(2)). The level of pro-GRP decreased, and it was maintained at a similar level for 7 months. No severe toxicity was observed during this period. This case suggests that the bi-weekly administration of AMR may be a useful option for the treatment of small-cell lung cancer when a 3-day AMR schedule is highly myelosuppressive.