Self-contained, coaxial delivery system for intraarterial infusion of thrombolytic agents.

To facilitate continued direct intrathrombus infusion of a thrombolytic agent and yet minimize catheter exchanges and manipulations, the authors developed a simple, self-contained delivery system. It involves the use of supplies available in most angiographic suites. The system has been used in 44 patients; there have been no infectious complications, and it has been well tolerated by the patients.

Quantitative digital subtraction arteriography with a calibration catheter.

Quantitative intraarterial digital subtraction arteriography (DSA) was performed using a calibration catheter with three distal metallic ring markers. The two outer markers were 50 mm apart, and the third marker was in the middle. Measurements of 54 vessel diameters of the abdominal aorta, renal, lumbar, and iliac arteries were performed in a comparison study with direct film arteriograms in 10 aortofemoral runoff studies. Diameter measurements were made by both the observer on hard copy DSA images and by a computer using modified semiquantitative software. Against measurements on film, which were used as the standard, deviation in measurement on digital images varied from 8 to 13% for arterial diameters less than 5 mm and from 2 to 6% for diameters greater than or equal to 5 mm. Projectional artifacts caused 3% or less error. Knowing these variations in measurement is important in order to determine error tolerances for clinical applications. The calibration catheter serves as a convenient internal marker for DSA.

Percutaneous balloon dilatation in treatment of infected pyelocaliceal diverticulum.

Abscess formation is a known complication of pyelocaliceal diverticulum. Although successful management of stones complicating pyelocaliceal diverticulum has been described utilizing percutaneous techniques, this is the first report to our knowledge of a percutaneous technique that simultaneously manages an acute abscess and provides for ablation of the diverticular cavity thus preventing future recurrences. The method involves placement of single or multiple stents spanning the diverticulum and the collecting system proper following percutaneous dilatation of the narrow isthmus that usually provides the communication with the main collecting system. The procedure offers an economical and tissue-sparing approach, which obviates the need for major abdominal or retroperitoneal operation.

Mixing problems of low flow hepatic artery infusion. Improvement with small caliber double lumen balloon catheters.

The problem of inhomogeneous mixing encountered during hepatic artery (HA) chemotherapy infusion was assessed and a practical solution examined. A glass model of the human HA distribution was used to determine mixing homogeneity of low flow (1.4 mL/minute) dye infusion into pulsatile flow (280-300 mL/minute) of a fluid isoviscous to blood. Dye concentration in each of 16 HA branches was determined by photospectrometry. Dye infusion was carried out through 2-2.5F double lumen end hole or proximal side hole balloon catheters without balloon inflation, with balloon inflation maintaining full HA flow, and with the balloon inflated so that HA flow was reduced by 50%. The measurements taken without balloon inflation showed gross inhomogeneity of dye concentration in various branches. The inhomogeneity was not improved during balloon inflation as long as full HA flow was maintained. After balloon inflation reduced HA flow by 50%, dye mixing was improved significantly, with infusion through side hole catheters (alpha = .002) but not significantly (alpha = .2) with infusion through end hold catheters. This investigation suggests that the proposed technique might be useful for clinical application and deserves further evaluation in an in vivo system.

Ultrasound guided percutaneous cholecystocholangiography for early differentiation of cholestatic liver disease in infants.

Direct visualization of the extrahepatic biliary tree is difficult in infants and young children without resorting to an intraoperative cholangiogram. Small size and lack of dilated intrahepatic ducts especially in infants with cholestatic jaundice often preclude using the techniques of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. We studied the feasibility of ultrasound-guided percutaneous cholecystocholangiography (US-guided PCC) in differentiating extrahepatic from intrahepatic causes of cholestatic jaundice in four infants. Clinical, laboratory, radiographic, and histologic criteria had not conclusively excluded extrahepatic obstruction prior to the use of this technique. Four infants, between 4 and 10 weeks of age, were studied without complications. In one patient, biliary atresia was diagnosed at 4 weeks of age; in another, aspirated bile was cultured leading to a specific diagnosis of bacterial cholangitis; and, in two others, intrahepatic cholestasis was confirmed by the demonstrated patency of the extrahepatic biliary tree. In infants and young children in whom a gallbladder lumen can be seen, US-guided PCC offers a potential rapid, nonoperative means of differentiating intrahepatic and extrahepatic causes of cholestatic jaundice, defining the anatomy of the extrahepatic biliary tree, and directly sampling gallbladder bile.

Radiology of the ileoanal reservoir.

The radiology of the ileoanal reservoir based on a study of 50 consecutive patients is presented. Small-bowel obstruction (12%) and leakage at the ileoanal anastomosis (8%) were detected most commonly. Partial outlet obstruction from reservoirs fashioned from three segments of terminal ileum was noted radiographically as a common problem unique to this form of ileoanal reservoir. Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (6%), pelvic abscess (4%), pouch-vesicular fistula (2%), and several other problems were less frequent.