Simplified captopril renography in diagnosis and treatment of renal artery stenosis.

To improve the diagnosis and forecast the response to surgery or renal angioplasty in patients with hypertension and renal artery stenosis, we employed a simplified captopril renography protocol in conjunction with renal arteriography in 94 clinically selected patients. Fifty hypertensive patients (group 1) with a high clinical likelihood of renovascular hypertension were evaluated using a simplified captopril renography protocol and renal angiography on the arterial side. Criteria for normal captopril renal scintigrams were established based on this original cohort and validated in an additional 44 clinically comparable patients (group 2). Renal revascularization or nephrectomy was performed in 39 patients, and success of the procedure was determined in the 34 patients for whom 3-month follow-up was available. In the 94 patients, 44 (47%) had renal artery stenosis. Simplified captopril renography was 91% sensitive and 94% specific in identifying or excluding renal artery stenosis in the combined group, with no difference in the diagnostic utility between groups 1 and 2, or in those with renal insufficiency (n = 38) or those with bilateral disease (n = 17). Scintigraphic abnormalities induced by captopril were strongly associated with cure or improvement in blood pressure control following revascularization or nephrectomy (15 of 18), while the lack of captopril-induced changes was associated with failure of such intervention (13 of 16) (p = 0.0004). We conclude that simplified captopril renography is highly sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis in a clinically selected high-risk population and that the test accurately predicts the success or failure of therapeutic intervention.

Transcatheter detachable balloon embolotherapy for catheter-induced pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm.

Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm formation may be due to various etiologies, including trauma, pulmonary artery catheterization, infection, and tumor. Transcatheter embolization is a nonsurgical management technique that may be utilized in many of these patients to occlude the affected artery and to prevent further extravasation. Recently, two patients with pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm formation after balloon-tipped catheter placement were successfully managed with transcatheter embolotherapy with detachable silicone balloons. The article describes their diagnosis and management.

Enterostomy catheter exchange using new polymer-coated guide wire: technical note.

The exchange of enterostomy feeding catheters may be facilitated by the use of a recently developed hydrophilic polymer guide wire. This has been found especially useful in the insertion of catheters constructed of polyurethane or silastic-type materials.

Maintaining quality of life after palliative diversion for malignant ureteral obstruction.

The records of 71 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous nephrostomy for malignant ureteral obstruction were reviewed. The average post-nephrostomy survival time was seven months, of which 25% was spent in the hospital. When comparing these figures to older studies of open nephrostomy, the percutaneous procedure is associated with less morbidity and an increased percentage of time spent at home (75% compared to 36%). Long-term survival, however, is still poor, with only 25% of patients alive at one year. We suggest that the criteria previously adopted for open nephrostomy generally remain appropriate for patients being considered for percutaneous urinary diversion.