Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) with Small Beads for the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is the most frequent cause of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTSs) in elderly populations. Minimally invasive treatments of BPH are safe and effective and are gaining popularity among both professionals and patients. Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) has proven to be effective in Trans-Urethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) in terms of prostate volume reduction and LUTS relief. PAE entails the selective catheterization of the prostatic artery and later embolization of distal vessels with beads of various calibers. Universal consensus regarding the ideal particle size is yet to be defined. We retrospectively evaluated 24 consecutive patients (median age: 75 years; range: 59-86 years) treated with PAE at our institution from October 2015 to November 2022. Particles of different sizes were employed; 12 patients were treated with 40-120 µm particles, 5 with 100 µm, 5 with 100-300 µm and 2 with 250 µm. Technical success, defined as selective prostate artery catheterization and controlled release of embolizing beads, was achieved in all patients. Removal vs. retention of the urinary catheter at the first post-procedural urological visit was the main clinical objective. No major peri-procedural complications were recorded, with 56% of patients successfully removing the urinary catheter.

Endovascular treatment of a ruptured pulmonary artery aneurysm in a patient with Behçet's disease using the Amplatzer Vascular Plug 4.

A pulmonary artery aneurysm is a common manifestation and the leading cause of mortality in Behçet's disease. We describe a case of spontaneous rupture of a pulmonary artery aneurysm that, due to the inadequacy of medical therapy and the disadvantages of surgery, became the ideal candidate for endovascular management and was successfully performed by using the Amplatzer Vascular Plug 4.

Ultrasound-guided removal of foreign bodies: personal experience.

Foreign bodies (FBs) retained in the soft tissues are a common reason for medical consultation, and usually consist of wooden or metal splinters or glass shards. Failure to remove foreign bodies is likely to give rise to acute or late complications, such as allergies, inflammation or infection, that may be severe. The surgical removal of an FB is invasive, costly and technically challenging. The procedure may fail in some cases and carries the risk of complications. Our study describes a technique for the ultrasound-guided removal of an FB, devised from our experience, and demonstrates its advantages over the standard surgical procedure. Sixty-two patients (43 males and 19 females aged from 9 to 65 years, median age 31 years) presented at our institution between October 2005 and June 2008 with suspected foreign bodies retained in the soft tissues of various body districts. Radiographic and/or ultrasound diagnosis was established by a radiologist expert in musculoskeletal sonography. The same radiologist helped by a nurse subsequently undertook the ultrasound-guided removal in the outpatient's clinic according to the technique described in the paper. ATL 5000 and PHILIPS iu22 ultrasound systems were used with high-frequency linear-array probes, sterile material, local anaesthetic (lidocaine 2%), scapels and surgical forceps. Antibiotic prophylaxis with amoxicillin and clavulanic acid were prescribed to all patients for 7 days after the procedure. Ninety-five FBs (39 glass, 35 metal, 17 vegetable, 2 plastic, 2 stone) were successfully removed under ultrasound guidance in all patients and the procedure took between 15 and 30 min. No complications arose either during or after the procedure. Seventy-five skin incisions were made and the wounds closed with Steri-Strips in 73/75 cases, whereas skin sutures were used in 2/75 cases. No complications arose either during or after the procedure. Ultrasound-guided removal of an FB retained in the soft tissues is a good alternative to surgery as is its relatively straightforward, inexpensive, repeatable and carries a low risk of complications. In addition, failure to remove an FB does not preclude traditional surgical removal. The advantages of this real-time procedure and the use of small instruments minimize bleeding time and avoid injury to surrounding structures. Patient compliance is enhanced by the fact that the procedure has little or no aesthetic impact. These encouraging results suggest ultrasound-guided removal as a first-choice procedure for the extraction of foreign bodies.

Percutaneous treatment of sac rupture in abdominal aortic aneurysms previously excluded with endovascular repair (EVAR).

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of percutaneous endovascular repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) previously treated by EVAR. In the last year, two male patients with AAAs, treated 8 and 23 months ago with bifurcated stent-graft, were observed because of lumbar pain and hemorragic shock. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) showed a retroperitoneal hematoma; in both cases a type III endoleak was detected, in one case associated with a type II endoleak from the iliolumbar artery. The procedures were performed in the theater, in emergency. Type II endoleak was treated with transcatheter superselective glue injection; type III endoleaks were excluded by a stent-graft extension. The procedures were successful in both patients, with immediate hemodynamic stabilization. MDCT after the procedure showed complete exclusion of the aneurysms. In conclusion, endovascular treatment is a safe and feasible option for the treatment of ruptured AAAs previously treated by EVAR; this approach allows avoidance of surgical conversion, which is technical very challenging, with a high morbidity and mortality rate.

Radiofrequency thermal ablation for pain control in patients with single painful bone metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the safety and the efficacy of radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) for pain relief and analgesics use reduction in two patients with painful bone metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two patients with lytic metastases from HCC located at the left superior ileo-pubic branch and at the middle arch of VII rib, performed RFA displacing a LeVeen Needle (3.5 and 4.0 cm diameter) under US (ultrasonography) and fluoroscopic guidance. Two methods were used to determine the response of both patients: the first method was to measure patient's worst pain with a Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) 1 day after the procedure, every week for 1 month, and thereafter at week 8 and 12 (total follow-up 3 months); the second method was to evaluate patient's analgesics use recorded at week 1, 4, 8 and 12. Analgesic medication use was translated into a morphine-equivalent dose. RESULTS: The RFA were well tolerated by the patients who did not develop any complication. Both patients obtained substantial reduction of pain, which decreased from a mean score of 8 to approximately 2 in 4 weeks. In both patients we observed a reduction in the use of morphine dose-equivalent after a peak at week 1. CT (computed tomography) imaging, performed at 1 month after RFA, demonstrated that both procedures were technically successful and safe because consistent necrosis and no evidence for complications were observed. CONCLUSION: RFA provides a potential alternative method for palliation of painful osteolytic metastases from HCC; the procedure is safe, and the pain relief is substantial.

Use of Amplatzer Vascular Plug (AVP) in emergency embolisation: preliminary experience and review of literature.

Amplatzer Vascular Plug (AVP) is a device recently proposed for extra-cardiac procedures such as arterial and venous embolisation. In this paper, we assess the usefulness of AVP in emergency embolisation presenting our preliminary experience and reviewing the Literature. During the last year, we selected 31 patients for embolisation using AVP. The following nine procedures were performed in emergency (8 males, mean 72.4 years, range 57-85): four ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, one traumatic hepatic pseudoaneurysm with arterio-portal fistula, one carotid pseudoaneurysm due to neoplastic erosion, one renal tumor with active bleeding, one ruptured isolated iliac aneurysm and one ruptured hypogastric aneurysm. We used a total of 13 AVPs. The follow-up was carried out by computed tomography angiography (CTA) and/or contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), 3 months after the procedure and then every 3 months. We obtained immediate technical success in all nine cases. No rupture or dissection of the treated arteries occurred. We observed only an asymptomatic spasm. During a mean follow-up of 5.3 months (range 3-12 months), CTA and/or CEUS showed complete occlusion of the treated arteries. The AVP is useful in some emergency settings. In the authors' experience, the device allows precise, controlled release and can be deployed to the target more rapidly than other traditional methods. The device cannot be used in all patients due to limited ability to negotiate tortuous vessels and limited size availability. In our institution, the AVP is less expensive than alternatives. In our experience and as reported in the early literature, the device is easy to use, versatile, and achieved a high technical success rate. Further studies may confirm the effectiveness and demonstrate additional indications.