A Novel Use of Autologous Fibrin by Intracatheter Injection in Persistent Postoperative Biliary Defects: Technical Note on a Preliminary Experience.

PURPOSE: To introduce percutaneous selective injection of autologous platelet-rich fibrin as a novel technique for persistent bile leakage repair and sharing the results of our preliminary experience. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients (57.1% females; mean age 69.6 ± 8 years) with the evidence of persistent bile leak secondary to hepatobiliary surgery and ineffective treatment with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage were submitted to fibrin injection. Platelet-rich fibrin, a dense fibrin clot promoting tissue regeneration, was obtained from centrifuged patient's venous blood. Repeated percutaneous injections through a catheter tip placed in close proximity to the biliary defect were performed until complete obliteration at fistulography. Technical and clinical success were evaluated. RESULTS: Bile leaks followed pancreaticoduodenectomy in five and major hepatectomy in two patients. Technical success defined as fibrin injection at BD site was achieved in all seven patients, and clinical success defined as a complete healing of the BD at fistulography was achieved in six patients. The median time to BD closure was 76.7 ± 40.5 days and the average procedure number was 3 ± 1 per patient. In one patient, defect persistance after four treatments required gelatin sponge injection. No major complications occurred. One case of post-procedural transitory hyperpirexia was registered. CONCLUSION: In persistent biliary defects, despite prolonged biliary drainage stay, percutaneous injection of autologous platelet-rich fibrin appears as a readily available and feasible emergent technique in promoting fistulous tracts obliteration still mantaining main ducts patency.

The Clinical Utility of Lower Extremity Dual-Energy CT Angiography in the Detection of Bone Marrow Edema in Diabetic Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease.

(1) Background: Type 2 diabetes is a major cause of incidences and the progression of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Bone marrow edema (BME) is an important finding suggestive of underlying bone inflammation in non-traumatic diabetic patients with PAD. Our aim was to evaluate the presence, severity, and clinical implications of BME detected by virtual non-calcium application (VNCa) of dual-energy CT angiography (DE-CTA). (2) Methods: A consecutive series of 76 diabetic patients (55 men; mean age 71.6 ± 11.2 yrs) submitted to lower limb DE-CTA for PAD evaluation and revascularization planning, which were retrospectively analyzed. VNCa images were independently and blindly revised for the presence, location, and severity of BME by two radiologists with 10 years of experience. BME and non-BME groups were evaluated in terms of PAD clinical severity and 6-month secondary major amputation rate. (3) Results: BME was present in 17 (22%) cases, while 59 (78%) patients were non-BME. The BME group showed a significantly higher incidence of major amputation (p < 0.001) and a significantly higher number of patients with advanced clinical stages of PAD compared to the non-BME group (p = 0.024). (4) Conclusions: Lower limb DE-CTA with VNCa application is a useful tool in the detection of BME in diabetic patients with PAD, simultaneously enabling the evaluation of the severity and location of the arterial disease for revascularization planning. BME presence could be a marker of clinically severe PAD and a possible risk factor for revascularization failure.

The prominent role of percutaneous transarterial embolization in the treatment of anterior abdominal wall hematomas: the results of three high volume tertiary referral centers.

PURPOSE: Percutaneous transarterial embolization (PTE) represents a fast, safe and effective option for life-threatening anterior abdominal wall hematomas (AWHs) and those unresponsive to conservative treatment. Our study aims to assess cumulative results of safety, technical and clinical success of PTE performed in three high-volume tertiary referral centers and to evaluate the efficacy of the different embolic materials employed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A consecutive series of 124 patients (72.8 ± 14.4 years) with AWHs of different etiology submitted to PTE were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Clinical success, defined as absence of recurrent bleeding within 96 h from PTE, was considered as primary endpoint. The results of the comparison of three groups based on embolic agent employed were also analyzed. RESULTS: Spontaneous AWHs accounted for 62.1%, iatrogenic for 21.8% and post-traumatic for 16.1% of cases. SARS-CoV-19 infection was present in 22.6% of patients. The most commonly embolized vessels were epigastric inferior artery (n = 127) and superior epigastric artery (n = 25). Technical and clinical success were 97.6 and 87.1%, respectively. Angiographic signs of active bleeding were detected in 85.5% of cases. Four (4%) major complications were reported. The comparison of the three groups of embolic agents (mechanical, particulate/fluid and combined) showed no statistically significant differences in terms of clinical success. SARS-CoV-2 infection was found to be an independent factor for recurrent bleeding and poor 30-day survival. CONCLUSION: PTE performed with all the embolic agent employed in our centers is a safe and effective tool in the treatment of life-threatening anterior AWH of each origin.

Endovascular management of vascular renal injuries: outcomes and comparison between traumatic and iatrogenic settings.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of endovascular treatment for vascular renal injuries (VRIs) like bleeding, pseudoaneurysm and artero-venous fistula (AVF) and to compare patients with blunt trauma (T-VRIs) with those with iatrogenic damage (I-VRIs). METHODS: We retrospectively assessed 49 renal artery embolizations performed to treat T-VRIs (26.5%) and I-VRIs (73.5%). Different embolic materials were used based on the type of lesion. Technical success was defined as the complete occlusion of target arteries with no further visualization of VRIs. Clinical success was defined if no recurrence was present and if renal function (difference between creatinine after and before treatment <0.5 mg/dl) was preserved after 1 month. RESULTS: Angiography showed bleeding in 27 patients, pseudoaneurysm in 29 and an AVF in 6. Embolic agents used were coils in 39 procedures, coils with sponge in four and others in six. Technical success was 100% while clinical success was 85.7% due to seven patients with recurrence. The group I-VRIs showed a higher rate of clinical success than the group T-VRIs (94.4% vs 61.5%; p < 0.05). Moreover, the group I-VRIs had a higher incidence of pseudoaneurysms and AVFs compared with the group T-VRIs (69.4% vs 30.8% and 16.7% vs 0%; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment for VRIs showed satisfactory results and no patient had a worsening of renal function. I-VRIs had better clinical success and more frequently appeared as pseudoaneurysms compared to T-VRIs: probably iatrogenic injury is localized and pseudoaneurysm is easily identifiable and treatable with endovascular treatment.

The role of grade of injury in non-operative management of blunt hepatic and splenic trauma: Case series from a multicenter experience.

This retrospective study shows the results of a 2 years application of a clinical pathway concerning the indications to NOM based on the patient's hemodynamic answer instead of on the injury grade of the lesions.We conducted a retrospective study applied on a patient's cohort, admitted in "Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti of Ancona" and in the Digestive and Emergency Surgery Department of the Santa Maria of Terni hospital between September 2015 and December 2017, all affected by blunt abdominal trauma, involving liver, spleen or both of them managed conservatively. Patients were divided into 3 main groups according to their hemodynamic response to a fluid administration: stable (group A), transient responder (group B) and unstable (group C). Management of patients was performed according to specific institutional pathway, and only patients from category A and B were treated conservatively regardless of the injury grade of lesions.From October 2015 to December 2017, a total amount of 111 trauma patients were treated with NOM. Each patient underwent CT scan at his admission. No contrast pooling was found in 50 pts. (45.04%). Contrast pooling was found in 61 patients (54.95%). The NOM overall outcome resulted in success in 107 patients (96.4%). NOM was successful in 100% of cases of liver trauma patients and was successful in 94.7% of splenic trauma patients (72/76). NOM failure occurred in 4 patients (5.3%) treated for spleen injuries. All these patients received splenectomy: in 1 case to treat pseudoaneurysm, (AAST, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, grade of injury II), in 2 cases because of re-bleeding (AAST grade of injury IV) and in the remaining case was necessary to stop monitoring spleen because the patient should undergo to orthopedic procedure to treat pelvis fracture (AAST grade of injury II).Non-operative management for blunt hepatic and splenic lesions in stable or stabilizable patients seems to be the choice of treatment regardless of the grade of lesions according to the AAST Organ Injury Scale.

Management of spontaneous soft-tissue hemorrhage secondary to anticoagulant therapy: A cohort study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The optimal management of patients receiving heparin, warfarin or direct anti-coagulant therapy who experience spontaneous, severe, life-threatening soft-tissue hemorrhage (SSTH) is unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate efficacy and safety of the interventional protocol implemented in our department. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data from 80 consecutive patients with SSTH secondary to anticoagulation therapy diagnosed by the appropriate computed tomography scan. All patients received a structured clinical pathway, including aggressive resuscitation, reversal of coagulopathy when indicated, Interventional Radiology procedures by transcatheter embolization (TE), clinical observation and repeated laboratory controls. RESULTS: We enrolled 80 patients from 2013 to 2017. Angiography was performed in 60 patients (75%). It revealed the bleeding site in 46 cases, and a TE was performed in all. The rates of technical success of TE, primary clinical success and bleeding control were 98% (45/46), 91% (73/80) and 89% (71/80) respectively. In 5 patients (6%) the control of the bleeding was obtained with a second TE. Short-term and 30-day mortality was 5% (4 patients) and 11% (9 patients), respectively. No adverse events were observed. CONCLUSION: A structured clinical pathway, including TE seems to be an effective and safe method to manage the patients with SSTH due to anticoagulant treatment.

Dilation of peripheral vessels in Marfan syndrome: importance of thoracoabdominal MR angiography.

OBJECTIVES: Aim of this study was to assess vascular morphology and dimension of the entire aorta and branch vessels in MFS using thoracoabdominal MR angiography (MRA). BACKGROUND: Evaluation of vascular involvement in Marfan Syndrome (MFS) is focused to the ascending aorta, which has the major risk of dissection/rupture. METHODS: From March 2006 to January 2011, 64 patients (35 ± 13 years old) with MFS underwent echocardiography and MRA of thoracic and abdominal aorta. Measurements of ascending aorta, aortic arch, descending thoracic and abdominal aorta, and aortic branch vessels were assessed. In patients with aortic dissection only non dissected vessels were considered for measurements. RESULTS: 64 Marfan patients were divided into 2 groups: patients in natural history (group A, 55%) and patients previously submitted to aortic root and/or ascending aorta replacement because of severe aortic dilation or dissection (group B, 45%). Dilation of the descending aorta, mostly of the aortic isthmus, occurred in 18/53 patients (8/35 group A, 10/18 group B). Abdominal aorta resulted in the normal range in group A and in 16/18 patients of group B, while iliac vessels were dilated in 7/35 patients of group A and in 10/23 patients of group B. Four patients of group B presented isolated dilation of subclavian, celiac, mesenteric, or renal arteries. CONCLUSIONS: Vascular dilation beyond the aortic root is not uncommon in MFS. The systematic use of MRA provides a comprehensive evaluation of the entire arterial system.

Stent graft repair of descending aortic dissection in patients with Marfan syndrome: an effective alternative to open reoperation?

OBJECTIVE: Aneurysms or dissections can involve multiple aortic segments in patients with Marfan syndrome, requiring staged replacement of the entire aorta. The optimal treatment of descending aortic dissection in these patients is a major challenge. We investigated the feasibility and outcomes of endovascular repair of the descending aorta in patients already submitted to open aortic root/arch surgery. METHODS: From March 1998 to July 2008, 12 patients (10 male and 2 female patients; mean age, 37.8 +/- 11.6 years) affected by Marfan syndrome underwent endovascular treatment for dissection of the descending aorta after previous open aortic root/arch surgery. Stent graft procedures were performed urgently in 5 patients and electively in 7 patients. RESULTS: Neither in-hospital deaths nor perioperative paraplegia or stroke occurred. Follow-up (median, 31 months; range, 3-57 months) was 100% complete. One patient needed surgical conversion for persistent type I endoleak, leading to false lumen expansion 3 months after endovascular repair. Extension of the dissection occurred in 2 patients 1 month and 2 years after the procedure, respectively. No late death or aortic rupture was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular repair of the dissected descending thoracic aorta can be performed in patients with Marfan syndrome with a low risk of death or major complications. In case of staged procedures, stent graft treatment can be considered a possible alternative to open reoperation. Long-term durability remains to be determined.

Role of endovascular repair in the management of late pseudo-aneurysms following open surgery for aortic coarctation.

BACKGROUND: Coarctation of the aorta accounts for almost 5% of all congenital cardiac malformations, and it is usually treated by open surgical procedures. Despite the excellent primary results, many patients may develop anastomotic pseudo-aneurysms, associated with considerable morbidity and mortality rates. We investigated the role of endovascular repair as an alternative to open re-do surgery on the descending aorta. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data of 11 consecutive patients who presented with pseudo-aneurysms of the descending aorta following previous surgical repair of congenital aortic coarctation. Nine patients developed a pseudo-aneurysm after patch aortoplasty, while an interposition graft repair was performed in two cases. Seven patients underwent an endovascular repair (26.9 years after the previous open surgery). Four patients with a pseudo-aneurysm after coarctation repair associated with arch hypoplasia underwent conventional open re-operation. RESULTS: No complications or death were observed in the conventional surgical group. Technical success was obtained in all patients who received a stent-graft procedure. More than one stent graft was necessary only in one case. A left carotid-left subclavian artery bypass was performed in three patients. Type II endoleak was detected by angiography in one patient who had previously undergone subclavian re-vascularisation. The median follow-up (FU) was 44.5 months and was 100% complete. Neither re-operations nor complications or deaths occurred during FU. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular repair of pseudo-aneurysms following open surgery for aortic coarctation is feasible and safe. However, more patients and longer follow-up are necessary to assess the efficacy of this promising less-invasive alternative to open re-do surgery.

Mean platelet volume (MPV) increase during acute non-lacunar ischemic strokes.

INTRODUCTION: Mean platelet volume (MPV) has been associated with the prognosis in stroke patients. However, its spontaneous variability during the acute phase of the disease is unknown. Materials and Methods - One hundred and thirty-seven patients with ischemic stroke, aged 75.4+/-11.0 (SD) years, were classified according to several criteria: National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, maximum lesion diameter on CT scan, Oxfordshire Community Stroke Projects (OCSP) and Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) categories. Platelet parameters were determined 1.2 days after the onset of symptoms, and after 3.0 further days. RESULTS: The initial MPV was higher in non-lacunar than lacunar strokes (8.30+/-1.10 vs. 7.95+/-0.79 fl, P=0.04), and correlated with the sampling delay with respect to the onset of symptoms, especially in the strokes with lesions >=4 cm (r=0.39, P=0.009), NIHSS >=11 (r=0.35, P=0.02) and of cardioembolic origin (r=0.35, P=0.01). Subsequently a late MPV increment was observed in the remaining categories: from 8.20 to 8.38 fl (P=0.02) in the strokes with lesions <4 cm, from 8.11 to 8.31 fl (P=0.01) in the presence of an NIHSS<11 and from 8.20 to 8.61 fl (P=0.03) when the occlusion of a large artery was involved. CONCLUSIONS: Platelet volume is not stable during the acute phase in non-lacunar ischemic strokes, as it increases early in the most severe forms, and later in the remaining subtypes. The release of large and more reactive platelets may contribute to the thrombophilic state associated with ischemic events.

The molecular sources of reactive oxygen species in hypertension.

In both animal models and humans, increased blood pressure has been associated with oxidative stress in the vasculature, i.e. an excessive endothelial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may be both a cause and an effect of hypertension. In addition to NADPH oxidase, the best characterized source of ROS, several other enzymes may contribute to ROS generation, including nitric oxide synthase, lipoxygenases, cyclo-oxygenases, xanthine oxidase and cytochrome P450 enzymes. It has been suggested that also mitochondria could be considered a major source of ROS: in situations of metabolic perturbation, increased mitochondrial ROS generation might trigger endothelial dysfunction, possibly contributing to the development of hypertension. However, the use of antioxidants in the clinical setting induced only limited effects on human hypertension or cardiovascular endpoints. More clinical studies are needed to fully elucidate this so called "oxidative paradox" of hypertension.