Complex Catheter-Based Structural Heart Reconstruction in a Patient With Tricuspid Atresia and Björk Palliative Conduit.

Björk conduit failure is a common reason for reintervention after a Björk modification of the Fontan procedure. We describe a first performed in human percutaneous procedure for the treatment of a failing Björk circuit in an adult with congenital heart disease and complex anatomic features. ().

Bronchial artery embolization for massive hemoptysis: long-term follow-up.

Aim: Bronchial artery angiography with embolization has become a mainstay in the treatment of massive hemoptysis. Whereas the immediate success rate is high, the reported long-term success rate varies widely among different groups. We aimed to explore the long-term outcome and clinical predictors associated with recurrent bleeding following bronchial artery embolization.

Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair using transvenous intravascular US catheter guidance in patients with chronic renal failure.

Purpose: To describe the transvenous application of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) for guidance during endovascular aortic repair (EVAR).

Materials And Methods: Eight patients with an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and chronic renal failure were determined suitable for EVAR. The procedure was performed by deploying the transcaval and transiliac vein guidance of an ICE catheter to reduce the dosage of iodinated contrast medium.

Angioplasty using covered stents in five patients with symptomatic pulmonary artery stenosis after single-lung transplantation.

Objective: After lung transplantation, pulmonary artery stenosis (PAS) may occur at the anastomotic site, resulting in poor graft function and hypoxemia. Surgical repair has been the standard-of-care, although percutaneous angioplasty with stent insertion has been performed in patients unsuitable for surgery. We summarize our experience of pulmonary artery stent-graft placement in transplant recipients who were also fit for surgical repair.

Transarterial embolization for acute head and neck bleeding: eight-year experience with emphasis on rebleeding risk in cancer patients.

Objectives/hypothesis: To present our 8-year experience with transarterial embolization for head and neck bleeding, with an emphasis on the need for repeated procedures in patients treated for head and neck cancer.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Methods: Tertiary university-affiliated medical center.

Low-voltage 96 dB snapshot CMOS image sensor with 4.5 nW power dissipation per pixel.

Modern "smart" CMOS sensors have penetrated into various applications, such as surveillance systems, bio-medical applications, digital cameras, cellular phones and many others. Reducing the power of these sensors continuously challenges designers. In this paper, a low power global shutter CMOS image sensor with Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) ability is presented.

Percutaneous trans-papillary elimination of common bile duct stones using an existing gallbladder drain for access.

Background: The presence of stones in the common bile duct (CBD) may cause complications such as obstructing jaundice or ascending cholangitis, and the stones should be removed.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of percutaneous elimination of CBD stones from the gallbladder through the papilla.

Methods: During a 4 year period, six patients (five men and one woman, mean age 71.

Hyponatremic hypertensive syndrome in pediatric patients: is it really so rare?

Background: Hyponatremic hypertensive syndrome (HHS) is characterized by unilateral renal artery stenosis with secondary hypertension and glomerular and tubular dysfunction due to hyperfiltration and activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS).

Case-diagnosis/treatment: We describe four children with HHS. All presented with polyuria and polydipsia, electrolyte disturbances, metabolic alkalosis, variable tubular dysfunction, and nephrotic range proteinuria along with hypertension.

Intraoperative hydrocolonic ultrasonography for localization of small colorectal tumors in laparoscopic surgery.

Background: Accurate localization of small colorectal cancers and polyps during laparoscopic resection may be difficult and requires precise and reliable localization techniques. This study aimed to assess the usefulness of intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) combined with retrograde saline instillation in locating small colorectal cancers and polyps during laparoscopically assisted colectomy.

Methods: The study investigated 14 patients with left-sided lesions of the colon and rectum necessitating preoperative marking.

Retrospective comparison of mechanical percutaneous thrombectomy of hemodialysis arteriovenous grafts with the Arrow-Trerotola device and the lyse and wait technique.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to determine whether pharmacologic thrombolysis with urokinase in the lyse and wait (L&W) technique compared with mechanical declotting using the Arrow-Trerotola percutaneous thrombectomy device is more efficient, safer, or less expensive in treating thrombosed hemodialysis grafts.

Materials And Methods: The files of 157 patients who underwent arteriovenous graft declotting from 2000 to 2007 at one tertiary care center were reviewed. The study group included 83 women and 74 men with a mean age of 68 +/- 12 years (range, 27-95 years).

Infrapopliteal stenting with silicon carbide-coated stents in critical limb ischemia: a 12 month follow-up study.

Background: Critical limb ischemia is an increasingly common condition that has high surgical morbidity and limited non-surgical options.

Objectives: To evaluate the use of silicon carbide-coated Motion stents, as compared to reported data for bare metal stents, in elderly patients with infrapopliteal artery stenoses causing critical limb ischemia after failed or complicated percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

Methods: Between January 2003 and March 2004, 41 stents were inserted into 17 consecutive patients (11 males, 6 females, mean age 82 years, range 75-93) following unsuccessful or complicated PTA.

A comparison of transjugular and plugged-percutaneous liver biopsy in patients with contraindications to ordinary percutaneous liver biopsy and an "in-house" protocol for selecting the procedure of choice.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) and plugged-percutaneous liver biopsy (PB) in consecutive patients with severe liver disease associated with impaired coagulation, ascites, or both and to verify the in-house protocol used to select the appropriate procedure. In 2000-2006, 329 patients (208 male [62.8%] and 121 female [37.

Stent graft closure of a high flow splenorenal shunt after liver transplantation.

We describe a patient after liver transplantation with a preexisting surgical splenorenal shunt close to the confluence of the splenic and superior mesenteric veins and a wide, short communication between the splenic and renal veins. To close the shunt, an inferior vena cava filter was inserted in the shunt and a vascular plug was placed in the splenic vein inside the filter. When this failed to stop the flow through the shunt, a covered stent was deployed at the superior mesenteric vein-portal vein junction.

Celiac trunk embolization, as a means of elongating short distal descending thoracic aortic aneurysm necks, prior to endovascular aortic repair.

The purpose of this study was to report our experience in elongating short distal necks of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (DTAAs) by coil embolization of the celiac trunk prior to endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). During 6 years seven patients (five men and two women; mean age, 74) who had DTAAs with short distal necks unsuitable for conventional EVAR, and well patent superior and inferior mesenteric arteries based on CT, were treated in one session with EVAR after the celiac trunk was coil embolized to elongate the neck. All patients were followed by CT every 3 months in the first year and every 6 months thereafter.

Intraoperative ultrasound in colorectal surgery.

Purpose: To assess the accuracy of intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) as a localizing technique for colorectal resections, and its impact on surgical management.

Methods: Twenty-five patients (15 men and 10 women; mean age, 74.4 years) with early cancers (p T1), or polyps, not amenable to endoscopic removal were selected.

Postshunt hepatic encephalopathy in liver transplant recipients.

Background: Preexisting spontaneous portosystemic shunts increase the risk of posttransplantation portal vein thrombosis. Portosystemic shunts may also be placed surgically to manage posttransplant portal vein stenosis/thrombosis. Both types may be complicated by hepatic encephalopathy.

Crossing chronic total occlusions with a new 0.014'' CiTop guidewire: proof of concept.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of a new 0.014'' CiTop guidewire to cross total occlusions within normal and diseased blood vessels; proof of concept.

Background: Despite recent advances, chronic arterial occlusions remain the main obstacle of coronary and peripheral interventions.

Endovascular diagnosis and intervention in patients with isolated hyperammonemia, with or without ascites, after liver transplantation.

Hyperammonemia with or without ascites with normal synthetic liver functions after liver transplantation might indicate the presence of anastomotic stenosis of the portal or hepatic vein or the existence of a patent portosystemic shunt. The authors describe six patients, three children after split-liver transplantation and three adults after cadaver liver transplantation, who presented with hyperammonemia. Three patients had ascites.

Endovascular interventions of juxtaanastomotic stenoses and thromboses of hemodialysis arteriovenous fistulas.

Purpose: To assess the primary and secondary patency rates for juxtaanastomotic stenoses, with or without superimposed thromboses, of arteriovenous hemodialysis fistulas treated with angioplasty and to compare it with National Kidney Foundation Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative treatment guidelines for stenosed and occluded arteriovenous fistulas (50% primary patency rate at 12 months).

Materials And Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis, covering a period of 5(1/2) years. Forty-three hemodialysis patients were referred due to secondary fistula dysfunction, and angiography was diagnostic of a juxtaanastomotic lesion.

Graft intolerance syndrome in children with failed kidney allografts--clinical presentation, treatment options and outcome.

Background: Failed renal allografts left in situ may cause inflammation presenting as graft intolerance syndrome (GIS). There are no sufficient data regarding clinical course and treatment options of GIS in paediatric patients.

Methods: A retrospective study of all children with failed renal allografts treated in Schneider's Children Medical Center of Israel during a 10-year period was conducted.

Prevalence of myocardial bridging detected with 64-slice multidetector coronary computed tomography angiography in asymptomatic adults.

Objective: Myocardial bridging is a congenital condition in which a segment of an epicardial artery has an intramural course within the myocardium. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of myocardial bridging and the ability of 64-slice coronary computed tomography angiography to identify myocardial bridging in asymptomatic adults.

Methods: One hundred sixty-nine consecutive asymptomatic subjects underwent 64-row multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) of the coronary arteries.

Peripheral cutting balloon in the management of resistant benign ureteral and biliary strictures: long-term results.

Purpose: To report the long-term follow-up results of peripheral cutting balloon incision and dilatation (PCBID) after failed high-pressure balloon dilatation in patients with benign ureteral and biliary strictures.

Materials And Methods: The study included 9 patients (5 males and 4 females) who underwent successful PCBID procedures. Of these, 4 patients had biliary strictures; 2 of them had choledocho-choledochal anastomosis after liver transplantation, one at the choledocho-jejunal anastomosis, and the other at the papilla of Vater after failed endoscopic papillotomy.