Investigating the Influence of High-Speed Gantry Rotation in Cardiac CT on Motion Artifacts in Aortic Stenosis Patients Not Premedicated with β-Blockers: The FAST-CCT Randomized Trial Protocol.

Background: Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is increasingly used as a non-invasive tool to assess coronary artery disease (CAD). However, CCTA is subject to motion artifacts, potentially limiting its clinical utility. Despite faster (0.

Virtually Augmented Self-Hypnosis in Peripheral Vascular Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Hypnosis is useful for diminishing distress during medical procedures. This study investigated the efficacy of virtually augmented self-hypnosis as an adjunctive non-pharmacological method for procedural pain and anxiety relief during endovascular interventions (EVI).

Methods: We compared an immersive distraction experience (clinicaltrials.

Virtually Augmented Self-Hypnosis applied to endovascular interventions (VA-HYPO): Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol.

Endovascular interventions (EVI) are increasingly performed as minimally-invasive alternatives to surgery and have many advantages, including a decreased need for general anesthesia. However, EVI can be stressful for patients and often lead to anxiety and pain related to the procedure. The use of local anesthetics, anxiolytics, and analgesic drugs can help avoid general anesthesia.

CT Pulmonary Angiography for Risk Stratification of Patients with Nonmassive Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

Purpose: To investigate the prognostic value of an integrative approach combining clinical variables and the Qanadli CT obstruction index (CTOI) in patients with nonmassive acute pulmonary embolism (PE).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 705 consecutive patients (mean age, 63 years; range, 18-95 years) with proven PE. Clot burden was quantified using the CTOI, which reflects the ratio of fully or partially obstructed pulmonary arteries to normal arteries.

Appropriateness of Replacing Fluoroscopic Guidance With ECG-Electromagnetic Guidance for PICC Insertion: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Coupled ECG-electromagnetic (EM) guidance shows promise for use in placement of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) when compared with the classic blind technique. However, ECG-EM guidance has not been appropriately compared with the reference standard of fluoroscopy (FX) guidance. Here, we aimed to compare ECG-EM guidance with FX guidance with regard to the final tip position of PICCs.

Structured team-oriented program to follow patients after vena cava filter placement: a step forward in improving quality for filter retrieval.

To reduce inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) related complications, retrieval is recommended whenever possible. Nevertheless, IVCF retrieval rates remain lower than expected, likely due to insufficient follow-up after placement. We evaluated the value of a structured program designed to follow patients by the interventional radiology team up to 5 months after IVCF placement.

A New Clinically Driven Classification for Acute Aortic Dissection.

To report a new classification scheme for acute aortic dissection (AAD) that considers the aortic arch as a separate entity and integrates patterns of malperfusion syndrome (MPS). The proposed classification was evaluated retrospectively in a large population. We retrospectively reviewed pre-therapy CT angiograms of 226 consecutive patients (mean ± SD age: 64 ± 12 years) with AAD.

Can a Trained Radiology Technician Do Arterial Obstruction Quantification in Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism?

To assess interobserver variability between a trained radiology technician (RT) and an experienced radiologist in arterial obstruction quantification using the Qanadli obstruction index (QOI), in patients diagnosed with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) at CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA). A RT and a radiologist independently reviewed CTPAs of 97 consecutive, prospectively enrolled patients with APE, and calculated the QOI. They classified patients into three risk categories: high for QOI ≥40%, intermediate for QOI 20-37.

Percutaneous intentional intra-luminal-assisted recanalization (PILAR technique) of challenging chronic total occlusions using a high-frequency vibration device.

Objectives: Recanalization of peripheral chronic total occlusions (CTO) is technically challenging especially in cases of in-stent and/or pre-stent and heavily calcified lesions. A high-frequency vibrational device (HFVD) was first used as a secondary-intention device in CTO recanalizations when they were refractory to a guidewire. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of the HFVD as a first-line treatment for challenging CTOs and thus to define the percutaneous intentional intraluminal-assisted recanalization (PILAR) technique.

Percutaneous endovascular biopsy of intravascular masses: efficacy and safety in establishing pre-therapy diagnosis.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous endovascular biopsy (PEB) in intravascular filling-defect lesions (IVLs) of the great vessels.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 19 patients (age 65 ± 12 years), 11 men and eight women, who underwent PEB for IVLs, between March 2004 and November 2014. All PEBs were performed for early diagnosis and/or characterization of the IVL, or in case of reasonable doubt about the IVL nature.

Spontaneous Intramuscular Hematomas of the Abdomen and Pelvis: A New Multilevel Algorithm to Direct Transarterial Embolization and Patient Management.

Purpose: To report our experience using a multilevel patient management algorithm to direct transarterial embolization (TAE) in managing spontaneous intramuscular hematoma (SIMH).

Materials And Methods: From May 2006 to January 2014, twenty-seven patients with SIMH had been referred for TAE to our Radiology department. Clinical status and coagulation characteristics of the patients are analyzed.

Tip malposition of peripherally inserted central catheters: a prospective randomized controlled trial to compare bedside insertion to fluoroscopically guided placement.

Objective: Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) use continues to increase, leading to the development of a blind bedside technique (BST) for placement. The aim of our study was to compare the BST with the fluoroscopically guided technique (FGT), with specific regard to catheter tip position (CTP).

Materials And Methods: One hundred eighty patients were randomized to either the BST or the FGT.

Percutaneous endovascular management of chronic superior vena cava syndrome of benign causes : long-term follow-up.

Background: The vast majority of superior vena cava (SVC) syndromes are of malignant causes, but with growing use of indwelling central catheters and implanted cardiac devices, benign SVC syndromes are becoming more frequent. The main objective of this study is to evaluate long term outcome in patients treated for benign SVC syndrome by endovascular techniques.

Methods: Forty-four patients, 26 men and 18 women, mean age 56, treated for benign SVC syndrome using endovascular techniques between 2002 and 2015 were included.

Prevalence of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Patients Suspected for Pulmonary Embolism or Acute Aortic Syndrome: Rationale for the Triple Rule-Out Concept.

Background: The aims of the study were to evaluate the prevalence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) among patients presenting with atypical chest pain who are evaluated for acute aortic syndrome (AAS) or pulmonary embolism (PE) with computed tomoangiography (CTA) and discuss the rationale for the use of triple rule-out (TRO) protocol for triaging these patients.

Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of patients presenting with atypical chest pain and evaluated with thoracic (CTA), for suspicion of AAS/PE. Two physicians reviewed patient files for demographic characteristics, initial CT and final clinical diagnosis.

CT attenuation values of blood and myocardium: rationale for accurate coronary artery calcifications detection with multi-detector CT.

Objectives: To determine inter-session and intra/inter-individual variations of the attenuations of aortic blood/myocardium with MDCT in the context of calcium scoring. To evaluate whether these variations are dependent on patients' characteristics.

Methods: Fifty-four volunteers were evaluated with calcium scoring non-enhanced CT.

Computer Aided Detection and measurement of peripheral artery disease.

Computer-Aided Tomography Angiography (CTA) images are the standard for assessing Peripheral artery disease (PAD). This paper presents a Computer Aided Detection (CAD) and Computer Aided Measurement (CAM) system for PAD. The CAD stage detects the arterial network using a 3D region growing method and a fast 3D morphology operation.