A Comparison of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Materials.

Background: New catheter materials for peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) may reduce the risk of device failure due to infectious, thrombotic, and catheter occlusion events. However, data from randomized trials comparing these catheters are lacking.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, controlled, superiority trial in three Australian tertiary hospitals.

Outcome of angioembolization for blunt renal trauma in haemodynamically unstable patients: 10-year analysis of Queensland public hospitals.

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether angioembolization is an appropriate alternative method for the management of blunt renal trauma in haemodynamically unstable patients.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted from 2002 to 2012 at three tertiary trauma hospitals in the state of Queensland. Patients who had blunt renal trauma and underwent renal angioembolization or had a trauma nephrectomy were identified using patient records and operating theatre and interventional radiology databases.

Endoluminal thoracic aortic repair in the octogenarian and nonagenarian: the New Zealand experience.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to review the New Zealand-wide experience of thoracic endovascular aortic repair to determine effect of age on outcome.

Methods: This was an observational, retrospective analytic study comparing two age groups. The New Zealand Thoracic Aortic Stent (NZTAS) registry was reviewed for patient demographics, indications for repair, risk factors, technical success, complications, length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality.

Outcomes of infrapopliteal endoluminal intervention for transatlantic intersociety consensus C and D lesions in patients with critical limb ischaemia.

Background: Recent data suggest that infrapopliteal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is a reasonable primary therapy for critical limb ischaemia (CLI). Based on the transatlantic intersociety consensus (TASC) classification, this has been found to be true for lesions classified as A, B or C. We report our experience with infrapopliteal PTA stratified by TASC classification.

Reducing error and improving efficiency during vascular interventional radiology: implementation of a preprocedural team rehearsal.

Purpose: To determine the type and frequency of errors during vascular interventional radiology (VIR) and design and implement an intervention to reduce error and improve efficiency in this setting.

Materials And Methods: Ethical guidance was sought from the Research Services Department at Imperial College London. Informed consent was not obtained.

An Osteoma of the Middle Ear Presenting with the Tullio Phenomenon.

The Tullio phenomenon is an extremely rare condition in which loud noise induces a brisk vestibular response. Osteomas of the middle ear cleft are also uncommon. We report a patient with an osteoma of the middle ear cleft that became symptomatic with progressive facial palsy and mixed hearing loss.