Preloaded contralateral gate techniques during endovascular aortic repair for aneurysms and occlusive disease.

We present two preloaded techniques to facilitate gate cannulation during endovascular aortic repair. In the first case, we relined the aorta using a Gore iliac branch endoprosthesis (WL Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, Ariz) for acute occlusion. This allowed for preloading the contralateral gate, which was compressed when deployed, and subsequently dilated open over the preloaded wire to allow for cannulation.

Imaging Surveillance of Hypervascular Liver Lesions in Non-Cirrhotic Patients.

A consensus surveillance protocol is lacking for non-cirrhotic patients with hypervascular liver lesions presumed to represent hepatocellular adenomas. Patients with hypervascular liver lesions <5 cm not meeting criteria for focal nodular hyperplasia or hepatocellular carcinoma underwent surveillance with contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 6, 12, and 24 months after baseline imaging. If lesions remained stable or decreased in size, then surveillance imaging was discontinued.

Endovascular Repair of Descending Thoracic Aorta in Loeys-Dietz II Syndrome.

Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is an autosomal dominant disorder that is predominantly characterized by involvement of the aorta, manifesting as aneurysmal dilatation or aortic dissection. Patients with LDS manifest with spontaneous aneurysms and dissections of central and peripheral arterial beds. We present 2 cases of young male patients with Loeys-Dietz II aortopathy, who manifested with spontaneous intimal tear of descending thoracic aorta and contained aortic rupture.

Large thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection with rare complication.

Thoracic aortic aneurysms can be found incidentally, however, patients can also present with acute dissection and or rupture that can be fatal. Symptoms that might indicate dissection include chest and back pain as well as lightheadedness. The diagnosis can be made with imaging studies such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance angiogram and sometimes transesophageal echocardiogram.

Infrahepatic inferior vena cava agenesis with bilateral renal vein thrombosis.

Congenital anomalies of the inferior vena cava (IVC) are rare and are estimated to be present in 0.07-8.7% of the general population.

Accuracy of routine nontargeted CT without colonography technique for the detection of large colorectal polyps and cancer.

Background: To assess the accuracy of routine contrast-enhanced computed tomography for the detection of large colorectal polyps and cancer.

Methods: The study group consisted of 100 patients who underwent abdominal computed tomography and optical colonoscopy evaluation before any treatment or intervention. Invasive colorectal carcinoma and large polyps (>or=10mm) were found at colonoscopy in 29 and 16 patients, respectively.

Polyp detection at 3-dimensional endoluminal computed tomography colonography: sensitivity of one-way fly-through at 120 degrees field-of-view angle.

Purpose: To investigate whether increasing the visual field-of-view (FOV) angle at 3-dimensional (3D) endoluminal computed tomography colonography (CTC) from 90 degrees to 120 degrees allows for single pass fly-through examination of the supine and prone views without sacrificing polyp detection.

Methods: Primary 3D endoluminal CTC evaluation using a 120 degree FOV was performed by 2 experienced radiologists on 73 patients harboring 104 colonoscopy-proven polyps measuring 6 mm or larger. Unidirectional fly-through evaluation consisted of rectal-to-cecal (retrograde) navigation on the supine display and cecal-to-rectal (antegrade) navigation on the prone display.

Paravalvular leaks around prosthetic valves implanted in the mitral position: technical refinements of the ovine model.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Currently, the sheep model is preferred for preclinical in-vivo evaluation of prosthetic heart valves implanted in the mitral position. In sheep, the anatomy and tissue characteristics in, and around, the native mitral valve's posterior commissure (12:00-3:00 quadrant) makes valve implantation technically challenging. As the majority of non-infectious paravalvular leaks occurred in this quadrant, the surgical technique was modified to offer greater exposure of the annulus in this region and permit more accurate placement of sutures.