Nudging to select single-lumen over multiple-lumen peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) in a large safety net system.

Background: Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are increasingly used for vascular access in inpatient settings. Compared to multilumen PICCs, single-lumen PICCs carry a lower rate of complications, including central-line-associated bloodstream infection and thrombosis. Despite this, multilumen PICCs are still overused.

Synovial chondromatosis of the lumbar spine with compressive myelopathy: a case report with review of the literature.

Synovial chondromatosis has been rarely reported to occur in the spine with only one case found in the lumbar spine. We describe another case of synovial chondromatosis in the lumbar spine in a 41-year-old man who presented with compressive myelopathy. The tumor was located in the left ventrolateral corner of the epidural space just below the L(4)-L(5) intervertebral space.

Hepatitis status, child-pugh classification, and serum AFP levels predict survival in patients treated with transarterial embolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. Most patients are not surgical candidates, and transarterial embolization (TAE) has been used to treat patients with unresectable HCC. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that predict survival in patients treated with TAE at a Western medical center.

Angiographic findings and embolotherapy in renal arterial trauma.

Purpose: To evaluate the angiographic findings and embolotherapy in the management of traumatic renal arterial injury.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of 22 patients with renal trauma who underwent arteriography and percutaneous embolization from December 1995 to January 2002. Medical records, imaging studies and procedural reports were reviewed to assess the type of injury, arteriographic findings and immediate embolization results.

Histopathologic evaluation of tissue extracted on the radiofrequency probe after ablation of liver tumors: preliminary findings.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the histologic characteristics of tissue extracted on the probe immediately after radiofrequency ablation of malignant tumors in the liver.

Materials And Methods: From April to December 2001, 20 radiofrequency ablations were performed in 19 patients with primary (n = 17) and metastatic (n = 2) liver masses. Track ablation according to device protocol was performed after each ablation.

Locoregional recurrences are frequent after radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Enthusiasm for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has increased. The data for recurrence after RFA for patients with HCC is not well documented. The purpose of this study was to evaluate tumor recurrence patterns after RFA in patients with unresectable HCC.

Alteplase for hemodialysis access graft thrombolysis.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of alteplase, a recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, in hemodialysis access graft thrombolysis.

Materials And Methods: From November 1999 to May 2001, 68 episodes of occlusion in 50 grafts (in 49 patients) were included in the study. Occlusion was treated with pulse-spray (n = 41) or lyse-and-wait (n = 27) thrombolysis with use of alteplase.