Mind the gap: A novel endovascular technique to repair a transected vessel.

Level one trauma centers experience horrific injuries on a regular basis. Blunt or penetrating trauma causing vascular injuries are treated by surgeons and interventional radiologists. When a blood vessel is completely transected, the ends of the vessel retract and vasospasm occurs as a normal survival response.

Against the Odds: A Novel Technique to Perform Cholangiography from a Percutaneous Approach through the Cystic Duct.

Percutaneous cholangiography is typically performed via a transhepatic approach and is reserved for patients with contraindications to traditional cholangiogram imaging modalities. For those with suspected cholelithiasis or choledocholithiasis who cannot undergo magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosis, percutaneous cholecystostomy with cholangiogram is a viable option. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography may also be precluded due to anatomic or obstructive limitations, in which case, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) may be indicated for diagnosis.

Larger Sizes Matter More! Applying the Matteo Mathematics Method for Endovascular Aortic Bifurcation Reconstruction to Large Venous Vascular Repair.

Endovascular aortobifemoral bypass repair with aortic bifurcation reconstruction is a well-established option with mortality benefits compared to conventional surgical management. The same theory, formulas, and techniques can be applied to the central venous system as long as there are commercially available devices. Using mathematically derived criteria for optimal stent size selection, endovascular aortic bifurcation reconstruction with kissing stents was extrapolated to the inferior vena cava (IVC).

A Novel Nonvascular Application of the Steerable Microcatheter.

The percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) is a relatively common interventional procedure used to treat a multitude of nephro-urological conditions. Traditionally, interventional radiologists use ultrasound guidance, needles, catheters, and guidewires to access the collecting system percutaneously. The placement of a nephro-ureterostomy stent may be precluded by challenging renal calyx anatomy or an underlying disease process that obstructs placement.

The effects of age and the expression of SPARC on extracellular matrix production by cardiac fibroblasts in 3-D cultures.

Fibrillar collagen is the primary component of the cardiac interstitial extracellular matrix. This extracellular matrix undergoes dramatic changes from birth to adulthood and then into advanced age. As evidence, fibrillar collagen content was compared in sections from neonates, adult, and old hearts and was found to increase at each respective age.