Feasibility and Procedural Safety of alfapump System Implantation by IR: Experience from the MOSAIC Study, a Multicenter, Open-Label Prospective Study in Cirrhotic Patients with Refractory Ascites.

Purpose: To evaluate feasibility, procedural outcomes, and safety aspects of implantation of the alfapump system for management of refractory ascites by interventional radiology (IR) methods.

Materials And Methods: The multicenter open-label prospective MOSAIC study included 29 patients (mean age 60.0 y ± 9.

Improvement in Quality of Life and Decrease in Large-Volume Paracentesis Requirements With the Automated Low-Flow Ascites Pump.

The automated low-flow ascites pump (alfapump) is an implantable device that drains ascites directly into the urinary bladder. We studied its safety (absence of serious complications) and efficacy (decreased large-volume paracentesis [LVP] requirement and improved quality of life [QoL]) in the management of ascites in a cohort of North American patients with cirrhosis and recurrent ascites ineligible for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). QoL was measured by the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) and Ascites Questionnaire (Ascites Q).

Intraarterial Lidocaine for Pain Control in Uterine Artery Embolization: A Prospective, Randomized Study.

Purpose: To assess efficacy of two different techniques of lidocaine injection in the uterine arteries to reduce pain following uterine artery embolization (UAE) for leiomyomas.

Materials And Methods: This prospective randomized single-blinded study was performed with 60 patients enrolled between November 2014 and December 2015 equally randomized to 3 arms. Group A received 10 mL lidocaine 1% (100 mg) mixed with polyvinyl alcohol particles (355-500 μm).

Temporary inferior vena cava filter indications, retrieval rates, and follow-up management at a multicenter tertiary care institution.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the practice pattern of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters and to determine factors predictive of filter retrievals at a multicenter, tertiary care institution.

Methods: A retrospective review of all IVC filter procedures performed between January 2001 and July 2013 was conducted. Data collected included demographics, venous thromboembolism risk factors, medical comorbidities, insertional and retrieval characteristics, referring services, complications, discharge, and follow-up management.

Elastic Recoil after Balloon Angioplasty in Hemodialysis Accesses: Does It Actually Occur and Is It Clinically Relevant?

Purpose To qualify and quantify elastic recoil and determine its effect on access patency. Materials and Methods Research ethics board approval was obtained and all patients signed an informed consent form. This was a prospective, nonrandomized study of mature accesses that underwent balloon percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) between January 2009 and December 2012.

Efficacy of Ovarian Artery Embolization for Uterine Fibroids: Clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluations.

Purpose: The objective of the study was to assess the efficacy of ovarian artery embolization (OAE) treatment for symptomatic uterine leiomyomas.

Methods: A retrospective review of 17 patients who underwent OAE in conjunction with uterine artery embolization in a 6-year period (2006-2012) was performed. Ten patients had previous failed embolization, while 7 had not received any embolization therapy before.

Long-term clinical outcome of patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites treated with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt insertion.

Background And Aim: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is indicated for the treatment of refractory ascites in cirrhosis. The long-term outcome of TIPS for refractory ascites is unknown. The aim of this study is to describe the natural history of patients with refractory ascites post-TIPS, and compare between polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered versus bare stents.

Venous aneurysms in autogenous hemodialysis fistulas: is there an association with venous outflow stenosis.

Purpose: To determine whether patients with venous aneurysms in their arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) have associated venous outflow stenoses.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was performed, which included all patients presenting with dysfunction and had venous aneurysms in their AVFs. Patient's medical records and imaging studies were examined and data collected including access characteristics, patient demographics and imaging findings.

Central venous stenosis associated with pacemaker leads: short-term results of endovascular interventions.

Purpose: To determine the safety and outcomes of performing endovascular interventions across pacemaker (PM) lead-related central vein stenosis/occlusion.

Materials And Methods: Clinical and imaging records from April 2002 to August 2010 were reviewed for patients presenting with clinically significant central venous stenosis or central venous obstruction with indwelling PM leads and were evaluated to determine if any lead dysfunction or complications occurred following intervention. Thirteen patients were identified who underwent 14 interventions.

Patency of femoral tunneled hemodialysis catheters and factors predictive of patency failure.

Purpose: To determine the patency rates of and factors associated with increased risk of patency failure in patients with femoral vein tunneled hemodialysis catheters.

Methods: All femoral tunneled catheter insertions from 1996 to 2006 were reviewed, during which time 123 catheters were inserted. Of these, 66 were exchanges.

Iliac branch graft in the treatment of complex aortoiliac aneurysms: early results from a North American institution.

Purpose: To describe early experience with the use of iliac branch grafts (IBGs) in aortoiliac aneurysm repair.

Materials And Methods: From July 2007 to August 2009 (25 months), 14 patients (13 men, one woman) with a mean age of 70.1 years (range, 59.

Effectiveness of stent-graft placement for salvage of dysfunctional arteriovenous hemodialysis fistulas.

Purpose: To determine the clinical effectiveness of stent-graft placement in dysfunctional autogenous hemodialysis fistulas.

Materials And Methods: Between September 2006 and June 2008, 24 Fluency Plus stent-grafts were inserted in 17 patients with failing autogenous hemodialysis fistulas (two radiocephalic, 12 brachiocephalic, and three brachiobasilic). Six fistulas were thrombosed at presentation.

Arterial embolization for primary postpartum hemorrhage.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of arterial embolization (AE) for treatment of primary postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), and the factors associated with clinical success.

Material And Methods: A retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing AE for primary PPH at three institutions (N = 43) from 1996 through 2007 was conducted. Patients with an antepartum diagnosis of invasive placenta were excluded from the study.

Use of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene-covered nitinol stents for the salvage of dysfunctional autogenous hemodialysis fistulas.

The use of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE)-covered nitinol stents for salvage of hemodialysis fistulas was retrospectively examined. Seven covered stents were placed in five patients with failing fistulas considered unsalvageable. Indications included recurrent stenoses, thrombosis, and pseudoaneurysm formation.

Clinical failure after uterine artery embolization: evaluation of patient and MR imaging characteristics.

Purpose: To investigate the patient and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics associated with clinical failure after uterine artery embolization (UAE).

Materials And Methods: Seventy-eight consecutive patients who underwent UAE were examined. Contrast-enhanced MR imaging was performed before and 4 months after the procedure, and clinical follow-up was performed at 15 months.

Outcomes after uterine artery embolization for pedunculated subserosal leiomyomas.

Purpose: To assess the safety and efficacy of uterine artery embolization (UAE) treatment of pedunculated subserosal leiomyomas.

Materials And Methods: A review of patients undergoing UAE in a 30-month period (July 2004 to December 2006) was performed. Cases in which a pedunculated subserosal tumor (volume>or=4 cm3) was embolized were analyzed.

Ultrahigh-pressure versus high-pressure angioplasty for treatment of venous anastomotic stenosis in hemodialysis grafts: is there a difference in patency?

Purpose: Ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) balloon catheters were compared with high-pressure (HP) balloon catheters to determine if there was a difference in patency after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of venous anastomotic stenoses.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from January 2001 to September 2005 that included 22 patients with synthetic hemodialysis grafts who underwent 110 PTA procedures for venous anastomotic stenoses. Data collected included graft configuration and location, percent stenosis, balloon type used, residual stenosis, and total access blood flow before and after intervention.

Patency of endovascular treatment for central venous stenosis: is there a difference between dialysis fistulas and grafts?

Purpose: To determine if there is a difference in intervention patency for central venous stenosis (CVS) and occlusion between patients with autogenous hemodialysis fistulas and those with grafts.

Material And Methods: A retrospective study was performed from March 1998 to September 2005 identifying all patients with autogenous fistulas and synthetic grafts who underwent percutaneous angioplasty and/or stent placement for CVS. This study cohort consisted of 38 patients (22 with fistulas and 16 with grafts).

Percutaneous management of chronic mesenteric ischemia: outcomes after intervention.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and durability of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA)/stent placement for treatment of chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review of patients treated from January 1986 to August 2003 was conducted. Twenty-nine patients (mean age, 62 years) were treated for clinical symptoms consistent with CMI.

Risk of intrauterine infectious complications after uterine artery embolization.

Purpose: To identify risk factors for the development of intrauterine infection following uterine artery embolization.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review of uterine artery embolizations (UAE) performed for the treatment of symptomatic fibroids from January 2000 to July 2003 was conducted. With logistic regression and the Fisher exact test, multiple variables were analyzed as predictors for intrauterine infectious complications requiring medical and/or surgical therapy, including the use of preprocedural antibiotics, embolic agent used, quantity of embolic material, location of fibroids (submucosal, nonsubmucosal), and size and location of the dominant fibroid.

Midodrine, octreotide, albumin, and TIPS in selected patients with cirrhosis and type 1 hepatorenal syndrome.

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a functional renal disorder complicating decompensated cirrhosis. Treatments to date, except liver transplantation, have been able to improve but not normalize renal function. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPS) as a treatment for type 1 HRS in ascitic cirrhotic patients, following improvement in systemic hemodynamics with a combination of midodrine, octreotide, and albumin (medical treatment).