Doxorubicin-Eluting Intra-Arterial Therapy for Pediatric Extra-Abdominal Desmoid Fibromatoses: A Promising Approach for a Perplexing Disease.

Systemic doxorubicin is effective for desmoid fibromatosis (DF), but its use is limited by dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. A protocol of selective intra-arterial doxorubicin drug-eluting embolization (DEE) was designed to maximize target tissue efficacy of doxorubicin, while minimizing systemic exposure. Four children with recurrent or refractory DF were treated between 2014 and 2017.

Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair using transvenous intravascular US catheter guidance in patients with chronic renal failure.

Purpose: To describe the transvenous application of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) for guidance during endovascular aortic repair (EVAR).

Materials And Methods: Eight patients with an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and chronic renal failure were determined suitable for EVAR. The procedure was performed by deploying the transcaval and transiliac vein guidance of an ICE catheter to reduce the dosage of iodinated contrast medium.

Angioplasty using covered stents in five patients with symptomatic pulmonary artery stenosis after single-lung transplantation.

Objective: After lung transplantation, pulmonary artery stenosis (PAS) may occur at the anastomotic site, resulting in poor graft function and hypoxemia. Surgical repair has been the standard-of-care, although percutaneous angioplasty with stent insertion has been performed in patients unsuitable for surgery. We summarize our experience of pulmonary artery stent-graft placement in transplant recipients who were also fit for surgical repair.

Transarterial embolization for acute head and neck bleeding: eight-year experience with emphasis on rebleeding risk in cancer patients.

Objectives/hypothesis: To present our 8-year experience with transarterial embolization for head and neck bleeding, with an emphasis on the need for repeated procedures in patients treated for head and neck cancer.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Methods: Tertiary university-affiliated medical center.

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography for the accurate diagnosis of biliary complications after liver transplantation: comparison with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography - long-term follow-up.

Biliary complications after liver transplantation remain a serious cause of morbidity and mortality. Direct invasive cholangiographic techniques, endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP) or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC), have procedure-related complications. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is non-invasive, safe, and accurate.

Infrapopliteal stenting with silicon carbide-coated stents in critical limb ischemia: a 12 month follow-up study.

Background: Critical limb ischemia is an increasingly common condition that has high surgical morbidity and limited non-surgical options.

Objectives: To evaluate the use of silicon carbide-coated Motion stents, as compared to reported data for bare metal stents, in elderly patients with infrapopliteal artery stenoses causing critical limb ischemia after failed or complicated percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

Methods: Between January 2003 and March 2004, 41 stents were inserted into 17 consecutive patients (11 males, 6 females, mean age 82 years, range 75-93) following unsuccessful or complicated PTA.

A comparison of transjugular and plugged-percutaneous liver biopsy in patients with contraindications to ordinary percutaneous liver biopsy and an "in-house" protocol for selecting the procedure of choice.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) and plugged-percutaneous liver biopsy (PB) in consecutive patients with severe liver disease associated with impaired coagulation, ascites, or both and to verify the in-house protocol used to select the appropriate procedure. In 2000-2006, 329 patients (208 male [62.8%] and 121 female [37.

Stent graft closure of a high flow splenorenal shunt after liver transplantation.

We describe a patient after liver transplantation with a preexisting surgical splenorenal shunt close to the confluence of the splenic and superior mesenteric veins and a wide, short communication between the splenic and renal veins. To close the shunt, an inferior vena cava filter was inserted in the shunt and a vascular plug was placed in the splenic vein inside the filter. When this failed to stop the flow through the shunt, a covered stent was deployed at the superior mesenteric vein-portal vein junction.

Celiac trunk embolization, as a means of elongating short distal descending thoracic aortic aneurysm necks, prior to endovascular aortic repair.

The purpose of this study was to report our experience in elongating short distal necks of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (DTAAs) by coil embolization of the celiac trunk prior to endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). During 6 years seven patients (five men and two women; mean age, 74) who had DTAAs with short distal necks unsuitable for conventional EVAR, and well patent superior and inferior mesenteric arteries based on CT, were treated in one session with EVAR after the celiac trunk was coil embolized to elongate the neck. All patients were followed by CT every 3 months in the first year and every 6 months thereafter.

Intraoperative ultrasound in colorectal surgery.

Purpose: To assess the accuracy of intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) as a localizing technique for colorectal resections, and its impact on surgical management.

Methods: Twenty-five patients (15 men and 10 women; mean age, 74.4 years) with early cancers (p T1), or polyps, not amenable to endoscopic removal were selected.

Percutaneous cholecystostomy in the management of acute cholecystitis.

Background: The mainstay of therapy for acute cholecystitis is cholecystectomy, which has a mortality of 14-30% in high risk patients. An alternative approach in patients suffering from acute cholecystitis with contraindications to emergency surgery is percutaneous cholecystostomy.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous cholecystostomy as the initial treatment of acute cholecystitis in high risk patients.

Does early detection of ureteropelvic junction obstruction improve surgical outcome in terms of renal function?

Purpose: Prenatal ultrasound leads to the early detection of hydronephrosis. When followed by the early diagnosis of ureteropelvic junction obstruction surgical treatment, if indicated, is associated with minimal morbidity. We attempt to prove the benefits of this therapeutical approach from the point of view of renal function.