Routine chest radiography following imaging-guided placement of tunneled central lines: a waste of time, money, and radiation.

Background: This study sought to evaluate routine chest radiography following placement of tunneled central lines using combined ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance.

Materials And Methods: A prospective study of 150 consecutive patients who underwent placement of tunneled central lines in the vascular radiology suite. Ultrasound-guided vein puncture was performed with an 18-gauge needle in each case, and the access site was noted.

Carbon-dioxide-guided vascular interventions: technique and pitfalls.

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of carbon dioxide (CO2) angiography to guide vascular interventions.

Methods: A prospective study was carried out of 50 procedures (angioplasty, stenting, stent-grafting and embolization) using CO2 angiography. Indications for using CO2 were renal impairment, cardiac failure, previous reaction to conventional iodinated contrast, or likelihood of needing high doses of conventional contrast.

Type II endoleaks: predictable, preventable, and sometimes treatable?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of preoperative coil embolization of lumbar and inferior mesenteric arteries on the incidence of type II endoleak after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Methods: The subjects were consecutive patients who underwent EVAR between January 1996 and January 2001. Patent aortic side branches were identified with preprocedural spiral computed tomographic scanning and calibrated angiography.