Inferior vena cava filter placement: preinsertion inferior vena cava imaging.

Imaging of the vena vava prior to the insertion of an inferior vena vava (IVC) filter is mandatory to assess IVC diameter and patency, delineate anatomy and venous anomalies, and to direct filter placement for appropriate deployment and avoidance of complications. The standard imaging technique is vena cavography, although alternative methods to evaluate the inferior vena cava include carbon dioxide venography, transabdominal duplex ultrasound, and intravascular ultrasound. This manuscript will review the anatomical features, technique, and complications of pre-insertion inferior vena cava imaging and discuss alternative methods to evaluate the inferior vena cave prior to filter insertion.

Minimally invasive management of 14.5-week abdominal pregnancy without laparotomy: a novel approach using percutaneous sonographically guided feticide and systemic methotrexate.

Objective: To evaluate the possible role of a novel, minimally invasive approach to the management of abdominal pregnancy.

Methods: We hypothesized that sonographically guided feticide without subsequent laparotomy for removal of the fetus and placenta could minimize potential blood loss and would be a reasonable approach in the care of a patient who had a viable 14.5-week abdominal pregnancy with placental implantation directly over the bifurcation of the left common iliac artery.

Transhepatic thrombolysis in acute portal vein thrombosis after laparoscopic splenectomy.

Portal vein thrombosis is a relatively rare clinical entity that can result in substantial morbidity and mortality. Because of the risk of intestinal infarction, acute symptomatic portal vein thrombosis requires prompt intervention. Traditional treatment has included anticoagulation and/or systemic thrombolytic therapy.

Bedside carbon dioxide cavagrams for inferior vena cava filters: preliminary results.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using carbon dioxide (CO(2)) as a contrast agent in performing bedside inferior vena cavagrams before the insertion of vena cava filters. There was a consecutive series of patients undergoing bedside preinsertion cavagrams with inferior vena cava filter insertion. The setting was an 825-bed tertiary care hospital.