Endovascular retrieval of Greenfield IVC filters 13 and 19 years post placement without major complication.

Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters were first introduced in 1967 by Kazi Mobin-Uddin and later improved by Lazar Greenfield in the 1980s becoming a major component of catastrophic pulmonary embolism prevention. Nevertheless, filters are not entirely harmless. The long term risks include caval thrombosis, visceral penetration, and filters can serve as a nidus for infection.

Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on Clinical Outcomes of Endovascular Treatment for Femoropopliteal Arterial Disease.

Purpose: To evaluate effect of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on all-cause mortality, major adverse limb event (MALE), MALE and postoperative death (MALE + POD), and amputation after endovascular treatment of femoropopliteal disease.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review from January 2002 to October 2011 was performed of 440 patients who underwent endovascular treatment of symptomatic femoropopliteal disease for claudication (n = 251) or critical limb ischemia (CLI) (n = 267). CKD stage was divided based on Kidney Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative classification.

Optimizing Common Femoral Artery Access.

Common femoral artery (CFA) access is an important step of many vascular interventional procedures such as peripheral arterial, aortic, and endovascular oncologic interventions. The anatomical location of the CFA as it crosses over the femoral head provides a unique location to establish a relatively large arterial access to a vessel that is conveniently located near the aorta and its major branches. A proper access helps the interventionist with the remainder of the procedure and diminishes the risk of severe complications leading to surgery, thrombolysis, patient morbidity, or occasionally mortality.

Reliability and accuracy of simple visual estimation in assessment of peripheral arterial stenosis.

Purpose: To evaluate reliability, accuracy, and agreement of simple visual estimation (SVE) in determining the degree of peripheral arterial stenosis compared with calibrated measurements.

Materials And Methods: In 2 sessions, 23 interventionists with a wide range of experience and subspecialty training reviewed 42 angiographic images of lower extremity and carotid arteries (21 iliofemoral arteries and 21 carotid arteries). An independent physician measured all lesions using manual calipers.

Meta-analysis of drug-eluting balloon angioplasty and drug-eluting stent placement for infrainguinal peripheral arterial disease.

Purpose: To perform a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of drug-eluting balloon (DEB) angioplasty and drug-eluting stents (DESs) for infrainguinal peripheral arterial disease.

Materials And Methods: Systematic searches were performed for all relevant RCTs.

Results: Eight RCTs for DEB angioplasty and 12 RCTs for a DES in peripheral arterial disease were identified.

Critical limb ischemia and the diseased popliteal artery.

The unique anatomical location and particular biomechanical factors affecting the popliteal artery provide a challenge to determine the proper endovascular, surgical, or combined intervention for patients with critical limb ischemia who often require prompt management in the presence of severe lifestyle-limiting symptoms or of the risk of limb loss or both. Herein, we provide an overview and practical guide for endovascular management of popliteal artery disease in the setting of critical limb ischemia.

Post-pancreaticoduodenectomy hemorrhage of unusual origin: treatment with endovascular embolization and the value of preoperative CT angiography.

Post-pancreaticoduodenectomy hemorrhage is a life threatening complication reported to occur in 2-7% of patients. Historically, treatment required an exploratory laparotomy. Introduction of endovascular embolization has broadened the available treatment options.

Intranodal lymphangiography: feasibility and preliminary experience in children.

Purpose: To review an initial experience studying the lymphatic system using direct injection of ethiodized oil contrast medium into lymph nodes (ie, intranodal lymphangiography) in children with chylous disorders.

Materials And Methods: Children with chylous disorders who underwent intranodal lymphangiography were included in this retrospective study. Under general anesthesia, ultrasonography was used to guide the placement of a small-bore (22-25-gauge) needle into an inguinal lymph node.

Toxicity and efficacy of 5-fluorouracil and capecitabine in a patient with TYMS gene polymorphism: A challenge or a dilemma?

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is an antimetabolite that acts during the S phase of the cell cycle. The active metabolite, 5-fluorodeoxyuridine monophosphate inhibits thymidylate synthase (TS), thus preventing DNA synthesis, which leads to imbalanced cell growth and ultimately cell death. 5-FU and its oral prodrug capecitabine are used in the treatment of a number of solid tumors, including colorectal, breast, gastric, pancreatic, prostate, and bladder cancers.

Cardiotoxicity of 5-fluorouracil and capecitabine in a pancreatic cancer patient with a novel mutation in the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene.

Context: 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is an antimetabolite that acts during the S phase of the cell cycle. Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) is the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the pathway that catabolises the pyrimidines. 5-fluorouracil and its oral prodrug capecitabine are used in the treatment of a number of solid tumors, including colorectal, breast, gastric, pancreatic, prostate, and bladder cancers.

Erlotinib-induced episcleritis in a patient with pancreatic cancer.

Context: Erlotinib is a relatively new anilinoquinazoline indicated for treatment of pancreatic cancer in combination with gemcitabine. It is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that specifically targets epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is commonly overexpressed and/or mutated in solid tumors. Active competitive inhibition of adenosine triphosphate, inhibits downstream signal transduction of ligand dependent EGFR activation.