Conventional versus drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization: A better option for treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a minimally invasive procedure involving intra-arterial catheter-based chemotherapy to selectively administer high doses of cytotoxic drugs to the tumor bed along with ischemic necrosis induced by arterial embolization. Chemoembolization forms the essential core of management in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are not suitable for curative therapies such as transplantation, resection, or percutaneous ablation. TACE of hepatic cancer(s) has proven to be helpful in achieving local tumor control, and has supported the ability to prevent tumor progression, prolong patient life, and manage patient symptoms.

Venous thromboembolism in patients with COVID-19. A prevalent and a preventable complication of the pandemic.

Coronavirus disease 2019 or most commonly known as COVID-19 is a trending global infectious disease which a few months ago was affirmed as a global health emergency or a pandemic by the WHO Emergency Committee. The common symptoms manifested in this pandemic disease are high grade fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath and flu like symptom which can evolve into severe respiratory disorders such as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and/or end-organ failure. Factors that contribute to the severity or high mortality rate in COVID-19 include old age, comorbidities like hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, neutrophilia, and organ and coagulation dysfunction.

Mechanical Thrombectomy Using the Solitaire AB Device for Acute Embolic Mesenteric Ischemia.

Purpose: To review preliminary efficacy and safety outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy using the Solitaire AB device combined with thromboaspiration for treatment of acute embolic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA).

Materials And Methods: Between October 2015 and October 2017, 9 patients (average age, 77 y; range, 62-84 y) presenting with acute mesenteric ischemia attributable to embolic occlusion at the stem of the SMA were retrospectively evaluated for mechanical thrombectomy using the Solitaire AB device combined with manual thromboaspiration. Adjunctive stent implantation was performed to correct pre-existing atherosclerotic stenosis or as a rapid recanalization solution after unsuccessful thrombectomy.