Preoperative staging and tumor resectability assessment of pancreatic cancer: prospective study comparing endoscopic ultrasonography, helical computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate prospectively the efficacy of different strategies based on endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), helical computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and angiography (A) in the staging and tumor resectability assessment of pancreatic cancer.

Methods: All consecutive patients with pancreatic carcinoma judged fit for laparotomy were studied by EUS, CT, MRI, and A. Results of each of the imaging techniques regarding primary tumor, locoregional extension, lymph-node involvement, vascular invasion, distant metastases, tumor TNM stage, and tumor resectability were compared with the surgical findings.

Percutaneous renal artery embolisation of non-functioning renal allografts with clinical intolerance.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous renal artery embolisation of non-functioning renal allografts in patients with graft intolerance syndrome (GIS). Transcatheter artery embolisation was performed in 30 kidney transplant recipients with GIS. The duration of graft function had been 60+/-45 months.

Rapid decline in renal function reflects reversibility and predicts the outcome after angioplasty in renal artery stenosis.

Percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) has a beneficial effect on renal function in some, but not all, patients with atheromatous renal artery stenosis. Our aim is to identify factors influencing clinical success after PTRA in this group of patients. Seventy-three patients undergoing PTRA were studied; 14 patients were excluded from final analysis because of restenosis.

[Selective embolization of post-traumatic renal pseudoaneurysm in monorenal patient].

Presentation of one case of a patient who presented two non-penetrating abdominal traumatism along a year period. In the first incident it was necessary to practice a left nefrectomy and in the second one the therapeutic opcion was a superselective embolization of a pseudoameurism communicated with urinary tract.

CO(2) wedged hepatic venography in the evaluation of portal hypertension.

Background/aims/methods: During hepatic vein catheterisation, in addition to measurement of hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), iodine wedged retrograde portography can be easily obtained. However, it rarely allows correct visualisation of the portal vein. Recently, CO(2) has been suggested to allow better angiographic demonstration of the portal vein than iodine.

[Cost-effectiveness of and morbidity from digital subtraction angiography. A study of 5,817 cases].

This study was based on 5,817 patients examined by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) between 1984 and 1990. 5,209 patients received an intravenous injection of contrast agent and 608 received an intra-arterial injection. Digital subtraction angiography has become a routine procedure for the diagnosis of vascular disease in the various fields studied, as it provides images of diagnostic quality in 97% of cases: diagnostic quality of 95% after intravenous injection and 99% after intra-arterial injection.

Treatment of hemobilia with selective hepatic artery embolization.

Purpose: To evaluate retrospectively the results of selective transcatheter embolization in the treatment of hemobilia.

Patients And Methods: Twelve patients with hemobilia (mean age, 43 years) underwent embolotherapy. Causes of hepatic vascular injury were iatrogenic trauma, blunt external trauma, septic emboli, and lupus vasculitis.

Transarterial embolization for hepatocellular carcinoma. Antibiotic prophylaxis and clinical meaning of postembolization fever.

Background/aims: The aim of this prospective randomized controlled trial was to investigate the need for prophylactic antibiotherapy in patients with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent transarterial embolization and to establish the parameters that determine the development of fever > 38 degrees C after this procedure.

Methods: Sixty-one consecutive patients with cirrhosis undergoing 75 procedures were randomized into Group I [(n = 37) allocated to receive prophylactic antibiotics (Cefotaxime + Metronidazole)] and Group II [(n = 38) allocated to receive no antibiotic treatment].

Results: Twelve of the 37 patients (32%) in Group I and 13 of the 38 patients (34%) in Group II developed fever > 38 degrees C after treatment.

Phase II study of transarterial embolization in European patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: need for controlled trials.

Our uncontrolled phase II study was aimed at assessing the efficacy of transarterial embolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and to determine the parameters associated with a favorable response to treatment, improved survival or both. Fifty consecutive patients (25 corresponding to Okuda's stage I and 25 to stage II) with hepatocellular carcinoma (41 being multinodular or massive) were included. Transarterial embolization induced a self limited postembolization syndrome that was well tolerated.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in the treatment of renovascular hypertension.

In this study we report our experience in 74 patients with hypertension and renal artery stenosis (42 with atherosclerotic stenosis, 32 with fibromuscular dysplasia) who were followed-up for a mean observation period of 21.7 months after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). Stenosis was unilateral in 45 cases, bilateral in 16 and located in the renal artery of a solitary functioning kidney in 13 cases.