Combined proximal endografting with distal bare-metal stenting for management of aortic dissection.

Background: Established endovascular treatments for aortic dissection often result in incomplete aortic repair, potentially leading to late complications involving the distal aorta. To address the problems of incomplete true lumen reconstitution and late aneurysmal change, we report the midterm results of combined proximal endografting with distal true lumen bare-metal stenting (STABLE: Staged Total Aortic and Branch vesseL Endovascular reconstruction) in Stanford type A and B aortic dissection.

Methods: Between January 2003 and January 2010, 31 patients underwent staged total aortic and branch vessel endovascular reconstruction for management of acute (type A, 13; type B, 11) and chronic (type B, 7) aortic dissection.

Percutaneous management of high-output chylothorax: case reviews.

Chylothorax carries significant mortality and morbidity. Patients with high-output chylothorax have traditionally been managed by surgical treatment if nonoperative management has proved unsuccessful. Newer, more recent percutaneous techniques used to treat chylothorax are safer and less invasive than surgery.

Assessment of snared-loop technique when standard retrieval of inferior vena cava filters fails.

Purpose: To identify the success and complications related to a variant technique used to retrieve inferior vena cava filters when simple snare approach has failed.

Methods: A retrospective review of all Cook Günther Tulip filters and Cook Celect filters retrieved between July 2006 and February 2008 was performed. During this period, 130 filter retrievals were attempted.

Endovascular removal of long-term hemodialysis catheters.

Central venous catheters that have been in place for a long time can become fixed to the vein wall, making them impossible to pull out. Leaving them in situ is undesirable because of the risk that they could act as a nidus for thrombosis. Moreover, inserting new catheters alongside the old ones might compromise flow in the superior vena cava, further predisposing to thrombosis.