Endovascular treatment of femoro-popliteal occlusions with retrograde tibial access after failure of the antegrade approach.

Background: Despite the development in endovascular technologies and the introduction of new tools in clinical practice, the endovascular crossing of femoropopliteal occlusions is not always possible with the antegrade approach, with a failure rate that can be up to 20%. This study aims to assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy in terms of acute outcome of the endovascular retrograde crossing of femoro-popliteal occlusions with tibial access.

Methods: This study is a single-centre, retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of 152 consecutive patients, who had undergone, from September 2015 to September 2022, endovascular treatment of femoro-popliteal arterial occlusions with retrograde tibial access after the failure of the antegrade approach.

Thoracic endovascular repair for blunt traumatic thoracic aortic injury: Long-term results.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the endoprosthesis complications in patients undergoing TEVAR for blunt traumatic thoracic aortic injury, through long-term clinical and diagnostic follow-up.

Methods: During the study interval (November 2000-October 2020), a total of 38 patients (63% male; average age 37.5 years) with thoracic aortic injury underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Migrant cavitation as primary involvement in a particular case of granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), previously known as Wegener's granulomatosis, is a necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis of the small and medium vessels involving the upper respiratory tract, lungs, and kidneys. In this case report, we will describe the case of a 60-year-old man who presented to our observation with recurrent episodes of hemoptoe, fever, and mucopurulent sputum. The diagnosis was made by radiological and laboratory tests.

Recommendations in pre-procedural imaging assessment for transcatheter aortic valve implantation intervention: Italian Society of Cardiology (SIC)-Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (SIRM) position paper part 1 (Clinical Indication and Basic Technical Aspects, Heart Team, Role of Echocardiography).

Non-invasive cardiovascular imaging owns a pivotal role in the preoperative assessment of patients for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), providing a wide range of crucial information to select the patients who will benefit the most and have the procedure done safely. Although advanced cardiac imaging with cardiac computed tomography is routinely used for a detailed anatomic assessment before TAVI, echocardiography remains the first imaging modality to assess aortic stenosis severity and to provide essential functional information. This document results from the collaboration between the Italian Society of Cardiology (SIC) and the Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (SIRM), aiming to produce an updated consensus statement about the pre-procedural imaging assessment in patient for TAVI.

Recommendations in pre-procedural imaging assessment for TAVI intervention: SIC-SIRM position paper part 2 (CT and MR angiography, standard medical reporting, future perspectives).

Non-invasive cardiovascular imaging owns a pivotal role in the preoperative assessment of patient candidates for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), providing a wide range of crucial information to select the patients who will benefit the most and have the procedure done safely. This document has been developed by a joined group of experts of the Italian Society of Cardiology and the Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology and aims to produce an updated consensus statement about the pre-procedural imaging assessment in candidate patients for TAVI intervention. The writing committee consisted of members and experts of both societies who worked jointly to develop a more integrated approach in the field of cardiac and vascular radiology.

Common Calcified Femoral Artery Rupture After Intravascular Lithotripsy for TAVR Implantation.

We describe a case with unfavorable calcified femoral access in which the implantation of a 34-mm self-expandable transcatheter aortic valve was possible after intravascular lithotripsy. Although the aortic valve was successfully implanted, we observed a severe vascular complication requiring the implantation of a covered stent of the femoral artery. ().

A case report of pneumomediastinum in a COVID-19 patient treated with high-flow nasal cannula and review of the literature: Is this a "spontaneous" complication?

Oxygen support with high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is gentler than mechanical ventilation and may provide significant benefits, but more studies are needed to investigate the efficacy and safety of different respiratory supports in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Percutaneous treatment of vascular access-site complications: a ten years' experience in two centres.

Background: The spread of percutaneous arterial catheterization in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures has led to a parallel increase of vascular access site complications. The incidence of these events is between 0.2-1%.

Incidental Diagnosis of a Rare Case of Corkscrew Aorta.

The corkscrew aorta is a variant of the normal anatomical course of the aorta. This rare condition is characterized by a marked tortuosity of the aorta. In our experience it concerns the tract of subrenal aorta, that is an unusual condition, since there are no other cases in the literature.

Endovascular repair of popliteal artery aneurysms: an Italian multicenter study.

Purpose: The aim of our study is to assess the effectiveness of popliteal artery aneurysm (PAA) endovascular treatment.

Basic Procedures: We retrospectively evaluated 48 high-surgical-risk patients that presented at our three departments with evidence of popliteal artery aneurysms, both symptomatic and asymptomatic, and were therefore treated by deployment of stent graft. Immediate technical success was 100%.

Chagas disease knocks on our door: a cross-sectional study among Latin American immigrants in Milan, Italy.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors for Chagas disease (CD) in Latin American immigrants and to evaluate the accuracy of diagnostic tests. Moreover, we offered to all positive subjects a complete free-of-charge clinical/instrumental evaluation as well as benznidazole treatment in order to stage the disease and verify drug tolerability.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of CD among Latin Americans living in Milan and its metropolitan area was conducted between July 2013 and July 2014.

Endovascular Treatment of Aorto-Iliac-Femoral Anastomotic Pseudoaneurysms: A Multicentric Study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of anastomotic pseudoaneurysms (APAs) endovascular treatment following aorto-iliac-femoral surgical reconstruction.

Basic Procedures: We retrospectively evaluated 54 patients who underwent aorto-iliac-femoral bypass (72 APAs). Follow-up was performed with echo-color-Doppler and/or computed tomography angiography at 1, 3, and 6 months after the procedure and then yearly.

The STRATEGY Study (Stress Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Versus Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography for the Management of Symptomatic Revascularized Patients): Resources and Outcomes Impact.

Background: Computed tomography coronary angiography (cTCA) and stress cardiac magnetic resonance (stress-CMR) are suitable tools for diagnosing obstructive coronary artery disease in symptomatic patients with previous history of revascularization. However, performance appraisal of noninvasive tests must take in account the consequent diagnostic testing, invasive procedures, clinical outcomes, radiation exposure, and cumulative costs rather than their diagnostic accuracy only. We aimed to compare an anatomic (cTCA) versus a functional (stress-CMR) strategy in symptomatic patients with previous myocardial revascularization procedures.

Left atrium and pulmonary vein imaging using sub-millisiviert cardiac computed tomography: Impact on radiofrequency catheter ablation cumulative radiation exposure and outcome in atrial fibrillation patients.

Background: The outcome of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) has improved thanks to left atrium (LA) anatomy reconstruction by cardiac computed tomography (CCT). A new model-based iterative reconstruction algorithm (MBIR) provides image noise reduction achieving effective radiation dose (ED) close to chest X-ray exposure. Aim of this study was comparing RFCA procedural characteristics, AF recurrence and radiation exposure between patients in whom RFCA was guided by CCT image integration with MBIR versus a CCT standard protocol.

Emerging resistant bacteria strains in bloodstream infections of acute leukaemia patients: results of a prospective study by the Rete Ematologica Lombarda (Rel).

Multiresistant bacterial infections are a potentially life-threatening condition in acute leukaemia (AL) patients. We aimed to better define the very recent epidemiology and outcome of bloodstream infections (BSIs) in a real-life setting. We prospectively collected all consecutive febrile/infectious episodes occurring in AL patients admitted to 9 haematology units.

Coronary CT angiography with 80 kV tube voltage and low iodine concentration contrast agent in patients with low body weight.

Background: Coronary CT angiography (CTA) is gaining widespread acceptance for the non-invasive evaluation of coronary arteries. However, radiation exposure and administration of iodinated contrast agents are still reasons of some concern. The 80 kV tube voltage increases the attenuation of iodine, allowing to use lower iodine concentration contrast agents for coronary CTA.

Multidetector CT imaging of complications after laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery.

Purpose: Laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery (L-NSS) is increasingly performed to treat localised renal lesions. However, the associated morbidity is non-negligible, with a rate of major complications approaching 10 %.

Methods And Results: This paper provides an overview of indications, surgical techniques and results of L-NSS; explains the incidence, risk factors and manifestations of postoperative complications; discusses the preferred multidetector computed tomography (CT) acquisition techniques; illustrates the appearance of normal postoperative images following L-NSS; and reviews, with example images, the most common and unusual iatrogenic complications.

Impact of an intra-cycle motion correction algorithm on overall evaluability and diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography coronary angiography.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a novel intra-cycle motion correction algorithm (MCA) on overall evaluability and diagnostic accuracy of cardiac computed tomography coronary angiography (CCT).

Methods: From a cohort of 900 consecutive patients referred for CCT for suspected coronary artery disease (CAD), we enrolled 160 (18 %) patients (mean age 65.3 ± 11.

Ultra-low-dose CT for left atrium and pulmonary veins imaging using new model-based iterative reconstruction algorithm.

Aims: To evaluate the feasibility of ultra-low-dose CT for left atrium and pulmonary veins using new model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) algorithm.

Methods And Results: Two hundred patients scheduled for catheter ablation were randomized into two groups: Group 1 (100 patients, Multidetector row CT (MDCT) with MBIR, no ECG triggering, tube voltage and tube current of 100 kV and 60 mA, respectively) and Group 2 [100 patients, MDCT with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction algorithm (ASIR), no ECG triggering, and kV and mA tailored on patient BMI]. Image quality, CT attenuation, image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of left atrium (LA) and pulmonary veins, and effective dose (ED) were evaluated for each exam and compared between two groups.

Serum posaconazole levels during acute myeloid leukaemia induction therapy: correlations with breakthrough invasive fungal infections.

The usefulness of posaconazole therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is still a matter of debate. A correlation between posaconazole serum levels and breakthrough invasive fungal infections (IFI) has not been clearly demonstrated so far. We analysed posaconazole serum levels in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) during induction therapy and correlated them with the incidence of breakthrough IFI and the need of systemic antifungal therapy.