New optional IVC filter for percutaneous retrieval--in vitro evaluation of embolus capturing efficiency.

Purpose: In-vitro evaluation of a new caval filter (Cook Celect Filter) developed for delayed percutaneous retrieval in comparison to the Gunther Tulip filter.

Materials And Methods: The new Celect filter is constructed on the basis of the Tulip filter and consists of 4 primary anchoring legs and additional 8 thinner secondary wires to stabilize the filter and to guarantee adequate filtering efficiency. The filtering wires are of the same amount and equal distribution as the filtering wires of the Tulip filter.

Computed tomography of the inner ear: size of anatomical structures in the normal temporal bone and in the temporal bone of patients with Menière's disease.

The purpose of the study was to obtain reference values for the sizes of anatomical structures of the inner ear on computed tomography (CT) images and to compare these values with those obtained from patients with Menière's disease. CT images of the temporal bone of 67 patients without inner ear pathology and 53 patients with Menière's disease have been evaluated. CT was performed in the sequential mode (1-mm slice thickness, 120 kV, 125 mA).

Is there a need for contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MRI of the spine after inconspicuous short tau inversion recovery imaging?

To assess the use of contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images in comparison with short tau inversion recovery (STIR) images for the detection of vertebral bone marrow abnormalities. A total of 201 vertebral magnetic resonance (MR) examinations were included in a prospective trial. Examinations were performed on a 0.

Treatment of wide-necked aneurysms with balloon-expandable polyurethane-covered stentgrafts: experience in an animal model.

Objective: Endovascular treatment of intracranial wide-necked aneurysms employing stentgrafts might constitute a promising alternative to established neurosurgical or endovascular treatment options. However, there is uncertainity concerning long-term vessel patency and biocompatibility of the covering material used for these stentgrafts. The objective of our study was, therefore, to evaluate in an animal model of wide necked aneurysms, which changes within the parent vessel wall are present after stentgraft placement using polyurethane as the covering material.

Use of a nonmetallic guide wire for magnetic resonance-guided coronary artery catheterization.

Rationale And Objectives: Metallic guide wires can be subject to substantial heating when used in the magnetic resonance (MR) environment. Therefore, animal experiments were performed to test the feasibility of a non-metallic and MR-safe guide wire with passive markers for catheterization of coronary arteries under MR guidance.

Materials And Methods: Self-made guide wires consisting of a resin-microparticle compound covered by polytetrafluoroethylene were used to catheterize both coronary arteries of swine together with a non-braided catheter.

[Fluoroscopically guided fallopian tube recanalization with a simplified set of instruments].

Purpose: Fluoroscopically guided transcervical fallopian tube recanalization is recognized as an important step in the workup of female infertility. In the present study, a simplified set of recanalization instruments was tested.

Materials And Methods: Forty-two women with infertility and sonographically confirmed or suspected uni- or bilateral tubal occlusion were examined.

Mechanical thrombectomy of iliocaval thrombosis using a protective expandable sheath.

We report a case of successful percutaneous treatment of a subacute ilio-caval venous thrombosis in a 64-year-old female patient by using a novel combination of a rotatory fragmentation device (percutaneous thrombectomy device: PTD) and large wire basket (temporary Günther basket filter) under temporary caval filter protection using an expandable sheath. Because the patient had multiple myeloma with increased risk for contrast media-induced renal failure, the therapeutic angiographic procedure was performed without iodinated contrast medium. Non-contrast-enhanced MR venography (high-resolution True FISP) confirmed the effective thrombus removal by the percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy procedure.

Noninvasive inductive stent heating: alternative approach to prevent instent restenosis?

Rationale And Objectives: To test noninvasive inductive heating of implanted vascular stents as an alternative approach for reduction or prevention of neointimal hyperplasia.

Methods: Calorimetric pretests were performed to get an orientation on the different parameters of influence for inductive heating of stents. The field strength was set to a maximum of 90 kA/m within a frequency range from 80 kHz to 320 kHz.

Semicircular canal dehiscence: comparison of T2-weighted turbo spin-echo MRI and CT.

We assessed the value of MRI for delineation of dehiscence of the superior or posterior semicircular canal, as compared with CT, the current standard study for this entity. We reviewed heavily T2-weighted fast spin-echo images and high-resolution CT of the temporal bones of 185 patients independently semicircular canal dehiscence and its extent. In 30 patients (19 men, 11 women) we identified dehiscence of the bone over the superior and/or posterior semicircular canal on MRI.

[Refinement of cytopathology of CT-guided fine needle aspiration biopsies with additional histologic examination of formalin-fixed blood-clots].

Purpose: To evaluate formalin-fixed blood-clot for diagnostic efficacy and safety in percutaneous CT-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in addition to cytopathology.

Materials And Methods: 61 CT-guided FNABs were entered into a prospective trial. FNAB was performed in 22 female and 39 male patients (32 - 83 years, m = 62.

Posterior semicircular canal dehiscence: a morphologic cause of vertigo similar to superior semicircular canal dehiscence.

The aim of this study was to assess imaging findings of posterior semicircular dehiscence on computed tomography and to evaluate incidence of posterior and superior semicircular canal dehiscence in patients presenting with vertigo, sensorineuronal hearing loss or in a control group without symptoms related to the inner ear. Computed tomography was performed in 507 patients presenting either with vertigo ( n=128; 23 of these patients suffered also from sensorineuronal hearing loss), other symptoms related to the inner ear, such as hearing loss or tinnitus ( n=183) or symptoms unrelated to the labyrinth ( n=196). All images were reviewed for presence of dehiscence of the bone, overlying the semicircular canals.

Value of 3D-volume rendering in the assessment of coronary arteries with retrospectively ECG-gated multislice spiral CT.

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic value and measurement precision of 3D volume rendering technique (3D-VRT) from retrospectively ECG-gated multislice spiral CT (MSCT) data sets for imaging of the coronary arteries.

Material And Methods: In 35 patients, retrospectively ECG-gated MSCT of the heart using a four detector row MSCT scanner with a standardized examination protocol was performed as well as quantitative X-ray coronary angiography (QCA). The MSCT data was assessed on segmental basis using 3D-VRT exclusively.

Vascular capsule for telemetric monitoring of blood pressure.

Purpose: Development and experimental evaluation of an intravascular monitoring system for telemetric measurement of blood pressure and heart rate.

Materials And Methods: The monitoring system consists of an implantable silicone capsule (diameter 2.3 mm), containing a dedicated microchip with pressure sensors and signal-processing circuits as well as an antenna for wireless data and energy transfer using 6.

Transponder system for non-invasive measurement of intravascular pressure.

Monitoring of blood pressure and pulse rate offers diagnostical and therapeutical opportunities in hypertension disease and arrhythmia, respectively. This paper presents an intravascular pressure monitoring system consisting of an implantable silicone capsule, which can be placed in an arterial system via a catheter. The capsule contains a pressure sensor and signal conditioning circuits for wireless data and energy transfer using 6.

Axial flow catheter pump for circulatory support.

Aim: The development of a percutaneously insertable catheter pump for temporary left ventricular and circulatory support in patients with acute ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Material And Methods: The expandable axial flow pump (introduction diameter 9-F, expanded diameter 6.5 mm) is mounted at the tip of a catheter, designed to be placed in aortic transvalvular position.

The petromastoid canal on computed tomography.

The objective was to assess visibility and anatomy of the petromastoid canal in high-resolution CT. Computed tomography images of 188 patients were reviewed for delineation of the petromastoid canal. This bony canal connects the mastoid antrum with the cranial cavity and houses the subarcuate artery and vein.

Nontraumatic vascular emergencies: imaging and intervention in acute venous occlusion.

Risk factors for acute venous occlusion range from prolonged immobilization to hypercoagulability syndromes, trauma, and malignancy. The aim of this review article is to illustrate the different imaging options for the diagnosis of acute venous occlusion and to assess the value of interventional strategies for venous thrombosis treatment in an emergency setting.First, diagnosis and treatment of the most common form of venous occlusion, at the level of the lower extremities, is presented, followed by pelvic vein and inferior vena cava occlusion, mesenteric venous thrombosis, upper extremity occlusion, acute cerebral vein thrombosis, and finally acute venous occlusion of hemodialysis access.

Multidetector CT of the spine in multiple myeloma: comparison with MR imaging and radiography.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare multidetector CT (MDCT) of the thoracic and lumbar segments of the spine with MR imaging and conventional radiography for bone lesion detection and for evaluating the risk of vertebral fracture in multiple myeloma.

Subjects And Methods: Eighteen patients with multiple myeloma stage III (according to the criteria of Durie and Salmon) underwent MDCT, conventional radiography, and MR imaging of the lumbar and thoracic spine. MDCT was performed using a standard protocol with no contrast material.

Color duplex sonography in post-therapeutic neck evaluation.

Purpose: Assessment of the clinical utility of color duplex sonography for post-therapeutic evaluation of the neck.

Patients And Methods: Eighty neck sides were evaluated in a prospective nonrandomized study during the post-therapeutic course. Of these, 74 previously had undergone surgery, and 60 subsequently had additional radiotherapy.

[Selective CT mesentericography in the diagnostics of obscure overt intestinal bleeding: preliminary results].

Aim: To evaluate intra-arterial CT mesentericography (CTM) in the diagnostics of severe obscure overt intestinal bleeding in comparison with conventional mesentericography (MG) and surgery.

Methods: In 8 patients (23 - 82 years, mean 59 years), CTM was performed via the catheter left in the superior mesenteric artery after MG to detect the source of bleeding. Early and late-phase spiral CT scans were acquired after administration of contrast medium.

Fragmentation of massive pulmonary embolism by pigtail rotation catheter: possible complication.

Fragmentation by pigtail rotation catheter may be a therapeutic option in acute massive pulmonary embolism, especially in patients with high risk of right ventricular failure. We report a patient with an occlusion of the right intermediate pulmonary artery by a large embolus, slightly protruding into the perfused right upper lobe artery. After initial catheter fragmentation, part of the embolus dislocated and produced an additional occlusion of the upper lobe artery.