Endoscopic Visualization of the Embolization Coil With Subsequent Endoscopic Therapy: A Case Report.

Severe gastrointestinal bleeding is a common presentation to the emergency department. In such settings, trans-arterial embolization (TAE) may be conducted to address the bleeding. However, in some circumstances, this treatment may fail.

Performance, clinical utility, and cost-effectiveness of selective use of staging investigations in early breast cancers.

Background: International guidelines do not recommend routine staging of EBCs. However, most clinicians still perform staging investigations (SI) selectively for several reasons. We examined our practice of selective use of SI to determine its performance, clinical utility, and cost-effectiveness.

Looking for Metastasis in Early Breast Cancer: Does Bone Scan Help? A Retrospective Review.

Background: Routine staging investigations are not recommended for early breast cancer (EBC). Staging scans and further confirmatory tests add to the cost of breast cancer treatment. Despite recommendations from international guidelines, whole body bone scan (BS) is commonly used for staging EBC.

Is activated clotting time necessary to guide sheath removal in heparinised patients undergoing endovascular intervention for peripheral vascular disease?

Introduction: The purpose was to evaluate the best practice for arterial sheath management in heparinised patients undergoing endovascular intervention for peripheral vascular disease (PVD) at Eastern Health.

Methods: Patients undergoing endovascular intervention for PVD at Eastern Health between January 2016 and February 2018 were studied. Those who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to five interventional radiologists and Category A (sheath removed upon return to recovery without activated clotting time (ACT)), Category B (ACT check 1-h postheparin and the sheath was removed without knowing the ACT) or Category C (ACT check 1-h postheparin and sheath removed once ACT < 160; our hospital's current protocol).

A critical review of the chest CT scans performed to detect asymptomatic synchronous metastasis in new and recurrent breast cancers.

Background: Chest computed tomography (CTC) has now replaced chest X-ray (CXR) as the first choice of investigation to stage breast cancers in most centers in Australia. Routine staging is not recommended in early breast cancers (EBCs). This recommendation is based largely on the use of conventional tests like CXR as staging investigations (SIs).

Performance of CT scan of abdomen and pelvis in detecting asymptomatic synchronous metastasis in breast cancer.

Background: In many centres in Australia, CT scan of abdomen and pelvis (CTAP) is a commonly used staging investigation to detect asymptomatic synchronous metastasis (ASM) in newly diagnosed breast cancer. However, its routine use is not supported by strong evidence either on its cost effectiveness or on specificity. Despite contrary recommendations by international guidelines this staging investigation is widely used among new early breast cancers(EBC).