Fogarty-assisted flow redirection during conventional transarterial chemoembolization for caudate lobe hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy. Approximately 8% of patients with HCC are not suitable candidates for curative options. Caudate lobe HCC presents technical challenges for interventional radiologists. Caudate lobe HCC has higher local recurrence and poorer survival rate than other segments. Transarterial treatments of caudate HCC are difficult due to extreme variation of arterial supply. We present a case of a caudate lobe HCC with supply from the proper hepatic artery, which underwent successful conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (cTACE) by utilizing a Fogarty catheter to direct the embolic material. The patient presented 5 days following the procedure with duodenitis and pancreatitis, which were managed conservatively. Follow-up imaging at 1 month showed significant improvement of the ischemic duodenitis/pancreatitis with successful cTACE.

Transposition of Isolated Left Vertebral Artery in Hybrid Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair

Objectives: The aim of this study was to present our experience with the management of isolated left vertebral artery (ILVA) during complex thoracic aortic pathology treated with the hybrid thoracic endovascular aortic repair.Methods: This is a single-center, respective cohort study. Between June 2016 and June 2020, 13 patients (12 men; median age 60 years old, range 42–72 years old) who underwent hybrid procedures were identified with ILVA in our center. Demographics, imaging features, operation details, and follow-up in these patients were collected and analyzed.Results: In this study, all patients received the hybrid procedure, and the primary technical success rate was 100%. There were no in-hospital deaths. Complication occurred in two (15.4%) patients. One patient suffered from contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) and recovered before discharge. Another patient required reintervention for acute left-lower-limb ischemia, which was successfully treated using Fogarty catheter embolectomy. Immediate vagus/recurrent laryngeal never palsy, lymphocele, and chylothorax were not observed. The median duration of follow-up was 22 months (range, 13–29 months). No neurologic deficits, bypass occlusion, or ILVA occlusion or stenosis were observed during the follow-up. No aortic rupture, cerebrovascular accident, or spinal cord ischemia was observed during the follow-up period.Conclusions: Our limited experience reveals that hybrid procedures [thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), ILVA transposition, and left common carotid artery-left subclavian artery (LCCA-LSA) bypass] are relatively safe, feasible, and durable for the treatment of thoracic aortic pathology with ILVA. However, further technique durability and larger studies with long-term follow-up periods are warranted.

Is Surgical Thrombo-Embolectomy in Acute Limb Ischemia Still Advantageous in Patients More Than 65 Years of Age?

Objective: In this study, we investigated the benefits of using Fogarty balloon catheterization in the treatment of acute leg ischemia with respect to amputation, fasciotomy, and mortality in older patients. Methods: A total of 102 patients age >65 who had a Fogarty thrombo-embolectomy for acute thromboembolic limb ischemia were investigated retrospectively. Patients were evaluated based on Rutherford IIa and IIb criteria and duration of ischemia. Duration of ischemia was divided into 3 categories (as 0 to 4, 4 to 8, and >8 hours) to evaluate the effect of ischemia period on vital parameters and mortality. Analysis with Cox regression showed that 30-day mortality was associated with older age and number of comorbidities such as amputation and fasciotomy. Results: In 102 patients >65 years of age who underwent embolectomy, rates were 7.2% fasciotomy (n = 7) and 13.7% amputation (n = 14), and 10 patients died (9.8%). According to multiple regression analysis, the surgical risk increases 1074 times when each year is added to the chronological age of over 65 years. Conclusion: In a majority of cases, limb salvage can be obtained via simple embolectomy rather than risking intravenous iodinated contrast. Although alternatives in older patients are limited, the Fogarty catheter should be regarded as a first-line treatment because of its ease of use and low complication rate.

Arterial Thrombosis Induced By Coagulopathy Due To Coronavirus Infection Concomitant With Heparin Resistance: A Case Report

Background : A newly emerging pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. As one of the effects is hematological changes related to the COVID-19 infection causing patient tend to thrombosis than hemorrhagic. Current review of evidence and statements on management of coagulopathy and thrombotic complications related to this novel disease is needs to be explored Case : Male 53 years old referred from Private Hospital, due to Severe pneumonia due to COVID-19 and Acute Limb Ischemia. This patient was assessed as Pneumonia COVID-19 severe with acute limb ischemia bilateral grade IIB and performed bilateral surgical thrombectomy with antegrade approach using fogarty catheter with the result was thrombus 10cm along the left femoral artery and thrombus 2cm in the right femoral artery. Discussion : With consideration of atherosclerotic diseases in this patient, we decided to give rivaroxaban as an anticoagulant combined with aspilet and statin high dose. But due to lack of source in our hospital, and patient also denied for further management, treatment for the patient cannot be optimal, so the patient discharge with unresolved limb ischemia. Conclusion : This case showed that the increase risk of heparin resistance in SARS-CoV-2 patient, it is recommend- ed to monitor heparin activity of UFH treatment based on anti-Xa levels instead of aPTT alone.

Diagnosis and Treatment for Pediatric Supracondylar Humerus Fractures with Brachial Artery Injuries

(1) Background: This study aims to describe the clinical and paraclinical characteristics of and the diagnostic approach to brachial artery injuries in pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures, as well as to evaluate intraoperative vascular anatomical lesions and early postoperative results. (2) Methods: A retrospective, hospital-based analysis of medical records at Viet Duc University Hospital (Vietnam), using a sample of children under 16 years who met the diagnostic criteria for supracondylar humerus fractures with brachial artery injuries between January 2016 and December 2020, was performed. A total of 50 patients were included in the analysis. (3) Results: Out of 50 pediatric patients, 36 patients were male (72%) and the mean age was 5.85 years (range, 1.5–14 years). Before treatment, there were 46 patients with severely displaced fractures which were classified as Gartland type III (92%). Following casting, the percentage of those with severely displaced fractures was reduced significantly to 12%, while there were no patients with Gartland type III fractures after percutaneous pinning. Doppler sonography failed to assess vascular lesions at the fracture site before and after casting in most patients. Two-thirds of surgical cases had only vasospasm, without physical damage to the vessel wall or intravascular thrombosis. Preoperative Doppler spectrum analysis was not consistent with the severity of intraoperative brachial artery injury. Out of 24 patients with vasospasm, we performed vascular blockade using papaverin in 11 cases and intraoperative balloon angioplasty of the brachial artery using the Fogarty catheter in 13 cases. Brachial artery graft was performed with 12 patients who had anatomical damage to the vascular wall. A complication of embolism occurred in one patient immediately after surgery, and two patients had superficial infections. One month following surgery, 2 out of 36 patients had a temporary loss of sensation in the area of incision. (4) Conclusions: Most pediatric patients did not present with symptoms of critical limb ischemia similar to those associated with lower extremity vascular injuries. The diagnosis and treatment of pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures with vascular injury is difficult and time-consuming, especially in cases of transverse fractures.

Iatrogenic tibial arteriovenous fistula after Fogarty balloon catheter graft thrombectomy

A 75-year-old male presented with an immediately threatened grade IIb acute ischemia of the left leg due to thrombosis of a femoro-infrapopliteal prosthetic bypass graft. After an urgent Computed Tomography Angiography, an urgent graft thrombectomy was performed using a 5 Fr Fogarty catheter, which had a troublesome distal passage.

Tracheoesophageal fistula with complex injury to the existing anomaly - Youngest neonate to survive: A case report

Background: Complex injury to the esophagus, trachea, and tracheoesophageal fistula in a case of esophageal atresia is rarely reported that requires prompt identification and management. Case Presentation: A very-low-birth-weight preterm with a tracheoesophageal fistula on ventilatory support for respiratory distress syndrome was transferred to our hospital. The baby developed air-leak through the tracheoesophageal fistula into the stomach causing gross distension of the stomach and reduction in oxygen saturation. Repositioning and reintubation failed to reduce the abdominal distension and to improve the saturation. Subsequent intubation with large volume, low pressure cuffed tube, and replacement of Replogle tube resulted in pneumothorax and further deterioration requiring emergency thoracotomy. Complex tracheoesophageal injury to the esophagus, trachea, and fistulous tract was repaired. Conclusion: The baby survived the early repair of the tracheoesophageal fistula and the iatrogenic complex tracheoesophageal injury. Pre-operative tracheo-esophagoscopy with stenting of the fistula with Fogarty catheter helped to carry out a successful repair technically.

Acute Arterial Occlusions in Patients with COVID-19: Results and Outcomes

In this paper, we aimed to describe a case series report of four patients that were admitted in the emergency room of our vascular and endovascular surgery department with acute arterial occlusion after a diagnosis of Covid-19 infection. The first patient was a male, 50 years, tobacco user, with arterial systemic hypertension and COVID-19 positive that was admitted with an acute arterial occlusion Rutherford IIb in the left lower limb. He was submitted to an arterial thromboembolectomy with Fogarty catheter and had a satisfactory evolution. CASE 2 was a female, 63 years, with arterial systemic hypertension, diabetes, esquizophrenia, that was admitted with acute limb ischemia (ALI) Rutherford III in the upper left limb. Despite attempts do revascularize the upper limb, the patient evolved with a hand amputation. CASE 3 was a Male patient, 49 years, HIV positive, diabetic with previous debridement in both feet due to diabetic foot infection, tobacco user and Rutherford IIb ALI in the right lower limb..The patient was submitted to an arterial thromboembolectomy with Fogarty catheter, however presented with fasciotomy infection and another post-operative complications that led him to die. Finally, CASE 4 was a female patient, 49 years, diabetic, admitted with COVID-19 infection that presented ALI during hospitalization on the right lower limb. She was submitted to proper thromboembolectomy, with a satisfactory evolution and limb salvage. COVID-19 pandemic crisis is a challenging situation that has increased the number of acute arterial thrombosis and embolism urgencies and emergencies surgeries in the vascular world. The four patients related in this paper bring valuable information regarding the impact of COVID-19 on micro and macrovascular system.