Debating the embolization of a large aberrant systemic artery for pulmonary sequestration using an Amplatzer duct occluder: a case report and literature review

Here, we report two rare cases of pulmonary sequestration that were fed by large systemic arteries and embolized with a large Amplatzer duct occluder and their 3-year follow-up, and we discuss the efficacy and safety of the embolization of a large aberrant systemic artery to pulmonary sequestration using an Amplatzer duct occluder. A 9-year-old boy complained of chest pain for 1 month, and a 6-year-old boy initially complained of recurrent cough for 3 months. A series of examinations was launched to evaluate any possible malformation or abnormalities in the patients. Chest CT and CTA identified a right lower pulmonary sequestration with infection. After admission, transcatheter device occlusion was planned after essential antibiotic treatment, and postoperative infection prevention and anti-inflammatory treatment were given. In the following 2 years of follow-up, neither of the children had recurrent chest pain, cough or other related symptoms. However, the CT follow-up demonstrated that a residual mass was visible in both patients. The same chest scan section revealed slight reductions in lung lesions from 38.344 cm2 to 37.119 cm2 (3% reduction) and 14.243 cm2 to 13.178 cm2 (7.5% reduction) for each patient. No follow-up data demonstrated the long-term clinical outcomes of the residual lesion. We do not recommend that embolization be performed for large pulmonary sequestration lesions with an aberrant artery larger than 6 mm that is planned to receive a device larger than 10 mm, as their outcomes showed a higher possibility of rebuilding the vascularization network feeding the pulmonary sequestration, indicating a higher risk for long-term complications.

Patent Foramen Ovale—A Not So Innocuous Septal Atrial Defect in Adults

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a common congenital atrial septal defect with an incidence of 15%–35% in the adult population. The development of the interatrial septum is a process that begins in the fourth gestational week and is completed only after birth. During intrauterine life, the foramen ovale allows the passage of highly oxygenated blood from the right to the left atrium and into the systemic arteries, thus bypassing the pulmonary circulation. In 75% of the general population, the foramen ovale closes after birth, and only an oval depression, called fossa ovalis, remains on the right side of the interatrial septum. Patent foramen ovale can be associated with various clinically important conditions, including migraine and stroke, or decompression illness in divers. The aim of this review is to summarize the PFO developmental and anatomical features and to discuss the clinical risks associated with this atrial septal defect in adults.

Transarterial management of advance lung cancer

Previous reports on transarterial treatment for lung cancer were reviewed. The bronchial arterial infusion therapy has a long history since 1964. Better local control with less doses of anti-neoplastic agents was warranted by trying transarterial administration to lung and mediastinal tumors. It is reported that both primary and metastatic tumors are fed by bronchial or other systemic arteries. The bronchial arterial embolization for hemoptysis has been introduced for clinical practice since 1973. Hemoptysis by not only benign but also malignant diseases has been well controlled by embolization. In recent decades, the technical elements for transarterial treatments have markedly improved. They make it possible to carry out precise procedures of selective catheter insertion to the tumor relating arteries. Current concepts of transarterial treatment, technical aspects and treatment outcomes are summarized. Tentative result from chemo-embolization for advanced lung cancer using recent catheter techniques was also described. It provides favorable local control and survival merits. It is considered that a population of lung cancer patients can benefit from transarterial management using small doses of anti-neoplastic agents, with less complications and less medical costs.

General Anesthesia for Cesarean Section in a Pregnant Woman with Truncus Arteriosus Intraoperatively Monitored by Transesophageal Echocardiography

Truncus arteriosus (TA) is defined as a congenital cardiovascular malformation in which one great artery arises from the base of the heart and gives origin to the pulmonary and systemic arteries. TA patients who become pregnant have high morbidity and mortality rates because physiologic changes during pregnancy can worsen the cardiopulmonary balance causing cardiopulmonary decompensation. In this case report we report a successful general anesthesia in a truncus arteriosus patient with severe pulmonary hypertension (Eisenmenger syndrome) who underwent a full-term pregnancy delivery monitored by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography, a new technique to assist physicians in dealing with patients with hemodynamic instability during both cardiac and noncardiac surgery.

Machine Learning-Based Pulse Wave Analysis for Early Detection of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Using In Silico Pulse Waves

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is usually asymptomatic until rupture, which is associated with extremely high mortality. Consequently, early detection of AAAs is of paramount importance in reducing mortality; however, most AAAs are detected by medical imaging incidentally. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of machine learning-based pulse wave (PW) analysis for the early detection of AAAs using a database of in silico PWs. PWs in the large systemic arteries were simulated using one-dimensional blood flow modelling. A database of in silico PWs representative of subjects (aged 55, 65 and 75 years) with different AAA sizes was created by varying the AAA-related parameters with major impacts on PWs – identified by parameter sensitivity analysis – in an existing database of in silico PWs representative of subjects without AAA. Then, a machine learning architecture for early detection of AAAs was proposed, which was trained and tested using the new in silico PW database. The parameter sensitivity analysis revealed that the AAA maximum diameter and stiffness of the large systemic arteries were the dominant AAA-related biophysical properties that significantly influence the PW. The simulated PW indexes extracted from the database showed that the PW was not only influenced by the presence of an AAA but was also significantly affected by multiple cardiovascular parameters that compromised the detection of AAAs by using individual PW indexes. Alternatively, the trained machine learning model performed well in classifying normal and AAA conditions using digital photoplethysmogram PWs from the database. These findings suggest that machine learning-based PW analysis is a promising approach for AAA screening using PW signals acquired by wearable devices.

Transpleural systemic artery to pulmonary vessel fistulas: Imaging characteristics and management of an uncommon entity

Systemic arterial to pulmonary vessel fistulas may develop in the setting of pleural inflammation and/or injury. Bronchial arteries are the most commonly involved vessels, with recruitment often occurring in chronic diseases such as tuberculosis and cystic fibrosis. Rarely, transpleural systemic arteries that directly communicate with the pulmonary vasculature may develop in the presence of pleural injury or chronic inflammation. The clinical presentation and management of three cases of transpleural systemic artery to pulmonary vessel fistulas are detailed. Given the atypical imaging appearance of these lesions, there is risk of misdiagnosis of these entities as a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation. Understanding the pathophysiology, complex anatomy, and treatment for these rare vascular malformations is crucial prior to angiographic intervention in order to improve outcomes, avoid misdiagnosis, and prevent inappropriate intervention.

Analysis of the impact of left ventricular assist devices on the systemic circulation

In this work we analyze the impact of left ventricular assist devices on the systemic circulation in subjects with heart failure associated with left ventricular dilated cardiomyopathy. We use an integrated model of the left heart and blood flow in the systemic arteries with a left ventricular assist device. We study the impact of the rotation speed of the pump on haemodynamic characteristics of distal arteries. We identify the rotation speed for simultaneous recovery of the healthy average values in all systemic arteries, the heart and the aorta. Our numerical experiments show that blood distribution over the graph of systemic vessels does not depend on flow regimes in ascending aorta. We also observe that the optimal pump rotation speed changes in the atherosclerotic vascular network and depends on stenoses localization.