Amr Soliman Moustafa

Persistence of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations after successful embolotherapy with Amplatzer vascular plug: long-term results

PURPOSE We aimed to evaluate the frequency of persistence and complication rates of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) treated with Amplatzer vascular plug (AVP) or Amplatzer vascular plug type 2 (AVP2). METHODS We retrospectively reviewed a total of 22 patients with 54 PAVMs between June 2004 and June 2014. We included 12 patients with 35 PAVMs who received percutaneous embolization using AVP or AVP2 only without the use of any other embolic devices. The mean follow-up was 54±24.3 months (range, 31-97 months). The primary end-points of the study were the efficacy of embolotherapy, the increase in oxygen saturation, and the persistence of PAVM on follow-up. Secondary end point was the incidence of complications. RESULTS The study included 10 female and two male patients with a mean age of 50.2±13.7 years (range, 21-66 years). All PAVMs had a simple angioarchitecture. The technical success of the procedure for PAVM occlusion was 100%. There was a significant increase in the oxygen saturation following embolotherapy (P < 0.0001). Follow-up computed tomography angiography revealed successful treatment in 34 PAVMs (97%) and failed treatment in one PAVM (3%). Twenty-three aneurysmal sacs (67%) showed complete disappearance. The failed treatment was due to persistence of PAVM caused by subsequent development of systemic reperfusion, which did not require further intervention. There were two minor complications but no major complications were encountered. CONCLUSION Embolotherapy of PAVMs using AVP or AVP2 devices is safe and effective, with high technical success rate, low persistence and complication rates, and with excellent long-term results.

Chemoembolization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Extrahepatic Collateral Blood Supply: Anatomic and Technical Considerations

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is considered a standard local-regional treatment for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the most common bridging therapy. This treatment is offered to more than 70% of patients who are on the waiting list for liver transplantation in the United States. HCC typically receives its blood supply from the hepatic artery; however, it can recruit a parasitic supply from extrahepatic collateral (EHC) arteries. The development of an EHC arterial blood supply can interfere with the therapeutic efficacy of TACE and result in treatment failure and poor outcome. Cross-sectional imaging-specifically computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging-has some limitations in depicting the presence or absence of an EHC arterial supply during the pre-TACE evaluation. Catheterization and angiography of every possible EHC artery during a routine TACE procedure would be time consuming and technically challenging and would not always be feasible. Therefore, the prediction of a potential EHC arterial supply on the basis of tumor location before, during, and after TACE is fundamental to achieving optimal therapeutic efficacy. To perform TACE through EHC arteries, special considerations are necessary to avoid potentially serious complications. The authors review the factors influencing the development of an EHC arterial blood supply to HCC and describe a systematic approach to enhance the ability to predict the presence of EHC arteries. They also describe the proper technique for TACE of each EHC artery and how to avoid potential technique-related complications. ©RSNA, 2017.

Approaches for safe transarterial chemoembolization of multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma with retrograde flow in a retroportal artery

We report a case of an 81-year-old woman with multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent transarterial chemoembolization. The patient had significant superior mesenteric artery (SMA) ostial stenosis, which led to retrograde flow in the retroportal artery to the SMA. The authors adopted several approaches to avoid potential nontarget embolization that might result from the change in the hemodynamics in the hepatoenteric arteries by initially stenting the SMA ostial stenosis as well as the use of the Surefire infusion system and balloon occlusion for delivery of chemoembolization material to tumors in the hepatic lobes. To our knowledge, the collective use of these approaches to avoid potential risks related to SMA ostial stenosis and retrograde flow in a retroportal artery has not been previously described in the literature.

Percutaneous embolization of cystic duct stump leak following failed endoscopic management

A case of a 79-year-old man, status post laparoscopic cholecystectomy with a drainage catheter placed at the gallbladder fossa is presented. The case was complicated postoperatively by abdominal pain and bilious discharge from the drainage catheter. Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography demonstrated leakage through the cystic duct stump into the gallbladder fossa. Placement of a covered metal stent endoscopically failed to seal the leak. We performed percutaneous embolization of the cystic duct stump using a combination of coils and gelatin sponge through the drainage catheter in the gallbladder fossa. To our knowledge, this technique has not been previously described in the literature.

Treatment of Hypersplenism by Partial Splenic Embolization Through Gastric Collaterals

We report a case of Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with associated hypersplenism, that was referred to us for partial splenic embolization (PSE) as the patient was not a surgical candidate for splenectomy. Initially, we were not successful in catheterizing the splenic artery from the celiac trunk due to significant atherosclerotic disease. Therefore, we successfully managed to access the distal splenic artery through patent gastro-epiploic collateral circulation along the greater curvature of the stomach. Partial splenic embolization was successfully performed and resulted in improvement of the patients peripheral blood cell count as well as 60-70% reduction in the size of the spleen on follow up. Our case highlights an alternative pathway for splenic artery embolization when catheterization of the splenic artery is not feasible. To our knowledge, the use of gastro-epiploic collaterals to embolize the spleen has not been previously reported in literature.

Inferior vena cava filter penetration following Whipple surgical procedure causing ureteral injury

We report a case of an indwelling inferior vena cava filter that penetrated the IVC wall after Whipples pancreatico-duodenectomy procedure performed in a patient with ampullary carcinoma, resulting in right ureteral injury and obstruction with subsequent hydroureter and hydronephrosis. This was incidentally discovered on a computed tomography scan performed as routine follow up to evaluate the results of the surgery. We retrieved the inferior vena cava filter and placed a nephrostomy catheter to relieve the ureteral obstruction. Our case highlights the importance of careful inferior vena cava manipulation during abdominal surgery in the presence of an inferior vena cava filter, and the option of temporary removal of the filter to be placed again after surgery in order to avoid this complication, unless protection is required against clot migration during the surgical procedure.

Incidentally Discovered Middle Mesenteric Artery In A Renal Donor.

The middle mesenteric artery is a very rare anomalous artery originating from the ventral surface of the abdominal aorta in-between the superior mesenteric artery and inferior mesenteric artery. We identified a middle mesenteric artery during abdominal computed tomographic angiography in a renal donor patient as a part of his work up. The middle mesenteric artery branched out into ileal and ileocolic arteries, supplying the terminal ileal loops as well as the cecum. The anomalous artery had no effect on patients eligibility as a renal donor candidate.