Ana Echenique

Percutaneous Catheter-directed Debridement of Infected Pancreatic Necrosis: Results in 20 Patients

PURPOSE To evaluate the usefulness of transcatheter debridement of infected pancreatic necrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Transcatheter debridement was performed on 20 patients who ranged in age from 20 to 78 years during the 8-year study period. All patients had infected pancreatic necrosis and were hemodynamically stable. Necrosis was defined as nonenhancing pancreatic tissue, as seen on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). Infection was suspected clinically and documented by cultures of the pancreatic fluid at its initial drainage. Debridement was performed in multiple sessions in close succession (duration, 30-120 minutes; mean, 60 minutes) via large-bore catheters with enlarged side holes. Debris was removed with use of suction catheters, stone baskets, and copious amounts of lavage fluid. RESULTS All patients underwent successful catheter debridement. Success was determined by clinical course, as well as lesion appearance, at fluoroscopy and CT. Patients underwent 7-32 (average, 17) episodes of debridement and stayed 0-36 days (average, 9 days) in the intensive care unit, 13-118 days (average, 42 days) on the regular floor, and spent 0-98 days (average, 32 days) with the catheters as an outpatient. No deaths occurred. CONCLUSION Percutaneous catheter-directed debridement is a safe and effective treatment and it can be used as the primary means of treatment for the hemodynamically stable patient with infected pancreatic necrosis.

Percutaneous Irreversible Electroporation for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases with a Proposal for a New Response Evaluation System

PURPOSE To describe an initial experience with irreversible electroporation (IRE) in patients with colorectal liver metastasis (CLM). MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing IRE for the management of CLM was performed. Procedures were done percutaneously under general anesthesia. Patients were then followed for adverse events, tumor response, and survival. RESULTS Between March 2010 and February 2013, 29 patients underwent percutaneous ablation of 58 tumors in 36 IRE sessions. Most patients (89%) had an absolute or relative contraindication to thermal ablation. The median age was 62 years, and the median time from diagnosis to IRE was 28 months. The median number of lesions treated per patient was two, and the median tumor size was 2.7 cm. Patients had received previous chemotherapy regimens (range, 1-5 per patient). A new Metabolic Imaging And Marker Integration response evaluation criteria was used for response assessment, and was a predictor of progression-free and overall survival. The 2-year progression-free survival rate was 18% (95% confidence interval, 0%-35%), and the 2-year overall survival rate was 62% (95% confidence interval, 37%-87%). Complications included arrhythmias (n = 1) and postprocedure pain (n = 1). Both patients recovered without sequelae. CONCLUSIONS Percutaneous IRE of CLM is feasible and safe. A new response evaluation system for colorectal cancer appears to be prognostic.

Percutaneous Image-Guided Irreversible Electroporation for the Treatment of Unresectable, Locally Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE To describe safety and effectiveness of percutaneous irreversible electroporation (IRE) for treatment of unresectable, locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (LAPC). MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective study included 50 patients (23 women, 27 men; age range, 46-91 y; median age, 62.5 y) with biopsy-proven, unresectable LAPC who received percutaneous computed tomography (CT)-guided IRE. The primary objective was to assess the safety profile of the procedure; the secondary objective was to determine overall survival (OS). All patients had prior chemotherapy (1-5 lines, median 2), and 30 (60%) of 50 patients had prior radiation therapy. Follow-up included CT at 1 month and at 3-month intervals thereafter. RESULTS There were no treatment-related deaths and no 30-day mortality. Serious adverse events occurred in 10 (20%) of 50 patients (abdominal pain [n = 7], pancreatitis [n = 1], sepsis [n = 1], gastric leak [n = 1]). Median OS was 27.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 22.7-32.5 months) from time of diagnosis and 14.2 months (95% CI, 9.7-16.2 months) from time of IRE. Patients with tumors ≤ 3 cm (n = 24) had significantly longer median OS than patients with tumors > 3 cm (n = 26): 33.8 vs 22.7 months from time of diagnosis (P = .002) and 16.2 vs 9.9 months from time of IRE (P = .031). Tumor size was confirmed as the only independent predictor of OS at multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS Percutaneous image-guided IRE of unresectable LAPC is associated with an acceptable safety profile.

Ultrasound Guidance in Accessing the Afferent Limb of a Modified Roux-en-Y Choledochojejunostomy for Percutaneous Dilation of Biliary Strictures

Percutaneous retrograde biliary dilation via the afferent limb of a modified Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy is used in the management of chronic biliary strictures. Access to the afferent loop may be challenging in the absence of surgically placed radiopaque markers. Ultrasound (US) guidance was used to access the loop in 10 patients with subcutaneous afferent loops and three patients with subfascial afferent loops. Successful puncture was made in all 10 patients with subcutaneous loops and in one patient with a subfascial loop. Initial fluoroscopically guided attempts failed in five loops, which were then successfully accessed with use of US guidance. US is useful in accessing subcutaneous afferent loops.

Quality Improvement Guidelines for Transarterial Chemoembolization and Embolization of Hepatic Malignancy

From the Division of In ment of Radiology, Un 1740 West Taylor Stree Interventional Radiolog Northwestern Memoria (D.B.B.), Vanderbilt Univ Interventional Radiolog Therapy (S.G.), Massa Boston, Massachusetts Israel, New York, New Hospital, Barrie, Onta (A.M.E.), University of ventional Radiology (M Interventional Radiolog University School of M Radiology (S.A.P.), Dep at University of Californ Radiology (T.J.W.), Flor Radiology (J.L.W.), Dep Center, Boston, Massa Medical Center, Albany 2017. Address corres Fair Ridge Dr., Suite 40

Proximal Splenic Artery Embolization in Chemotherapy-Induced Thrombocytopenia: A Retrospective Analysis of 13 Patients.

PURPOSE To determine if proximal splenic artery embolization (PSAE) provides a safe and effective alternative to alleviate chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT), allowing patients with cancer to resume chemotherapy regimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirteen patients (9 men, 4 women; mean age, 63 y) with underlying malignancy (pancreatic adenocarcinoma, n = 6; cholangiocarcinoma, n = 5; other, n = 2) complicated by CIT underwent PSAE. Mean platelet counts were calculated before the initiation of chemotherapy, at the nadir that resulted in discontinuation of chemotherapy before the PSAE procedure, at peak values after the procedure, and at a mean follow-up of 9.2 months. The time to reinitiation of chemotherapy after PSAE was calculated. RESULTS Baseline platelet count before initiation of chemotherapy was 162 × 10(9)/L (range, 90-272 × 10(9)/L). The platelet count nadir resulting in cessation of chemotherapy was 45 × 10(9)/L (range, 23-67 × 10(9)/L), and the pre-PSAE platelet count was 88 × 10(9)/L (range, 49-131 × 10(9)/L). The post-PSAE peak platelet count improved significantly (to 209 × 10(9)/L; range, 83-363 × 10(9)/L) compared with the nadir counts and the pre-PSAE counts (P < .01) at a mean short-term follow-up of 35 days (range, 7-91 d). The counts at follow-up to 9.2 months (range, 3-15 mo) were 152 × 10(9)/L (range, 91-241 × 10(9)/L). All patients became eligible to resume chemotherapy. The time to initiation of chemotherapy after PSAE averaged 22 days (range, 4-58 d) in 12 patients; one patient declined chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS Proximal splenic artery embolization appears to be safe and effective in alleviating CIT, allowing resumption of systemic chemotherapy. Further studies may help guide patient selection by identifying characteristics that allow a sustained improvement in thrombocytopenia.

Acute Pancreatitis (AP)

All of these conditions can be associated with acute pancreatitis, except ?