Felipe Nasser

Endovascular techniques and procedures, methods for removal of intravascular foreign bodies.

INTRODUCTION The incidence of intravascular embolization of venous catheters reported in the world medical literature corresponds to 1% of all the described complications. However, its mortality rate may vary between 24 to 60%. Catheter malfunction is the most likely signal of embolization, since patients are usually asymptomatic. OBJECTIVE To report the method of removing intravascular foreign bodies, catheters with the use of various endovascular techniques and procedures. METHODS This is a two-year retrospective study of 12 patients: seven women and five men. The average age was 29 years (ranging from two months to 65 years). RESULTS Technical performance was 100% successful. Ten port-a-caths, one intra-cath and one PICC were extracted. The most common sites for the lodging of one of the ends of the intravascular foreign bodies were the right atrium (41.6%) and the right ventricle (33.3%). In 100% of the cases, only one venous access was used for extraction of foreign bodies, and in 91.6% of the cases (11 catheters) the femoral access was used. The loop-snare was used in 10 cases (83.3%). The most common cause of intravascular foreign body insertion was a catheter fracture, which occurred in 66.6% of the cases (eight cases). One major complication, the atrial fibrillation, occurred (8.3%), which was related to the intravascular foreign body extraction. The mortality rate in 30 days was zero. CONCLUSION Percutaneous retrieval of intravascular foreign bodies is considered gold standard treatment because it is a minimally invasive, relatively simple, safe procedure, with low complication rates compared to conventional surgical treatment.

Evaluation and management of symptomatic isolated spontaneous celiac trunk dissection

The purpose of this study is to describe 10 cases of symptomatic isolated spontaneous celiac trunk dissection (ISCTD) in order to evaluate the initial clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment modalities and outcomes. A retrospective search was performed from 2009 to 2014 and 10 patients with ISCTD were included in the study. Patients with associated aortic and/or other visceral artery dissection were excluded. The following information was collected from each case: sex, age, associated risk factors, symptoms, diagnostic method, anatomic dissection pattern, treatment modality and outcome. Most patients were male (90%), with an average age of 44.8 years, and the most common symptom was abdominal pain (100%). Hypertension and vasculitis (polyarteritis nodosa) were the most frequent risk factors (40% and 30%, respectively). Diagnosis was made in all patients with computed tomography. Dissection was limited to the celiac trunk in three patients and extended to celiac branches in the other seven. Initial conservative treatment was attempted in every case and was successful in nine patients. In one case, initial conservative treatment was unsuccessful and arterial stenting with coil embolization of the false lumen was performed. After successful initial treatment, late progression of the dissection to aneurysmal dilatation was observed in two patients and it was decided to perform endovascular treatment. Mean follow-up was 19 months, ranging from 2 to 59 months. In conclusion, initial conservative treatment seems adequate for most patients with ISCTD. Long-term follow-up is mandatory, owing to the risk of later progression to aneurysm.

Safety and Feasibility of Same-Day Discharge of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Transarterial Chemoembolization with Drug-Eluting Beads in a Liver Transplantation Program

PURPOSE To evaluate the safety and feasibility of same-day discharge of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with transarterial chemoembolization with the use of drug-eluting beads (DEBs) and elucidate the prognostic factors for hospital admission. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 266 DEB chemoembolization procedures in 154 consecutive patients listed for liver transplantation or identified for potential HCC downstaging were performed with the outpatient treatment protocol. Endpoints evaluated were admission to the hospital after the procedure for clinical reasons, readmission to the hospital within 1 month of the procedure, and procedure-related morbidity and mortality. In the evaluation of prognostic factors for admission, parameters of patients discharged the same day were compared with those of patients admitted overnight. RESULTS Same-day discharge was feasible in 238 cases (89.5%), and 28 (10.5%) needed overnight admission. The main reason for overnight admission was postprocedural abdominal pain (n = 23; 67.8%). The procedure-related complication rate was 2.6%, and there were no readmissions or deaths during the first 30 days after chemoembolization. Chemoembolization performed for downstaging and the use of more than one vial of embolic agent were associated with an increased need for overnight admission (P = .012 and P = .007, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Same-day discharge of patients with HCC treated with DEB chemoembolization in a liver transplantation program is safe and feasible, with low complication and admission rates. Treatment for HCC downstaging and the use of more than one vial of embolic agent were associated with an increased need for hospital admission.

Trauma vascular na população pediátrica

BACKGROUND: Vascular trauma in the pediatric population is a unique challenge, mainly due to its relatively low incidence, even in high complexity medical centers. Due to the fragility of the tissues, the small size of vessels and low incidence, it manifests with significant rates of morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyze the cases of vascular trauma in pediatric patients admitted to a tertiary hospital. METHODS: Through retrospective study we analyzed the cases of vascular trauma in patients younger than 18 years, admitted from January 2000 to July 2010, taking into account demographic data, mechanisms of injury, associated injuries, treatment techniques and complications. RESULTS: During the studied period, 242 patients were admitted with vascular trauma, 37 (15.2%) belonging to the pediatric population. The average age was 12.5 years, and 81% of the research participants were male. Related to the mechanisms of injury, penetrating trauma was the most common (57%), followed by blunt (38%) and iatrogenic (5%). Among the surgical techniques employed, arterial bypass with autologous vein was the most common (13 cases). There was a case of primary major amputation (below the knee) and four amputations in the early postoperative period (three transfemoral and one transtarsic). For the 11 patients admitted with popliteal artery injury, the rate of postoperative transfemoral amputation was 27.3%. There was only one death due to an iatrogenic trauma in a hemophilic lactant. CONCLUSIONS: Vascular trauma in pediatric patients involves several technical challenges, such as vasospasm and vessel diameter. The high rates of amputation in patients with popliteal artery injuries, despite attempts of revascularization, reinforce the seriousness of this type of trauma.

Acesso venoso trans-hepático percutâneo para hemodiálise: uma alternativa para pacientes portadores de insuficiência renal crônica

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous transhepatic venous access is an option for hemodialysis patients who have exhausted all traditional sites of venous access. OBJECTIVES: To present a small sample regarding the possibility and the functionality of transhepatic implantation of long-term catheters for hemodialysis in patients with no other possible access routes. METHODS: Retrospective observational analysis was made of the charts of six patients in which nine tunneled dialysis catheters were implanted by the percutaneous transhepatic route. Transhepatic catheters were placed in the absence of an available peripheral venous site. Patients were monitored to evaluate technical success, the complication rate, the infection rate and the duration of catheter patency. RESULTS: Four men and two women aged 31 to 85 years (mean age: 55 years). Technical success was 100%. The mean duration of catheter function was 300.5 days (range: 2 to 814 days). Means of primary and secondary patency were 179.60 and 328.33 days, respectively. The catheter thrombosis rate was 0.05 per 100 catheter-days as the infection rate. There were three early complications (within the first 30 days of catheter implantation): two catheter displacement and one infection. Two late complications were observed: one thrombosis and one migration. Three patients (50%) needed to have their catheters changed. The 30-day mortality rate was 33% but with no relation to the procedure. CONCLUSION: It may be suggested that this technique is safe, however transhepatic hemodialysis catheters may be used in patients with no other options for deep venous access for hemodialysis, albeit as a last resort access route.

Tratamento endovascular de pseudoaneurisma de artéria mesentérica superior: relato de caso

Pseudoaneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery is a rare disease, however it is associated to a high incidence of rupture and mortality. The etiology is usually infectious and the diagnosis is commonly made by means of occasional imaging. Historically, the treatment of choice has been open surgical repair; however it is associated to numerous complications and technical difficulties. We reported a case of a pseudoaneurysm of superior mesenteric artery in a patient with liver abscess who, after resolution of infection, underwent successfully a minimally invasive endovascular approach, with deployment of microcoils and bare stent.

Relato de caso: implante transparietohepático de cateter de longa permanência para diálise

Transhepatic insertion of long-term dialysis catheter is an exception procedure used to obtain access in patients with central vein occlusion of lower and upper limbs. We report on a case of a young patient with history of dialysis for 15 years, who was submitted to an unsuccessful renal transplantation. This patient was in dialytic emergency and had confirmed occlusion of upper limb central veins and iliac veins. Transhepatic insertion of a long-term catheter was performed under general anesthesia. The catheter tip was placed at the level of the right atrium. Dialysis was satisfactorily performed on the same day.

Endovascular Stenting of Brachial Artery Occlusion in Critical Hand Ischemia

Critical upper limb ischemia caused by atherosclerosis is uncommon. Endovascular treatment, with angioplasty or stenting, has been successfully performed for subclavian and below the elbow diseases; however, theres a lack of report regarding the treatment of brachial artery disease causing critical hand ischemia. In this article, we describe the treatment of a brachial artery occlusion with endovascular stenting in a patient with chronic upper limb ischemia.

Minimally invasive treatment of hepatic adenoma in special cases

ABSTRACT Hepatocellular adenoma is a rare benign tumor that was increasingly diagnosed in the 1980s and 1990s. This increase has been attributed to the widespread use of oral hormonal contraceptives and the broader availability and advances of radiological tests. We report two cases of patients with large hepatic adenomas who were subjected to minimally invasive treatment using arterial embolization. One case underwent elective embolization due to the presence of multiple adenomas and recent bleeding in one of the nodules. The second case was a victim of blunt abdominal trauma with rupture of a hepatic adenoma and clinical signs of hemodynamic shock secondary to intra-abdominal hemorrhage, which required urgent treatment. The development of minimally invasive locoregional treatments, such as arterial embolization, introduced novel approaches for the treatment of individuals with hepatic adenoma. The mortality rate of emergency resection of ruptured hepatic adenomas varies from 5 to 10%, but this rate decreases to 1% when resection is elective. Arterial embolization of hepatic adenomas in the presence of bleeding is a subject of debate. This observation suggests a role for transarterial embolization in the treatment of ruptured and non-ruptured adenomas, which might reduce the indication for surgery in selected cases and decrease morbidity and mortality. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a reduction of the embolized lesions and significant avascular component 30 days after treatment in the two cases in this report. No novel lesions were observed, and a reduction in the embolized lesions was demonstrated upon radiological assessment at a 12-month follow-up examination.

Resultados do tratamento da Insuficiência Venosa Crônica grave com espuma de polidocanol guiada por ultrassom

CONTEXTO: A insuficiencia venosa cronica (IVC) em suas formas mais graves, com ulceracao e lesoes inflamatorias, associa-se a um tratamento cirurgico convencional de dificil execucao. A escleroterapia de veias tronculares com espuma de polidocanol e considerada uma alternativa terapeutica com resultados satisfatorios. OBJETIVO: Relatar os resultados da escleroterapia com espuma de polidocanol no tratamento de pacientes com IVC de membros inferiores com ulcera ativa. METODOS: Em um periodo de 48 meses, 71 pacientes (76 membros) foram submetidos a escleroterapia de veias tronculares com espuma de polidocanol a 3% guiada por ultrassom. O seguimento pos-procedimento foi feito por meio de questionario clinico, exame fisico e ultrassom Doppler, realizados em sete dias, um e seis meses e, a partir de entao, semestralmente. Analisou-se tempo de cicatrizacao da ulcera, melhora de sintomas clinicos, recanalizacao, recidiva dos sintomas e complicacoes. RESULTADOS: O sexo feminino correspondeu a 61% dos casos, e a idade variou de 25 a 85 anos (media de 59 anos). O tempo medio de acompanhamento foi de 460 dias. O refluxo do sistema venoso profundo foi observado em 53,4% dos membros. A cicatrizacao das ulceras ocorreu em 84,2% dos casos, com um tempo medio de cicatrizacao de 37 dias. A recanalizacao ocorreu em 31,5%, porem a recidiva de sintomas, com ressurgimento de ulcera, foi de 11,8%. CONCLUSAO: A esclerose com espuma e efetiva e apresenta altas taxas de cicatrizacao de ulceras, com baixos indices de complicacoes, em pacientes com IVC grave.