George Koshy Chiramel

A simplified staging system based on the radiological findings in different stages of ochronotic spondyloarthropathy

This study describes a group of 26 patients with ochronotic spondyloarthropathy who were on regular treatment and follow-up at a tertiary level hospital and proposes a simplified staging system for ochronotic spondyloarthropathy based on radiographic findings seen in the thoracolumbar spine. This proposed classification makes it easy to identify the stage of the disease and start the appropriate management at an early stage. Four progressive stages are described: an inflammatory stage (stage 1), the stage of early discal calcification (stage 2), the stage of fibrous ankylosis (stage 3), and the stage of bony ankylosis (stage 4). To our knowledge, this is the largest reported series of radiological description of spinal ochronosis, and emphasizes the contribution of the spine radiograph in the diagnosis and staging of the disease.

Role of penumbra mechanical thrombectomy device in acute dural sinus thrombosis

Background: In dural venous sinus thrombosis (DVST), the mortality ranges 5–30%. Deep venous system involvement and septic dural sinus thrombosis have a higher mortality rate. In acute occlusion, collateral flow may not be established, which may result in significant edema and mass effect. Endovascular interventions may be considered as a treatment option in appropriate high-risk patients with DVST. Materials and Methods: Eight patients with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-confirmed dural sinus thrombosis, who did not respond to the conventional standard medical treatment, were subsequently treated with mechanical thrombectomy using the Penumbra System®. In all cases, medical treatment including anticoagulants were continued following the procedure for a minimum period of 1 year. Results: Recanalization of the dural sinus thrombosis was achieved in all 8 cases. There were no immediate or late endovascular-related complications. One death occurred due to an unrelated medical event. At 6 months, there was notable improvement in the modified Rankin Score (mRS), with 5/8 (62%) patients achieving mRS of 2 or less. The follow-up ranged between 3 months and 26 months (mean: 14.5 months), and there were no new neurological events during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is a rare but life-threatening condition that demands timely diagnosis and therapy. In cases of rapidly declining neurological status despite standard therapy with systemic anticoagulation and anti-edema measures, mechanical thrombectomy could be a lifesaving and effective option. In this study, good outcomes were observed in the majority of patients at long-term follow up.

Outcomes of catheter-directed treatment of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis of patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital

Background: Lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common illness with an annual incidence of 1 per 1000 adults. The major long-term complication of DVT is post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) which occurs in up to 60% of patients within 2 years of an episode of DVT. Aims: We aim to evaluate the outcomes of catheter-directed treatment (CDT) for symptomatic acute or subacute lower extremity DVT. Materials and Methods: A retrospective 12-year study was conducted on the outcomes of CDT on 54 consecutive patients who presented with acute or subacute lower extremity DVT to our hospital. Statistical Analysis: Descriptive summary statistics and the Chi-square test were used to measure the outcomes of CDT. Results: Grade 3 thrombolysis was achieved in 25 (46.3%) patients, grade 2 thrombolysis in 25 (46.3%) patients, and grade 1 thrombolysis in 4 (7.4%) patients. Significant recanalization (grade 2 or 3 thrombolysis) was possible in 50 (92.6%) patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of significant recanalization that could be achieved between patients who underwent CDT before and after 10 days. There was no significant difference between the thrombolysis achieved between urokinase and r-tPA. PTS was seen in 33% of the patients. Major complications were seen in 5.5% of the patients. Conclusion: CDT is a safe and effective therapeutic technique in patients with acute and subacute lower extremity DVT, if appropriate patient selection is made.

Spectrum of pulmonary valve morphology and its relationship to pulmonary trunk in tetralogy of Fallot

Background: Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a complex congenital heart disease with anatomic variations. Although the pulmonary valve in TOF is abnormal, it has not been studied well, especially on newer imaging modalities such as multidetector computed tomography (CT), which gives excellent anatomic detail. Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the morphology of pulmonary valve in TOF on CT and evaluate its association with the degree of hypoplasia of infundibulum and pulmonary trunk. Materials and Methods: The cardiac CT scans of 30 patients with TOF were reviewed to evaluate the morphology of the pulmonary valve, infundibulum, and pulmonary arteries. Fishers exact test was performed to examine the association between pulmonary valve morphology and degree of hypoplasia of the infundibulum and pulmonary trunk. Results: 16.7% of patients with TOF had pulmonary atresia. The prevalence of tricuspid, bicuspid, and absent valves were 10%, 53.3% and 6.7%, respectively. In another 13.3% of patients, although valve tissue was present, exact morphology could not be determined on CT. The commissures of 62.5% of the bicuspid valves were at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock or slightly off the midline. There was statistically significant association between valve morphology and degree of infundibular hypoplasia (P < 0.001) and calibre of pulmonary trunk (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Morphological abnormality of the pulmonary valve is common in TOF. The most common type of pulmonary valve in TOF patients is bicuspid valve with commissures at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock or slightly off the midline. Fewer cusps of the pulmonary valve are associated with a more severe degree of pulmonary artery hypoplasia.

Role of endovascular embolization in treatment of acute bleeding complications in haemophilia patients.

OBJECTIVE: Bleeding complications either spontaneously or post-operatively are very common in patients with haemophilia. Sometimes these bleeding complications remain unresponsive despite being on high dose of clotting factor replacement. The aim was to assess the role of endovascular embolization in patients with haemophilia in (a) treating haemorrhagic complications due to local causes refractory to clotting factors substitution and (b) reducing intraoperative blood loss in elective pseudotumour surgery. METHODS: 10 patients seen between January 2000 and April 2015 with severe haemophilia A or B who had unexplained profuse persistent bleeding or required large pseudotumour excision and were taken up for digital subtraction angiography and embolization were included in the study. Data of all these patients were reviewed using the computerized hospital information system and picture archiving and communication system. Details including indications for the procedure, patient preparation for the procedure, imaging findings, details of angiography with intervention, if any, and outcome as well as follow-up data were analyzed. RESULTS: In 6 of these 10 cases, bleeding was spontaneous, in 2 cases due to trivial fall and in 2 cases due to post-operative bleeding. Angiography in these patients revealed vascular blush, abnormal hypervascularity or active extravasation. In all 10 patients, an embolization procedure was performed, with bleeding controlled in 8 patients. There were no procedure-related complications during the procedure, post-procedure bleeding or haematoma at the site of arterial access. One patient had recurrence of bleeding for whom surgical exploration was required, and one patient had significant bleeding intraoperatively which was controlled with high-dose clotting factors, blood transfusion and fresh frozen plasma intraoperatively. CONCLUSION: Endovascular embolization is a safe, effective and cost-saving procedure in arresting bleeding in selected patients with severe haemophilia who are unresponsive to adequate clotting factor replacement and where local vascular causes could be contributing to the bleeding. Pre-operative embolization is also a good procedure to reduce intraoperative blood loss in patients with large pseudotumours. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Angiography and embolization in patients with haemophilia is technically challenging and should be performed by highly skilled interventional radiologists, which limits its wider use and familiarity among multidisciplinary teams managing haemophilia. By bringing the knowledge of this effective treatment to the specialist groups who care for patients with haemophilia, its wider application may be possible which can save life and/or reduce morbidity.

Endovascular treatment of isolated arterial pulmonary malinosculation

We report the endovascular management of a series of four cases of isolated systemic supply to normal lung or isolated arterial pulmonary malinosculation of the left lung. In these cases, the basal segments of the left lung lacked normal pulmonary arterial supply and instead received systemic arterial blood from the descending thoracic aorta. The relevant anatomy and literature are also reviewed.

Clinical outcomes of endovascularly managed iatrogenic renal hemorrhages.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of endovascular management in iatrogenic renal injuries with regard to clinical status on follow-up and requirements for repeat angiography and embolization. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included patients who were referred for endovascular management of significant hemorrhage following an iatrogenic injury. Data was recorded from the Picture Archiving and Communication system (PACS) and electronic medical records. The site and type of iatrogenic injury, imaging findings, treatment, angiography findings, embolization performed, clinical status on follow-up, and requirement for repeat embolization were recorded. The outcomes were clinical resolution, nephrectomy, or death. Clinical findings were recorded on follow-up visits to the clinic. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. Results: Seventy patients were included in this study between January 2000 and June 2012. A bleeding lesion (a pseudoaneurysm or arteriovenous fistula) was detected during the first angiogram in 55 patients (78.6%) and was selectively embolized. Fifteen required a second angiography as there was no clinical improvement and five required a third angiography. Overall, 66 patients (94.3%) showed complete resolution and 4 patients (5.7%) died. Three patients (4.3%) underwent nephrectomy for clinical stabilization even after embolization. There were no major complications. The two minor complications resolved spontaneously. Conclusions: Angiography and embolization is the treatment of choice in iatrogenic renal hemorrhage. Upto 20% of initial angiograms may not reveal the bleed and repeat angiography is required to identify a recurrent or unidentified bleed. The presence of multiple punctate bleeders on angiography suggests an enlarging subcapsular hematoma and requires preoperative embolization and nephrectomy.

An unusual cause of massive hemoptysis and its endovascular management.

We describe the clinical presentation and endovascular management of a patient who presented with massive hemoptysis secondary to a large pseudoaneurysm of left subclavian artery. Relevant literature is discussed.

Is liver biopsy safe in patients with chronic renal disease

Sir, Two patients with chronic renal disease had undergone a percutaneous liver biopsy a few years ago. We describe the complications that developed and provide suggestions for improving safety. There has been some discussion in the literature questioning the safety of percutaneous liver biopsies in this group of patients. A liver biopsy was requested for two middle aged patients with chronic renal disease who were suspected to have infiltrating liver disease due to raised levels of alkaline phosphatase and gammaglutamyl transferase. The first patient was being worked up towards a renal transplantion and had no other comorbidities. The second patient had a few months of low grade fever and pancytopenia. Since both patients had normal bleeding parameters and no ascites, they were considered for a percutaneous liver biopsy. The biopsies were planned and performed as a routine procedure. Ultrasonography of the liver was done to evaluate and plan the tract for the biopsy. Under local anesthesia and ultrasound guidance, the right lobe of the liver was biopsied with an 18G trucut biopsy needle using a spring loaded Biopty gun (Bard, USA). Three biopsy samples were taken in each patient. Both patients worsened within a few hours of the procedure and intraperitoneal hemorrhage was suspected. The first patient improved with blood transfusion and inotropic supports within a few days. The second patient remained hemodynamically unstable despite multiple blood transfusions and inotropic supports. An emergency laparotomy was done to suture the injured liver capsule and surgical packs were placed to tamponade the bleed. This was repeated after a few hours since there was no improvement. Emergency digital subtraction angiography showed multiple patchy areas of parenchymal blush overlying the liver suggesting multiple subcapsular bleeding vessels and an enlarging subcapsular hematoma (Fig. 1). The right hepatic artery was seen to arise from the superior mesenteric artery and the left hepatic artery was seen to supply liver segments 4 and 8. The right hepatic artery was embolized using polyvinyl alcohol particles and gelfoam slurry. Since there was only slight improvement and the patient still required inotropic supports, a repeat laparotomy was done and the right hepatic artery was ligated and a cholecystectomy was done. The patient still did not improve and digital subtraction angiography was repeated which demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm of the right hepatic artery. This was embolized with coils and n-butyl cyanoacrylate glue (Histoacryl, Bbraun, Germany) (Fig. 2). Unfortunately, this patient developed other complications and died after a few weeks in the intensive care unit.

Radiofrequency ablation of osteoid osteoma in common and technically challenging locations in pediatric population

Context: Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of osteoid osteoma has a high technical and clinical success rate. However, there is limited data on its use in the pediatric population, especially in technically challenging locations. Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous RFA of osteoid osteoma in pediatric population. Patients and Methods: From June 2009 to May 2014, 30 patients with osteoid osteoma were treated with CT-guided RFA in common (25 cases) and technically challenging (five cases: four near articular surface and one in sacrum) locations. Therapy was performed under general anesthesia with a three-array expandable RF probe for 6 min at 90°C and power of 60–100 W. The patients were discharged next day under instruction. The treatment success was evaluated in terms of pain relief before and after (1 day, 1 month, and 6 months) treatment. Results: Technical success was achieved in all patients (100%). Primary clinical success was 96.66% (29 of total 30 patients), despite the pediatric population and atypical location. One patient had persistent pain after 1 month and was treated successfully with a second procedure (secondary success rate was 100%). One patient had immediate complication of weakness of right hand and fingers extension. No delayed complications were observed. Conclusions: CT-guided RFA is relatively safe and highly effective for treatment of osteoid osteoma in pediatric population, even in technically difficult locations.