Louis M. Perlmutt

Povidone-Iodine sclerosis of pelvic lymphoceles: A prospective study

Twelve patients presented for percutaneous catheter drainage of 13 postoperative pelvic lymphoceles. Six patients with 7 lymphoceles were treated with povidone-iodine sclerosis prior to catheter removal. Only 1 lymphocele (which continued to drain large amounts of fluid during and after the sclerosis procedure) recurred. Six patients with 6 lymphoceles had their percutaneous catheters removed without sclerosis. Fluid collections recurred in 3 instances, necessitating repeat percutaneous drainage (2 patients) or surgery (1 patient). Percutaneous therapy is the treatment of choice for patients with postoperative lymphoceles. Povidoneiodine sclerosis is often effective in preventing reaccumulation of fluid once the lymphocele cavity is collapsed.

Infectious complications of percutaneous biliary drainage

The infectious complications of percutaneous biliary drainage were reviewed in 132 patients with obstructive jaundice. Cholangitic or septic episodes occurred more frequently in patients with malignant (54%) than in those with benign (22%) disease, and frequently were not related to catheter insertions or manipulations. The frequency and mechanisms of bacterial colonization of bile and blood in patients with obstructive jaundice before and after biliary drainage are reviewed. The significant morbidity and mortality related to postdrainage infectious episodes is stressed, and the efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis is discussed. The significant risks and complications of percutaneous biliary drainage must be considered prior to catheter placement, particularly in the most debilitated patients.

Percutaneous Drainage of Pelvic Lymphatic Fluid Collections in the Renal Transplant Patient

Seventeen renal transplant patients with pelvic lymphatic fluid collections were treated with percutaneous drainage. Eleven of 16 patients with lymphoceles (69%) were successfully managed without surgery, although seven of these patients required repeat catheter insertions, and three patients developed local infections. The patient with an ovarian cystadenoma was treated with surgery. The mean duration of catheter insertion was ten days for initial drainage and 16 days for repeat drainage. Elevated serum creatinines decreased in 14 of the patients with lymphoceles (88%), including all five patients without pelvocaliectasis, but never returned to baseline in six instances. This observation may reflect the inadequate therapy of frequently encountered concurrent renal parenchymal abnormalities (rejection, cyclosporine toxicity, acute tubular necrosis). While percutaneous management of lymphoceles is technically easy and usually ultimately effective, the interventional radiologist should be prepared for long duration of catheter insertions, repeat interventions, and variable clinical courses. Differentiation of lymphoceles from other fluid collections, such as cystic ovarian neoplasms, may be difficult.

Intravenous Digital Subtraction Angiography in the Evaluation of Potential Renal Donors

Of 65 surgically removed donor kidneys intravenous digital subtraction angiography demonstrated accurately the number of renal arteries in 58 (89 per cent). All accessory vessels missed at digital subtraction angiography were small and their presence did not interfere with successful transplantation in those donated. Of 50 surgically removed donor kidneys examined with conventional aortography only before the routine use of intravenous digital subtraction angiography the number of renal arteries was demonstrated accurately in 46 (92 per cent). Intravenous digital subtraction angiography offers advantages over conventional aortography, including most importantly the routine performance on an outpatient basis, and decreased film cost and examination time. Although the accuracy of conventional aortography (92 per cent) in detecting the number of renal arteries is slightly greater than that for intravenous digital subtraction angiography (89 per cent), the advantages of the digital examination justify its use as the initial examination for the potential renal donor. Conventional aortography can be reserved for use in patients with equivocal or technically inadequate digital examinations.

Primary intraaortic malignancy—A case report

Malignant peripheral arterial emboli are extremely unusual. Most reported cases of malignant arterial emboli are secondary to invasion of the systemic circulation by pulmonary malignancies via the pulmonary veins. We report a rare case of a primary sarcoma of the aortic arch that presented as malignant emboli. When confronted by a patient with malignant emboli, a normal chest radiograph, and no evidence of a right-to-left shunt, a primary malignancy of the aorta should be suspected and angiography should be performed.

Urinary tract injury in patients with blunt chest trauma: The value of postaortographic abdominal radiographs

Patients who require thoracic aortography for blunt decelerating chest trauma often sustain injury to other organ systems due to the magnitude and mechanism of injury. Hospital records and radiographs of 117 consecutive, injured patients studied with thoracic aortography were evaluated to assess the accuracy, value, and limitations of postaortographic abdominal plain radiography for detection of major genitourinary injury. In summary, major urinary tract injury occurred with a frequency of 6%, enough to justify a rapid, low cost, noninvasive screening procedure. Postaortographic plain films of the abdomen were found to be an accurate (95%) screen for detection of major urinary tract injury. The sensitivity for detection of patients with renal injury was 100%. The ability to correctly predict patients who may be safely observed (no significant renal injury) was 100%. One limitation of this technique was the poor diagnostic quality found in 15% of the abdominal radiographs, most commonly caused by excessive superimposed bowel gas. Postaortographic pelvic radiographs were believed to be valuable for detection, but not exclusion, of bladder rupture.

Percutaneous intervention in the solitary kidney

The solitary kidney, either after nephrectomy or on a congential basis, may be impaired by infection, stones, obstruction, and trauma. Because of the possibility of further renal compromise by damage of the remaining nephron units, there is reluctance to utilize percutaneous techniques in cases of solitary kidney, and surgery is often used as an alternative. We report 15 cases of solitary kidney in which interventional radiologic techniques (i.e., percutaneous nephrostomy, ureteral stenting, ureteral dilatation, and stone extraction) were attempted for the preservation of renal function, either as a permanent solution or as a temporizing maneuver prior to definitive therapy. In each case, these goals were achieved and there were no complications.

Aneurysm Formation After Remote Closure of an Arteriovenous Fistula — A Case Report:

The anatomic and physiologic changes of an arteriovenous fistula are usually reversible with closure of the fistula. With delayed closure, however, anatomic changes may persist and actually progress. A case of this unusual phenomenon is presented.