M L Kinnison

Comparison of recurrent varicocele anatomy following surgery and percutaneous balloon occlusion

Venography of 44 recurrent varicoceles in 37 patients demonstrated different anatomical patterns of recurrence in surgical patients (26) compared to those treated by percutaneous balloon occlusion (18). The 3 types of patterns identified included parallel, renal vein and transcrotal collateral pathways. Virtually all surgical recurrences were owing to mid retroperitoneal (27 per cent) or low (inguinal) parallel collaterals (58 per cent). The majority of post-balloon occlusion recurrences were due to either high retroperitoneal parallel (44 per cent) or renal vein collaterals (28 per cent). Surgical recurrences were treated easily with percutaneous balloon occlusion. However, 39 per cent of the patients with recurrences following balloon embolization were not anatomical candidates for repeat percutaneous occlusion. We conclude that venous collaterals are identified easily by renal venography, and knowledge of these collaterals is helpful in planning further surgical or radiological treatment.

Digital subtraction spinal cord angiography in patients undergoing thoracic aneurysm surgery

Thoraco-abdominal aortic replacement can be associated with a high incidence of paraplegia. Because the major source of blood supply to the thoraco-abdominal spinal cord is through the anterior spinal artery of Adamkiewicz, reimplantation of intercostal and lumbar arteries could reduce the risk of this operation. We used intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for preoperative localization of the anterior spinal artery in 12 patients. This vessel was successfully located in 9 patients, with DSA providing good quality images in all patients. Preoperative knowledge of the origin of this vessel was helpful in the planning of the operation in all patients, but its efficacy as a routine procedure was not established.

Transgraft hemorrhage: A serious complication of low-dose thrombolytic therapy

A 71-year-old woman came to the hospital with a 24-hour-old occlusion of the left limb of an aortoiliac knitted Dacron graft and was treated with an intra-arterial infusion of urokinase, 40,000 U/hr. Although the graft limb was successfully recanalized in 16 hours, the patient suffered a massive retroperitoneal hemorrhage through the wall of the graft. Clinicians must be aware of this potentially serious complication of thrombolytic therapy in patients with thrombosed, knitted Dacron grafts.

Upper-extremity venography using digital subtraction angiography

Venography to evaluate the patency of upper-extremity veins was performed with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and conventional angiography. Venous thrombosis was easily diagnosed, and the innominate veins and superior vena cava were more easily visualized using DSA. Iodine concentration for DSA was one-third that of conventional venography, and the examination time was reduced by 50% using DSA. Patient comfort and acceptance were greater with DSA. DSA is a superior technique for upper-extremity vein evaluation in cooperative patients.

'Therapeutic' lymphangiography - A new solution to post-bypass lymphorrhea - A case report

A sixty-eight-year-old man developed a groin lymphocele following an aorto- femoral bypass graft. Despite four weeks of conservative therapy, lymphorrhea persisted. A lymphangiogram, performed to accurately identify the site of leak age, resulted in cessation of the lymphatic leak. To our knowledge, this is the first report of lymphangiography as a therapeutic tool in the management of lymphorrhea following vascular reconstruction.

Superficial femoral artery occlusion: Observations that influence patient selection criteria for angioplasty

The length of an arterial occlusion is one criterion for selection of patients for transluminal angioplasty. A technique is described to fully evaluate the length of a superficial femoral artery occlusion during diagnostic peripheral arteriography.