Paul V. Suhocki

Silastic cuffed catheters for hemodialysis vascular access: thrombolytic and mechanical correction of malfunction.

Silastic cuffed catheters are assuming a greater role in providing long-term vascular access for hemodialysis patients. However, catheter thrombosis, fibrin sheath formation, and catheter malposition are recurrent problems that reduce extracorporeal flow rates and shorten catheter life. We reviewed 163 consecutive episodes of catheter malfunction that occurred in 121 catheters in 88 patients over a 3.5-year period. Intraluminal instillation of urokinase was successful in reestablishing an extracorporeal flow rate of > or = 300 mL/min in 74% of episodes. The 42 remaining episodes (26%) were radiologically evaluated. Two catheters required replacement for catheter kinking or insufficient catheter length. Two additional catheters were malpositioned; both were successfully repositioned with percutaneous techniques. A fibrin sheath was detected encasing the catheter in 38 instances. The fibrin sheath was successfully stripped from the distal portion of the catheter in 36 of the 38 instances. Using endoluminal thrombolytic therapy and percutaneous mechanical techniques, we have extended the mean survival for catheters intended for permanent vascular access to 12.7 months and have allowed 95% of the catheters inserted for temporary use to reach their use goal. Tunnel tract infection and catheter-mediated bacteremia were the primary reasons for catheter removal.

Management of major biliary complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

OBJECTIVE A total of 50 major bile duct injuries after laparoscopic cholecystectomy were managed by the Duke University Hepatobiliary Service from 1990-1992. The management of these complex cases is reviewed. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the preferred method for removing the gallbladder. Bile duct injury is the most feared complication of the new procedure. METHODS Review of videotapes, pathology, and management of the original operations were reviewed retrospectively, and the injuries categorized. Major biliary injury was defined as a recognized disruption of any part of the major extrahepatic biliary system. Biliary leakage was defined as a clinically significant biliary fistula in the absence of major biliary injury, i.e., with an intact extrahepatic biliary system. RESULTS Thirty-eight injuries were major biliary ductal injuries and 12 patients had simple biliary leakage. Twenty-four patients had the classic type injury or some variant of the classic injury. A standard treatment approach was developed which consisted of ERCP for diagnosis, preoperative PTC with the placement of stents, CT drainage immediately after the PTC for drainage of biliary ascites, and usually Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy with placement of O-rings for future biliary access if necessary. Major ductal injuries were high in the biliary system involving multiple ducts in 31 of the 38 patients. Re-operation was required in 5 of the 38 patients with particularly complex problems. CONCLUSIONS Successful management of bile duct injury after laparoscopic cholecystectomy requires careful understanding of the mechanisms, considerable preoperative assessment by experts, and a multidisciplinary approach.

The role of ERCP in diagnosis and management of accessory bile duct leaks after cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) plays an important role in the management of bile leaks after cholecystectomy. Although most leaks occur from the cystic duct stump, clinically significant leakage from accessory bile ducts is less common and has not been investigated systematically. We report our experience with endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of accessory bile duct leaks after cholecystectomy. METHODS Patients with accessory bile duct leaks were identified from a computerized database. Hospital charts and cholangiograms were reviewed to determine the outcome of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. RESULTS Of 86 patients with postcholecystectomy leaks, 15 (17%) were diagnosed with accessory bile duct leaks. ERCP established the diagnosis of accessory bile duct leaks in 11 of 15 patients (73%); percutaneous fistulography (2) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (2) were diagnostic in 4 patients. Endoscopic therapy led to resolution of the leak in 12 patients. One patient underwent successful percutaneous biliary drainage, and two patients required surgical repair. CONCLUSIONS Accessory bile ducts are rare sites of significant bile leakage after cholecystectomy. ERCP identifies the leak in the majority of patients; percutaneous fistulography or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography may help clarify the diagnosis if ERCP is nondiagnostic. Most patients can be successfully treated with endoscopic stenting. If endoscopic therapy fails, percutaneous drainage or surgical repair needs to be considered.

Current indication of a modified Sugiura procedure in the management of variceal bleeding.

BACKGROUND The role of gastroesophageal devascularization (Sugiura-rype procedures) for the treatment of variceal bleeding remains controversial. Although Japanese series reported favorable longterm results, the technique has nor been widely accepted in the Western Hemisphere because of a high postoperative morbidity and mortality. The reasons for the different outcomes are unclear. In a multidisciplinary team approach we developed a therapeutic algorithm for patients with recurrent variceal bleeding. STUDY DESIGN The Sugiura procedure was offered only to patients with well-preserved liver function (Child A or Child B cirrhosis without chronic ascites) who were not candidates for distal splenorenal shunt, transhepatic porto-systemic shunt, or liver transplantation. RESULTS Fifteen patients with recurrent variceal bleeding underwent a modified Sugiura procedure between September 1994 and September 1997. All but one patient (operative mortality 7%) are alive after a median followup of 4 years. Recurrent variceal bleeding developed in one patient; esophageal strictures, which were successfully treated by endoscopic dilatation, developed in three patients; and one patient experienced mild encephalopathy. Major complications were noted only in patients with impaired liver function (Child B cirrhosis) or when the modified Sugiura was performed in an emergency setting. The presence of cirrhosis or the cause of portal hypertension had no significant impact on the complication rate. CONCLUSIONS This series was performed during the last decade when all modern therapeutic options for variceal bleeding were available. Our results indicate that the modified Sugiura procedure is an effective rescue therapy in patients who are not candidates for selective shunts, transhepatic porto-systemic shunt, or transplantation. Emergency settings and decreased liver function are associated with an increased morbidity.

Coil embolization of segmental arterial mediolysis of the hepatic artery.

JVIR 2000; 11:865–868 SEGMENTAL arterial mediolysis was described as a distinct pathologic entity by Slavin et al (1) in 1976. The angiographic features of the disease were first described in 1990 by Heritz et al (2) and were subsequently described by other investigators (3–6). Slavin et al originally named the entity segmental mediolytic arteritis, but later changed the name to segmental arterial mediolysis when it became evident that the pathologic process was, in fact, quite dissimilar to the histologic appearances of arteritis. In 1949, Grunewald (7) described a pathologically similar process in the epicardial coronary arteries of neonates, and it is now generally believed that this was the first description of segmental arterial mediolysis in the literature (1,4). We describe a case of an elderly patient with a presumptive diagnosis of segmental arterial mediolysis who presented with abdominal pain and hemobilia. We report the use of coil embolization to treat the symptomatic aneurysmal abnormalities. We also describe the angiographic findings after 5 months of follow-up.

Analysis of Infection Risk following Covered Stent Exclusion of Pseudoaneurysms in Prosthetic Arteriovenous Hemodialysis Access Grafts

PURPOSE To determine whether exclusion of pseudoaneurysms with the use of a covered stent in prosthetic arteriovenous (AV) hemodialysis access grafts impacts the incidence of eventual AV graft infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS Review of an interventional radiology database for prosthetic AV graft interventions involving stent deployment anywhere within the AV graft circuit revealed 235 interventions in 174 patients between November 2004 and December 2008. Incidence of AV graft infection was analyzed based on stent type (bare metal vs covered), location, and indication for stent deployment on a per-stent, per-procedure, and per-graft basis. RESULTS A total of 16.3% of the stent-implanted AV grafts were eventually surgically excised as a result of graft infection. Covered stents used to treat an intragraft pseudoaneurysm were more commonly associated with subsequent graft infection compared with bare or covered stents deployed within the graft for other reasons: 42.1% versus 18.2% (P = .011). Stents deployed in an intragraft location were also associated with a higher incidence of graft infection compared with those deployed at the venous anastomosis or outflow vein: 26.9% versus 6.9% (P < .001). No significant difference was identified in infection rates between bare and covered stents. CONCLUSIONS Covered stent exclusion of intragraft pseudoaneurysms demonstrated a significant correlation with eventual prosthetic AV graft infection.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in patients with refractory ascites: effect on body weight and Child-Pugh score.

Objective:This study suggests that patients with medically refractory ascites treated with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) may have improved in overall clinical status.Methods:We performed a retrospective study of 35 patients with medically refractory ascites treated with TIPS. Body weight, ascites, and Child-Pugh score were assessed at baseline, at 2 months, and after a mean 8.8-month follow-up interval.Results:After TIPS, there was significant improvement in Child-Pugh score from 9.7 ± 1.5 to 8.2 ± 2.3. Ascites completely resolved or improved in 23 of 24 patients (96%) who had long term follow-up. Two months after TIPS, there was a significant decrease in weight of 6.1 kg corresponding to a loss of ascites. Between 2 and 8.8 months, there was a significant mean weight gain of 5.5 kg.Conclusion:This study suggests that patients treated with medically refractory ascites with TIPS may have improvement in overall clinical status, as measured by increase in lean body mass and improvement in Child-Pugh score.

Provocative Mesenteric Angiography for Lower Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage: Results from a Single-institution Study

PURPOSE To determine the diagnostic capability, complication rate, and potential predictors of success for provocative mesenteric angiography in patients with obscure and recurrent lower gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-four patients (age, 7-92 years; 22 men) underwent 36 provocative mesenteric angiograms between January 2002 and December 2008. Provocative mesenteric angiography consisted of systemic anticoagulation with heparin followed by selective transcatheter injection of vasodilator and tissue plasminogen activator into the arterial distribution of highest suspicion. Medications were administered incrementally until active extravasation was visualized or until the operator deemed the outcome negative. The pertinent clinical, radiologic, surgical, laboratory, and pathologic notes were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS Among 36 provocative mesenteric angiograms, 11 resulted in angiographically visible extravasation (31%) and an additional procedure resulted in angiographic visualization of an undiagnosed hypervascular mass, resulting in the identification of a source of a hemorrhage in 33% overall. In 10 of the 11 cases with visualized extravasation, transcatheter embolization successfully controlled recurrent hemorrhage, while the hypervascular mass without extravasation was successfully resected. Therefore, a total of 11 of 36 studies (31%) resulted in successful definitive treatment of recurrent hemorrhage. One embolization-related complication occurred, resulting in surgical resection of perforated ischemic bowel. No hemorrhagic complications were identified. Patients with melena and patients admitted for reasons other than acute lower GI hemorrhage were significantly less likely to benefit from provocative mesenteric angiography. CONCLUSIONS In this series, provocative mesenteric angiography was safe and effective for eliciting the source of occult lower GI hemorrhage, leading to definitive therapy in about one third of patients.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia causing high output cardiac failure: treatment with transcatheter embolization

We report a case of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia complicated by high output heart failure caused by intrahepatic arteriovenous malformations. This patient was treated using transcatheter embolization of the intrahepatic arteriovenous malformations with concurrent measurement of cardiac output to monitor progress of the embolization.

Massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to rupture of a donor pancreatic artery pseudoaneurysm in a pancreas transplant patient.

Abstract:  Enteric drainage of secretions by anastomosing the donor duodenum to the recipients small bowel has become common in pancreatic transplantation. While it eliminates many problems, endoscopic access to the transplanted duodenum and pancreas is made difficult. After a pancreas kidney transplant, the patient presented with massive hematochezia. Upper and lower endoscopy revealed large amounts of red blood in the colon but no specific bleeding site. Mesenteric angiography was normal but pelvic angiography showed rapid extravasation of contrast from a pseudoaneurysm of the pancreatic transplant artery. This was successfully embolized with coils. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage because of rupture of a pseudoaneurysm of the donor pancreatic artery in a pancreas transplant patient. We report this case and review our institutions experience with all forms of gastrointestinal bleeding in pancreas transplant patients.