Rafael Noronha Cavalcante

Safety, efficacy, and prognostic factors in endovascular treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of transcatheter embolization using coils for treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) and to elucidate prognostic factors for clinical success.

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.

Oral Rivaroxaban for the Treatment of Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolism in 400 Patients with Active Cancer: A Single-Center Experience

Purpose: To study the safety and efficacy of rivaroxaban—a direct oral anticoagulant—use in patients with active cancer and venous thromboembolism (VTE). Patients and Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 400 patients with active cancer and associated VTE, defined as deep venous thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism. This single-center study was carried out from January 2012 to June 2015. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety, using the incidence of recurrent symptomatic VTE and major bleeding, respectively, throughout the treatment with rivaroxaban. Results: Of the 400 patients enrolled, 223 (55.8%) were female. A total of 362 (90.5%) patients had solid tumors and 244 (61%) had metastatic disease. A total of 302 (75.5%) received initial parenteral therapy with enoxaparin (median: 3, mean: 5.6, standard deviation [SD]: 6.4 days) followed by rivaroxaban. Ninety-eight patients (24.5%) were treated with on label rivaroxaban treatment. Recurrence rates were 3.25% with major bleeding occurring in 5.5% during the anticoagulant therapy (median: 118, mean: 163.9, SD: 159.9 days). Conclusion: Rivaroxaban can be an attractive alternative for the treatment of cancer-associated thrombosis.

Endovascular treatment of a giant hepatic artery aneurysm with Amplatzer vascular plug

Hepatic artery aneurysms are uncommon and account for 20% of visceral aneurysms. Some authors consider endovascular procedures as the first line treatment for most hepatic artery aneurysms, being the conventional surgery reserved for unstable ruptured aneurysms or if the anatomy is unsuitable for endovascular repair. In this report, we describe the endovascular treatment of a giant common hepatic artery aneurysm with an Amplatzer vascular plug.

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.

An experience of vascular access for hemodialysis in Brazil

Background The analysis of hemodialysis services is relevant for the quality of life of patient. In this study we investigated the profile of vascular access used for hemodialysis patients in our Unit. Methods We evaluated 219 patients of both genders aged over 18 years old who have undergone implant or manufacture of vascular hemodialysis access. We excluded patients on renal replacement therapy by peritoneal dialysis. Results Associated diseases were hypertension and diabetes mellitus. 161 had arteriovenous fistula, with 153 held by the same dialysis and nine of them were still maturing. 27 patients on dialysis used central venous catheter. 148 were indigenous and five were made using polytetrafluoroethylene prosthesis (PTFE). Among the 27 patients with central venous catheters, ten used short-term catheter and 17 used long-term catheter. The most frequent type of fistula use was on the radio distal cephalic, in 85 patients (52.5%), followed by radio cephalic proximal in 26 patients (16%). The number of fistulas in dialysis patients conducted by this kind of therapy ranged from one to ten and in 64 patients (41.83%) fistula was the first and only to be made. Among the fistula for dialysis patients, the highest prevalence was radio cephalic fistula in 111 patients (72.5%) and mean duration of use was 48.1 months, ranging from two months to 17 years. Conclusion Our Unit of hemodialysis is above the limits established by international norms.

Severe visceral ischemia and death after multilayer stent deployment for the treatment of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm

The treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms, both surgical and endovascular, has always been challenging. In the last years, the multilayer stent has emerged as an alternative device for the treatment of this condition. In this paper, we describe a catastrophic complication of the multilayer stent in a patient with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm, a case of massive visceral ischemia and death 3 months after stent deployment.

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.

Perviedade e complicações no seguimento de cateteres venosos totalmente implantáveis para quimioterapia

BACKGROUND: Availability of venous access for patients that receive long-term cytotoxic therapy is of great importance to the success of treatment. Totally implantable devices have been increasingly more used for this therapy, providing improvement in the quality of life of patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patency and complications of totally implantable catheters inserted in oncological patients. METHODS: Retrospective longitudinal study of 74 patients that underwent placement of totally implantable catheter from January 2004 throughout February 2007. RESULTS: Totally implantable catheters were placed in 74 patients with mean age of 48.9 years; the female gender was predominant. The most prevalent neoplasms were breast (40.5%), colon (20.8%) and lymphoma (18.9%). Cervical access (74.3%) was prevalent, using the internal jugular vein in 45.9% of cases. Only 13.5% of accesses were inserted via subclavian vein puncture. Mean duration of catheter use was 335.33 days. Thirty six (48.6%) patients remained with the catheter after the chemotherapy was discontinued. There were no complications in 67 (90.5%) patients. Among early complications, there was one (1.4%) pneumothorax and one (1.4%) hematoma. Among late complications, there were five (6.7%) infections. Ten (13.5%) catheters were removed, five due complications and five after ending the treatment. Eleven (14.9%) patients died from cancer, and the catheters were still functioning. CONCLUSION: The outcomes obtained show low rate of complications, confirming that use of totally implantable catheters is safe and effective for patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Recanalização espontânea tardia de carótida interna: relato de caso

Late spontaneous recanalization of internal carotid artery is an unusual event that has received little attention. The authors report a case of a 73-year-old male patient, hypertensive, with previous history of cerebral vascular accident 3 years ago, with sensorimotor sequela in the right upper limb. Duplex scanning and arteriography showed total occlusion of the internal carotid artery. The patient progressed after 2 years with new episodes of recurrent transient ischemic attacks. When submitted to new imaging examinations to assess extra- and intracranial circulation, vessel recanalization was demonstrated, with severe stenosis. Left carotid endarterectomy was uneventfully performed. The patient progressed without new episodes after a 1-month follow-up. Considering the case rarity and the lack of literature on late carotid artery recanalization that can be surgically repaired, we decided to present this case focusing on the importance of following carotid artery occlusions.