Rakesh Navuluri

The KDOQI 2006 Vascular Access Update and Fistula First Program Synopsis.

The optimal care of patients with end stage renal disease on hemodialysis involves a multidisciplinary approach involving nephrologists, vascular surgeons, transplant surgeons and interventional radiologists. A collaborative effort by these groups of physicians was used to create the KDOQI guidelines and the Fistula First program, which have served as the template for the management of dialysis patients. This article will briefly review the recent updates for vascular access in the KDOQI guidelines and summarize the highlights of the Fistula First program.

Evaluation and Treatment of Suspected Type II Endoleaks in Patients with Enlarging Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

PURPOSE To evaluate angiographic diagnosis and embolotherapy of patients with enlarging abdominal aortic aneurysms and computed tomographic (CT) diagnosis of type II endoleak. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review was performed of all patients referred to a single vascular and interventional radiology section from January 1, 2003, to June 1, 2011, with a diagnosis of enlarging aneurysm and type II endoleak. Twenty-five patients underwent 40 procedures between 12 and 82 months after endograft insertion (mean, 48 mo) for diagnosis and/or treatment of endoleaks. RESULTS Type II endoleaks were treated with cyanoacrylate, coils, and ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer in 16 patients. Technical success rate was 88% (14 of 16 patients) and clinical success rate was 100% (16 of 16 patients). Aneurysm growth was arrested in all cases over a mean follow-up of 27.5 months (range, 6-88 mo). Endoleaks in nine patients were misclassified on CT; two had type I endoleaks and seven had type III endoleaks. Four of the nine patients (two type I endoleaks and two type III endoleaks) were correctly classified after initial angiography. The other five type III endoleaks were correctly classified on CT after coil embolization of the inferior mesenteric artery. Direct embolization was performed via sac puncture with ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer in two of the latter five patients and eliminated endoleaks in both. CONCLUSIONS Aneurysm growth caused by type II endoleaks was arrested by embolization. CT misclassification occurred relatively commonly; type III endoleaks purported to be type II endoleaks were found in 28% of patients (seven of 25).

Role of Interventional Radiology in the Emergent Management of Acute Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Approximately 100,000 cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) require inpatient admission annually in the United States. When medical management and endoscopic therapy are inadequate, endovascular intervention can be lifesaving. These emergent situations highlight the importance of immediate competence of the interventional radiologist in the preangiographic evaluation as well as the endovascular treatment of UGIB. We describe a case of UGIB managed with endovascular embolization and detail the angiographic techniques used. The case description is followed by a detailed discussion of the treatment approach to UGIB, with attention to both nonvariceal and variceal algorithms.

Strut Penetration: Local Complications, Breakthrough Pulmonary Embolism, and Retrieval Failure in Patients with Celect Vena Cava Filters

PURPOSE To investigate strut penetration in patients with Celect filters, specifically local complications and association with breakthrough pulmonary embolism (PE) or retrieval failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective single-center study was conducted to evaluate patients who received Celect filters between January 2007 and May 2013. A total of 595 filters were placed during the study period. Primary indications included thromboembolic disease (93%) and primary surgical prophylaxis (7%). Complications and retrieval data were assessed by computed tomography (CT) and electronic medical records. RESULTS A total of 193 patients underwent follow-up abdominal CT at a mean follow-up interval of 176.2 days (range, 0-1,739 d). The rate of strut penetration more than 3 mm outside the caval wall was 28.5% (n = 55). One patient had CT evidence of clinically major strut penetration (1.8%) with strut compression of the right ureter causing hydronephrosis. Indwelling filter time longer than 100 days was associated with strut penetration (P < .001). Age, sex, and history of thromboembolic disease were not associated with strut penetration (P = .51, P = .81, and P = .89). Sixty-three patients presented for follow-up CT pulmonary angiography at a mean of 128.1 days (range, 1-895 d). The rate of breakthrough PE was 12.7%. The overall retrieval success rate was 96.7% (n = 150). Strut penetration was not associated with breakthrough PE or retrieval failure (P = .49 and P = .22). CONCLUSIONS Although strut penetration is a common complication with Celect filters, there is no association with breakthrough PE or retrieval failure. CT evidence of local complications associated with strut penetration is rare.

Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

The annual incidence of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is ∼20.5 in 100,000 in the general Western population and results in 1 to 2% of hospital emergencies. When medical management and endoscopic therapy are inadequate in cases of acute LGIB, endovascular intervention can be lifesaving. In these emergent situations it is important for the interventional radiologist to be well versed in the multidisciplinary preangiographic work-up, the angiographic presentations of LGIB, and the endovascular therapeutic options. We describe a case of LGIB managed with endovascular embolization and detail the angiographic techniques used, followed by a detailed discussion of the various treatment approaches to LGIB.

Indwelling and Retrieval Complications of Denali and Celect Infrarenal Vena Cava Filters

PURPOSE To compare indwelling and retrieval complications of Denali and Celect filters placed in the infrarenal inferior vena cava (IVC). MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study was conducted over 2 years at a single institution in which 171 Denali and 162 Celect filters were placed in 333 patients with a mean age of 62.3 years ± 15.7 (161 men; 48.3%). Filter indications included venous thromboembolic disease (n = 320; 96.1%) and surgical prophylaxis (n = 13; 3.9%). A jugular approach was used to place 303 filters (91.0%). Computed tomography (CT) follow-up, complications, and retrieval data were obtained. RESULTS Follow-up CT imaging was performed on 58 filters from each group with lower incidences of caval strut penetration (one vs 12) and filter tilt (one vs 15) in the Denali filter group (P = .002 and P < .001, respectively). There was no difference in incidences of breakthrough pulmonary embolism (P = .68). Retrieval attempts were performed on 43 Denali and 53 Celect filters with mean indwelling times at retrieval of 128.2 and 144.1 days, respectively (P = .40). Mean fluoroscopy time at retrieval was lower in the Denali group (3.1 min vs 6.0 min; P = .01). There were fewer cases of complex retrieval in the Denali group (n = 2 vs 10; P = .06). Tilt, fluoroscopy time, and air kerma were associated with complex retrieval (P = .04, P < .001, and P < .001, respectively). There was one Denali filter deployment complication that led to retrieval failure. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that Denali filters are associated with lower incidences of strut penetration and filter tilt as well as shorter fluoroscopy time at retrieval compared with Celect filters when placed in the infrarenal IVC.

Bronchial artery embolization for malignant hemoptysis: a single institutional experience

OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of bronchial artery embolization (BAE) in patients with malignant hemoptysis. METHODS An IRB-approved retrospective study at our academic institution was conducted on all patients treated by BAE for hemoptysis from lung malignancy. Outcome and safety measures were documented according to Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) practice guidelines. RESULTS A total of 26 patients (13 male, 13 female) with lung malignancy underwent BAE for hemoptysis from 2003-2013. Histologic analysis revealed 80% (21/26) of cases were from primary lung malignancies, while the remaining 20% (4/26) represented metastatic disease. Sixty-five percent (17/26) of patients underwent bronchoscopy prior to BAE. Follow-up ranged from 2 to 1,909 days, with average of 155 days. Technical success was achieved in 77% of patients (20/26). Clinical success rate was 75% (15/20). Eighty-five percent of embolized patients (17/20) were treated with particles, 15% (3/20) with gelfoam, and 20% (4/20) with coils. Single-vessel embolization was performed in 70% (14/20), two-vessel in 20% (4/20), and multiple vessels in 10% (2/20). No complications were reported. Six-month all-cause mortality of treated cases was 55% (11/20) with an in-hospital mortality of 25% (5/20). Ten percent (2/20) had remote re-bleeding events beyond 6 months. Statistically significant predictors of mortality were intubation status, hemoglobin/hematocrit at presentation, and thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSIONS BAE is a safe and useful treatment for clinically significant hemoptysis in patients with primary or metastatic lung masses despite high overall mortality. Intubation status, low hemoglobin/hematocrit, and thrombocytopenia may represent clinical predictors of short term mortality following BAE. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE Most patients undergoing BAE for malignant hemoptysis achieve high clinical success despite suffering a high mortality from underlying disease.

Complications of transjugular biopsies.

Transvenous biopsy was first performed in 1964 by Charles Dotter. Now routinely performed in the liver and kidney by interventional radiologists, the transjugular approach to biopsy has assumed a central role in coagulopathic patients. Major arterial complications from transjugular liver and renal biopsy are rare. In this article, the authors describe such complications in both organs that necessitated selective endovascular coil embolization.

Chest Port Fracture Caused by Power Injection

Implantable chest ports provide reliable access for patients who require intermittent intravenous therapy. Recently, injectable ports designed to allow rapid contrast injection during computed tomography (CT) scanning have become the preferred port in many hospitals.1 In general, these newer ports are rated for injections up to 5 mL/s with a maximum pressure of 300 psi. Older types of ports are limited in that they do not allow rapid injection rates due to the risk of malfunction.

Transhepatic Guidance of Translumbar Hemodialysis Catheter Placement in the Setting of Chronic Infrarenal IVC Occlusion

When patients with end-stage renal disease have exhausted both conventional and unconventional venous access options, creative solutions must be sought for hemodialysis catheter placement in order to ensure survival. This case describes a patient in urgent need of a dialysis catheter despite total occlusion of the jugular, subclavian, and femoral veins. Occlusion of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and right renal vein resulted in failed attempts at translumbar catheter placement. A gooseneck snare was temporarily advanced through the liver to the IVC for use as a fluoroscopic target to facilitate successful single-puncture, translumbar catheterization.