Search

Preoperative identification of the Adamkiewicz artery (AKA) with adequate reconstruction or preservation during surgery is useful for protecting the spinal cord from ischemia during thoracoabdominal aortic repair. However, the identification of the AKA remains challenging in some cases, especially with chronic aortic dissection. In a 45-year-old man with chronic aortic dissection requiring thoracoabdominal aortic repair, conventional contrast-enhanced CT or MR angiography failed to detect AKA due to the large entry tear and an enlarged false lumen. Intra-arterial ultra-high-resolution CT angiography combined with hemodynamic assessment using 4D flow MRI successfully identified the AKA, allowing for aortic repair with targeted intercostal artery reconstruction without postoperative signs of spinal cord ischemia.

We present a case of prophylactic endovascular embolization in a 51-year-old man with necrotizing pancreatitis (NP) before undergoing endoscopic necrosectomy (EN). Contrast-enhanced CT imaging revealed the presence of a walled-off necrosis (WON) surrounding the pancreas, with the splenic artery coursing through the cavity. The splenic artery was embolized using n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) and coils to mitigate the risk of massive bleeding in EN. A newly developed polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-coated microcatheter was used to inject NBCA, enabling embolization of a long segment of the splenic artery without adhering to the vessel wall. Coils were placed distal and proximal to the embolized segment to optimize control. Over 5 sessions of EN, no massive bleeding was encountered. This report demonstrates the benefits of utilizing PTFE-coated microcatheters for enhanced safety and maneuverability during embolization with NBCA. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of prophylactic embolization during EN for managing NP.

We describe the endovascular embolization of a 65-year-old man with chronic hepatic encephalopathy. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated a splenorenal shunt and a recanalized paraumbilical vein as a continuous portal shunt connecting the left branch of the portal vein and the right common femoral vein. A 2-session embolization was performed for the splenorenal shunt. First, the transvenous approach was used for coil embolization of the splenorenal shunt. It was difficult to advance the catheter system to the embolization site, and it was unstable during coil placement. Second, the paraumbilical venous approach was used to place additional coils. The catheter system had good maneuverability and easily reached the embolization site. Additionally, the stable system allowed for densely packed additional coil implantations. This report demonstrated the paraumbilical venous approach's effectiveness in catheter maneuverability and system stability during coil embolization.

Endovascular therapy is an important method of treating high-flow arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). The nidus of AVMs can be treated by transarterial or percutaneous approaches with the use of ethanol as a strong embolic agent; however, treatment outcomes are not always satisfactory and complications including skin necrosis often occur, particularly following the treatment of superficial lesions. Herein, we describe successful transvenous sclerotherapy of high-flow AVMs in the finger of a 47-year-old female patient that were causing erythema and spontaneous pain using ethanolamine oleate (EO) as a safe sclerosant. Dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography and angiography revealed a high-flow type Ⅲb AVM according to Yakes classification. Using the transvenous approach, 5% EO with idoxanol was injected into the nidus of the AVM 3 times over 2 sessions. An arterial tourniquet was used to achieve stasis of blood flow at the nidus and microballoon occlusion of the outflow vein was used to ensure the sclerosant effectively reached the nidus. Near-total occlusion of the nidus was achieved leading to improved symptoms. Mild edema lasting 2 weeks occurred as a minor reaction after each session. Finger amputation may have been avoided by using this treatment. Transvenous EO sclerotherapy using an arterial tourniquet and balloon occlusion may have utility in treating AVMs in the extremities.

In conventional carotid computed tomographic angiography, the artifacts of the stent vary depending on the structure and characteristics of the alloy type. Cobalt-based alloy stents have been reported to exhibit high artifacts, and accurate evaluation of the internal lumen can be difficult. Recently, ultra-high-resolution computed tomography scanner systems have become available for clinical practice. The primary features of this computed tomography scanner are a 0.25-mm detector row width and a 1024 × 1024 matrix. We report a case-series of carotid artery stenting using a cobalt-based alloy stent scanned by an ultra-high-resolution computed tomography scanner system and model-based iterative reconstruction. We also report that the combination of the ultra-high-resolution computed tomography scanner system with model-based iterative reconstruction would be useful to evaluate vessel patency after placement of a cobalt-based alloy stent.

We describe treatment of a 53-year-old man with chronic hepatic encephalopathy. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated a recanalized paraumbilical vein as a portosystemic shunt connecting the left branch of the portal vein and bilateral iliac veins. Percutaneous embolization was performed. The paraumbilical vein was punctured under ultrasonographic guidance; a 7-Fr sheath was inserted in the cranial direction. The hepatic side of the shunt was embolized with a vascular plug. The sheath direction was inverted to the caudal side; the pelvic side of the shunt was then embolized with another vascular plug. This report demonstrates that the percutaneous transparaumbilical venous approach is useful and safe for portosystemic shunt intervention. Moreover, the one-sheath inverse method was useful for embolization of upstream and downstream sides of the puncture site.

A 43-year-old woman presented with dyspnea during exertion and lower leg edema. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography images demonstrated extensive proximal narrowing in the right main pulmonary artery with thickening and enhancement. Right heart catheterization revealed the presence of precapillary pulmonary hypertension with a mean pulmonary arterial pressure of 45 mm Hg. The patient was diagnosed with large-vessel vasculitis with isolated pulmonary artery involvement. Takayasu's arteritis was suspected, but histological examination was not performed. Several sessions of pulmonary arterial intervention were stratified for the right main pulmonary artery. After treatment, mean pulmonary arterial pressure had decreased to 22 mm Hg with improvement in symptoms. Thoracic 4D-flow magnetic resonance imaging was performed before and after intervention to evaluate the volume flow rates of pulmonary arteries. The rates increased at the inlet of the right pulmonary artery (before: 23 mL/s vs after: 47.5 mL/s) and the main pulmonary artery (before: 71.2 mL/s vs after: 82.5 mL/s), and decreased at the inlet of the left pulmonary artery (before: 46.2 mL/s vs after: 31.7 mL/s). The split ratio of volume flow rate between the right and left pulmonary arteries improved after treatment (before. right:left = 33.1:66.9; after, right:left = 60.0:40.0), approaching normal values. This report quantitatively describes perioperative hemodynamic changes in a patient with pulmonary hypertension using 4D-flow magnetic resonance imaging. Stent placement for stenosis in the right pulmonary artery resulted in an increase in overall pulmonary blood flow and also improved blood flow balance between the right and the left pulmonary arteries. Keywords: Pulmonary hypertension, Takayasu's arteritis, Three-dimensional phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (4D-flow MRI), Endovascular intervention

We report a case of asymptomatic iatrogenic air bubbles in the left ventricle observed by coronary computed tomographic angiography. Air bubbles are rarely found in the left ventricle and could prove fatal should they migrate to the brain or coronary arteries. We believe that the cause is micro air bubbles in the tubing system between the intravenous catheter and power injector. Keywords: Iatrogenic air bubbles, Coronary computed tomographic angiography, Intravenous catheter, Power injector, Contrast medium, Patent foramen ovale