Using the Casper Stent in Carotid Angioplasty: A Single Center Experience

Objectives To establish the success rate in endovascular internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis recanalization using the double-layer stent Casper-RX (Microvention, Inc 35 Enterprise, Aliso Viejo, California, United States of America) and to identify the main comorbidities in individuals with ICA stenosis, morphological characteristics of the stenosis, diagnostic methods, intraoperative complications, as well as morbidity and mortality within 30 days of the surgical procedure. Materials and Methods Retrospective analysis of 116 patients undergoing ICA angioplasty with a degree of stenosis ≥ 70% using Casper-RX stenting who underwent this procedure from April 2015 to December 2019. Results Technical success was achieved in 99.1% of the patients. Three of them had postprocedural complications: one transient ischemic attack (TIA) and two puncture site hematomas. A cerebral protection filter was not used in only two procedures, as these consisted of dissection of the carotid. There was satisfactory recanalization and adequate accommodation of the stents in the previously stenosed arteries, with no restenosis in 99.4% of the cases. Conclusion The endovascular treatment of extracranial carotid stenoses using the Casper-RX stent showed good applicability and efficacy. Although only two cases of thromboembolic complications occurred during the procedure, further investigation and studies on the effectiveness of this new device are needed.

Bleeding hepatico-cutaneous fistula: Unusual complication of the percutaneous liver biopsy

Introduction. Arteriovenous fistula is one of the complications that can occur during percutaneous liver biopsy. Hepatic arterio-venous fistula with chronic bleeding from the puncture site on the skin is extremly rare complication following percutaneous liver biopsy. Case report. The case represents a 35-year-old woman with secondary anemia caused by chronic bleeding at the site of a granuloma caused by a previous liver biopsy done 7 years ago. The patient was examined and treated for several years due to anemic syndrome. The pathological communication between the right hepatic vein, the anterior sectional branch of the portal vein and the posterior arterial sectional branch was detected on a CT scan, and proven by fistulography. Due to the failed embolization, a laparotomy was performed, where a tumor mass was found in the VI and VII segment of the liver, which communicates with the skin. Tumor mass was removed by atypical resection of VI and VII liver segments. Due to hemorrhage, re-exploration was performed, where bleeding was found from the surface of the resected liver parenchyma. Two weeks after the last operation, the patient was released for home treatment. Conclusion. Although percutaneous liver biopsy is a safe procedure, the complication in the form of bleeding occurs in less than 25% of cases and with spontaneous cessation. In our presentation, there was a complicated intrahepatic arteriovenous-portal fistula with the formation of communication with the puncture site on the skin. This is the first case of complications of this type after percutaneous liver biopsy.

Availability of ultrasound imaging of a guidewire parallel to the vein during internal jugular central venous catheter placement

Ultrasound verification of the guidewire traveling along the vein parallel to it and without any changes in angle has been recommended for prevention of inadvertent arterial catheterization during central venous catheter (CVC) placement. The aim of this study was to determine the availability of this parallel guidewire imaging during internal jugular CVC placement. Fifty-six adult patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery were included. The success rate of acquiring a parallel guidewire image was assessed. Logistic regression models and generalized additive models were used to identify the factors contributing to achieve parallel guidewire imaging. Among 56 patients in whom the guidewire was correctly positioned, the parallel guidewire image was acquired in 45 (80%) patients. Body mass index (crude odds ratio: 0.74 [95% confidence interval: 0.61–0.91]; p = 0.004) and distance from the puncture site to the clavicle (crude odds ratio: 1.32 [95% confidence interval: 1.11–1.58]; p = 0.002) were associated with successful depiction. The predicted probability of successful visualization was 96% (95% confidence interval: 82–99%) when the distance from the puncture site to the clavicle was 50 mm. The distance is a reliable predictor for successful visualization, and thus it should be considered when performing internal jugular CVC placement.

Manual extraction of a dislodged and migrated DES from radial artery puncture site

This is a rare case of manual retrieval of a dislodged stent from radial artery access site under local anaesthetic. The LAD PCI was complicated by stent distortion which occurred due to in adequate preparation of a calcified, tortuous lesion. The dislodged stent was unable to be retrieved percutaneously and had to be left in the distal radial artery which a few weeks later migrated from the radial artery and taken out manually from the puncture site.

Management of Bleed from Percutaneous Portal Puncture Site (post-BRTO) by Trans-jugular-Trans-Hepatic Embolization

We report the case of an elderly male, who was a known case of chronic liver parenchymal disease. He presented with a history of melena for 2 weeks and upper-GI endoscopy revealed fundal varices. He was planned for BRTO. Along with BRTO, a percutaneous trans-hepatic puncture of a branch of the right portal vein was also performed for proper embolization of the varices. The trans-hepatic puncture-tract was embolized after the procedure. However, after 24 hours of the procedure, the patient developed hypotension and abdominal distension due to hemorrhage from the portal puncture site. Portal-venography was performed via the trans-jugular-trans-hepatic route to confirm the source of hemorrhage and embolization of the culprit portal venous branch was performed via the same route. The patient was stable after the procedure.Various interventional procedures via the trans-jugular route have been routinely described in the literature, including trans-jugular liver biopsies, placement of TIPSS shunts and endovascular interventions for haemodialysis. However, the literature on trans-jugular embolization of portal vein is scarce. This case describes the unexpected clinical situation, in the form of bleeding from the portal puncture site, despite embolization of the trans-hepatic tract after BRTO. Finally, a creative solution was thought of and trans-jugular embolization of the portal vein was performed, which succeeded in terminating the ongoing bleeding from the portal vein.

Safety and Effectiveness of Coronary Angiography or Intervention through the Distal Radial Access: A Meta-Analysis

Objectives. Searching the literature for coronary angiography (CAG) or intervention through distal radial access (DRA) and performing a meta-analysis. Background. Coronary angiography (CAG) or intervention through distal radial access (DRA) may have a similar success rate, low radial artery occlusion rate, low radial artery spasm rate, and low rate of puncture site hematoma for patients with coronary heart disease. Therefore, the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched, and the data were pooled for meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of DRA. Methods. RCTs comparing the CAG or intervention through DRA vs. transradial access (TRA) published between January 1, 2017, and May 4, 2021, were searched in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. The endpoints included the rate of access success and the number of radial artery occlusions, radial artery spasms, and puncture site hematomas. The data were extracted, and a random-effects model was used for analysis. Results. Among 204 studies, 6 RCTs (with 2825 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Compared to TRA, the access success rate in DRA ( p = 0.1 ) and the lower rate of puncture site hematoma were not significantly different ( p = 0.646 ), while the radial artery occlusion rate ( p < 0.001 ) and radial artery spasm rate ( p = 0.029 ) were significantly lower. Conclusion. In summary, DRA has a similar access success rate and incidence of hematoma at the puncture site, but a lower incidence of RAO and spasm compared to TRA. These findings demonstrated that DRA is a safe and effective access for CAG or intervention.

Histiocytoid Giant Cellulitis-Like Sweet Syndrome At The Site of Sternal Aspiration: A Case Report

Background: Sweet syndrome with both histiocytoid pathology and giant cellulitis-like lesion feature is extremely rare and has only been reported once. Our case is different from the previous report because the cutaneous lesion was caused by local invasive irritation, which made it much more difficult to distinguish from cellulitis.Case presentation: A 52-year-old male was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome with multilineage dysplasia (MDS-MLD) associated with myelofibrosis (MDS-F) as well as angioneurotic edema of the tongue and floor of the mouth. Seven days after sternal aspiration, a cellulitis-like lesion was formed at the puncture site. Since he had neutropenia, history of glucocorticoid use and didn't keep the site dry and clean after aspiration, cellulitis was diagnosed, followed by broad-spectrum antibiotics and debridement. However, the lesion continued to expand, associated with blisters formation, accompanied by chills and fever. Blood cultures and blister smears didn't detect any pathogens. Biopsy of the lesion was performed and histiocytoid Sweet syndrome was diagnosed. He received prednisone treatment, and the fever relieved within 24 hours and the cutaneous lesion resolved within one week. He has had no recurrence during two-month follow-up.Conclusions: This case can provide help for timely diagnosis and treatment and a reference for further summarizing the characteristics of this rare variant.