Therapeutic Endovascular Procedures Research Articles

Contrast-Induced Encephalopathy and the Blood-Brain Barrier.

Contrast-induced encephalopathy (CIE) is an adverse event associated with diagnostic and therapeutic endovascular procedures. Decades of animal and human research support a mechanistic role for pathological blood-brain barrier dysfunction (BBBd). Here, we describe an institutional case series and review the literature supporting a mechanistic role for BBBd in CIE. A literature review was conducted by searching MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL and Cochrane databases from inception to January 31, 2022. We searched our institutional neurovascular database for cases of CIE following endovascular treatment of cerebrovascular disease during a 6-month period. Informed consent was obtained in all cases. Review of the literature revealed risk factors for BBBd and CIE, including microvascular disease, pathological neuroinflammation, severe procedural hypertension, iodinated contrast load and altered cerebral blood flow dynamics. In our institutional series, 6 of 52 (11.5%) of patients undergoing therapeutic neuroendovascular procedures developed CIE during the study period. Four patients were treated for ischemic stroke and two patients for recurrent cerebral aneurysms. Mechanical stenting or thrombectomy were utilized in all cases. In this institutional case series and literature review of animal and human data, we identified numerous shared risk factors for CIE and BBBd, including microvascular disease, increased procedure length, large contrast volumes, severe intraoperative hypertension and use of mechanical devices that may induce iatrogenic endothelial injury.

Exercise therapy results of postoperativ treated critical iliac artery stenosis (TASC II A and B) patients who were infected with the Covid 19

Introduction: Adequate individual physical activity after COVID 19 infection as a inevitable part of postoperative therapy of surgically treated vascular and endovascular patients witch still remains a scientific unexplored international neglected secret. General post-covid symptomatology is increasingly present in patients with surgical or endovascular procedures on the iliac segment in the form of a manifestation of various complaints that can affect the very accessibility of the choice of treatment according to the TASC II guidelines, but also affect physical activity and quality of life. Besides the medicament treatment, the management of moderate intensity exercise therapy and future consistency of self-controlled exercise after surgical and endovascular after treatment in iliac critic stenosis with other asymptomatic systemic atherosclerosis can be important factor to support and improve benefits of surgical and endovascular treatment outcome in variable symptomatology of POSTCOVID 19 patients treated classical surgical and endovascular. Goals: The focus is on priority of investigation of remodeling the pattern of cultural smoking behavior and increasing the dynamic of physical activity trying to prevent and avoid potential risk of sudden death, myocardial infarction, stroke graft (stent) occlusion, and cardiovascular mortality in patients with POSTCOVID 19 symptomatology in which is besides other asymptomatic systemic atherosclerosis is the main disease critical iliac artery stenosis (TASC II A and B). Scientifically unproven that sometimes can be associated with poor outcome of surgical intervention the which are in deficit with scientific studies to confirm these scientific observations. Second goals are to investigate the potential possibility of POST COVID 19 symptomatology associated with the success of classic surgical bypass or endovascular intervention and the possibility of reflection on physical activity after vascular intervention. Also the improving and secure the quality of life after successful surgical bypass and endovascular revascularization treatment with influence on primary iliac (TASC II A and B) vascular intervention potency one of main goals as well suppress permanent or permanent consequences of the Covid 19 virus during therapeutic surgical or endovascular procedures of the iliac segment (TASC II A and B) Traditional food as well wrong choice of diet and continuous fight with nicotinism is still remains generally main health threat. Subjects and Methods: 266 Symptomatic post COVID 19 Patients with were observed during 3 years (134 patients with surgical dacron reconstruction and 132 with endovascular treatmant of short segment critical iliac artery stenosis) Moderate interval Intensity Training with Short Interval Repetitions on standard treadmill procedure. Results: The connection of the outcome of surgical and endovascular treatment with post and long covid 19 symptomatology is possible and has a significant impact on the quality of the continuation of physical medication therapy. Difference between the surgical and endovascular groups was observed after the implementation of the treatment as well as factors affecting the outcome of therapy. the outcome is devastating with the prevention of the risk factor of nicotism as well as with the lack of physical activity in some groups. Conclusion: Primary potency after Three years of Endovascular procedure and Dacron bypass Revascularization, has shown as successful with support of supervised exercise training in POSTCOVID 19 patients. Nicotiism still remains highly potency outcome threat when supporting exercise therapy. Also, future and recent studies on this topic should expand their understanding of the effect of the COVID 19 virus on the body in this patients, as well as improving the quality of life in order to improve the patency of bypass or endovascular intervention on the arterial iliac segment.

Transaneurysmal Access with Suture-Mediated Closure Device to Treat Iatrogenic Common Femoral Artery Pseudoaneurysm under Ultrasound Guidance: A Novel Technique

AbstractWe describe three cases that were complicated by access site-related common femoral artery pseudoaneurysm following therapeutic endovascular procedures. In all the cases, presentation was with painful swelling in the right groin that was tender and pulsatile on palpation; further evaluation with color Doppler ultrasound revealed pseudoaneurysm at the access site in common femoral artery. Ultrasound-guided transaneurysmal access was obtained and ProStyle (Abbott Vascular, Redwood City, California, United States) suture-mediated device was used to treat the pseudoaneurysm safely and successfully.

Radiological Imaging in Chest Diseases: Moving Away from Conventional Modes.

A chest radiograph is the most common and the initial radiological investigation for evaluating a child presenting with respiratory complaints. However, performing and interpreting chest radiography optimally requires training and skill. With the relatively easy availability of computed tomography (CT) scanning and more recently multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), these investigations are often performed. Although these can be the cross-sectional imaging modalities of choice in certain situations where detailed and exact anatomical and etiological information is required, both these investigations are associated with increased radiation exposure which has more detrimental effects on children, especially when repeated follow-up imaging is necessary to assess the disease status. Ultrasonography (USG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have evolved as radiation-free radiological investigations for evaluating the pediatric chest pathologies over the last few years. In the present review article, the utility and the current status, as well as the limitations of USG and MRI for evaluation of pediatric chest pathologies, are discussed. Radiology has grown beyond having just the diagnostic capabilities in managing children with chest disorders in the last two decades. Image-guided therapeutic procedures (percutaneous and endovascular) are routinely performed in children with pathologies in the mediastinum and lungs. The commonly performed image-guided pediatric chest interventions, including biopsies, fine needle aspiration, drainage procedures and therapeutic endovascular procedures, are also discussed in the current review.

Distal Radial Access: Is There a Clinical Benefit?

For decades, the femoral artery has been the most common vascular access for diagnostic and therapeutic endovascular procedures. However, over the past 20 years, radial access has been gaining popularity, as it is a safer and allows practical access with more benefits. Recently, the new distal radial access has proven to be an equal or perhaps even safer vascular access for diagnostic and therapeutic coronary and noncoronary interventions. Today, this access should be in the arsenal of every interventional surgeon.

The 'Sic Vos non Vobis' of Interventional Radiology - Rebranding and modernising the Interventional Specialities of Radiology in Australia and New Zealand.

The 'Sic Vos non Vobis' of Interventional Radiology - Rebranding and modernising the Interventional Specialities of Radiology in Australia and New Zealand.

The Effect of COVID-19 on Training and Case Volume of Vascular Surgery Trainees.

Background:In many facilities, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused suspension of elective surgery. We therefore sought to determine the impact of this on the surgical experience of vascular trainees.Methods:Surgical case volume, breadth, and the participating trainee post-graduate level from 3 large New York City Hospitals with integrated residency and fellowship programs (Mount Sinai, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and New York University) were reviewed. Procedures performed between February 26 to March 25, 2020 (pre-pandemic month) and March 26 to April 25, 2020 (peak pandemic period) were compared to those performed during the same time period in 2019. The trainees from these programs were also sent surveys to evaluate their subjective experience during this time.Results:The total number of cases during the month leading into the peak pandemic period was 635 cases in 2019 and 560 cases in 2020 (12% decrease). During the peak pandemic period, case volume decreased from 445 in 2019 to 114 in 2020 (74% reduction). The highest volume procedures during the peak pandemic month in 2020 were amputations and peripheral cases for acute limb ischemia; during the 2019 period, the most common cases were therapeutic endovascular procedures. There was a decrease in case volume for vascular senior residents of 77% and vascular junior and midlevel residents of 75%. There was a 77% survey response rate with 50% of respondents in the senior years of training. Overall, 20% of respondents expressed concern about completing ACGME requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Conclusions:Vascular surgery-specific clinical educational and operative experiences during redeployment efforts have been limited. Further efforts should be directed to quantify the impact on training and to evaluate the efficacy of training supplements such as teleconferences and simulation.

Giant Bleeding Pseudo-aneurysm of left Sub-clavian Artery Complicating Neurologic Impairment: Management Challenges (Case Report)

Subclavian artery pseudoaneurysms are rare and occur mostly as a consequence of an inadvertent arterial puncture during central venous catheterization, endovascular therapeutic procedures or after penetrating or blunt trauma. They usually have a late clinical presentation, with pain, swelling or other compressive symptoms. We present a 40-year old man farmer who presented to our service with prior 14 days and 12 days history of left chest upper chest swelling and inability to use the left upper limb respectively, all on account of injury. He went on a night alcohol binge, got drunk and while getting to his sitting room slipped and fell on a nearby glass center table. He had a deep cut on the left upper anterior chest wall. There was immediate profuse spurting bleeding with estimated blood loss of 800 ml. After delay in definitive treatment due to financial constraint the aneurysm increased in size, ruptured and rebled profusely leading to syncope. He was managed by Doppler ultrasound, median sternotomy and subclavian artery exploration to achieve proximal and distal vascular control. Sac was entered into via an infraclavicular transverse incision, heamatoma manually evacuated, bleeding site isolated and secured. He received 5 units of blood. Postoperative course was uneventful as he was managed with analgesics, antibiotics, haematinics and physiotherapy. Power in the upper limb has improved to 3 around the shoulder, 2 around the elbow and 1 around the wrist.

Contrast-induced neurotoxicity related to neurological endovascular procedures: a systematic review.

Contrast-induced neurotoxicity (CIN) is an adverse reaction to contrast agents which can occur in the context of diagnostic and therapeutic neurological endovascular procedures. Our goal was to conduct a systematic review of patients reported in the literature diagnosed with CIN after neurological endovascular procedures. A systematic search of EMBASE and MEDLINE databases was conducted. Inclusion criteria were age ≥ 18years; neurological endovascular procedure performed ≤ 24h before ictus; new manifestations compatible with encephalic dysfunction; imaging performed < 7days after ictus; exclusion of other causesand manifestations attributed to pre-existing conditions. Forty-eight patients were included, of which 60.4% were female and 60.4% had arterial hypertension; median age was 63years. The most frequent procedure was diagnostic cerebral angiography (n = 24, 50.0%) and non-ionic contrast agents were more frequently used (n = 40, 83.3%). Twenty-six patients (54.2%) developed clinical manifestations compatible with CIN during or immediately after the procedure, and the most frequent manifestations were encephalopathy, cortical blindness and motor deficit. The most frequent imaging findings were cortical contrast enhancement on CT (n = 23/42), and cortical sulci effacement (n = 18/48). Most patients presented complete clinical recovery (89.6%) at a median time of 3days. Among patients with neuroimaging changes who underwent follow-up, complete regression of the abnormalities was shown in 81.5% at a median time of 5days. CIN is a rare adverse reaction in the context of neurological endovascular procedures. Recognition of clinical manifestations and typical imaging abnormalities, while excluding other causes, is essential for diagnosis.

Risk factors related to the occurrence of contrast-induced nephropathy

Invasive cardiovascular procedures represent a group of diagnostic and therapeutic medical manoeuvres which evolved from the first venous catheterism (Forssman, 1929) to the intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Angiographic techniques with radiocontrast pharmaceuticals have kept their place on top and have evolved in time. The use of non-ionic iodine contrast agents is indisputable, being used at the same time during vascular or computed-tomograhy diagnosis, as well as in endovascular therapeutic procedures (PCI, PTA and carotid stenting, TAVI etc.). Contrast associated nephropathy (con­trast-induced nephropathy) represents a distinctive en­ti­ty, evolving from restitutio ad integrum or different sce­na­rios depending on patient renal function status, all radiocontrast agents being nephrotoxic in dif­ferent de­grees. Generally, contrast-induced nephropathy can be assumed when there is a rise in the serum creatinine with 0.5 mg/dl (44 µmol/L) or a 25% increase from baseline, in the following 24-72 hours after the administration of con­trast materials. In renal disease patients, the risk of kid­ney injury after contrast administration is increased, pre­sen­ting the risk of acute kidney injury or developing chro­nic kidney disease. From a pathogenic point of view, there are possible mechanisms of contrast-induced ne­phro­pathy which can trigger acute renal failure.

Callosal mutism after AVM embolization in territoy of distal anterior cerebral artery branches

Introduction: Callosum mutism (CM) is a rare complication of neurosurgical procedures. There is no previous report of its ocurrence after interventional endovascular procedures for intracranial lesions. Material and method: We present a case of CM after embolization of anterior cerebral artery branches for treatment of a left frontal arterio-venous malformation (AVM). After reporting the particularities of clinical and radiological presentation of such case, we preform a critical literature review and discusses the clinical and ethiological aspects of CM as well as its differences in relation to other genders of speech disturbances (like aphasias). Finally we provide a brief overview about present available methods of cortical function monitoring emphasizing their utility in therapeutic endovascular procedures in eloquent areas. Result and conclusion: In literature, there are no previous report of CM as a complication of therapeutic angiographic procedures. Its exact pathophysiology is unknown. It is usually believed that this syndrome may appear after lesion of any of the components of the dentate-thalamic-cortical pathway, as well as supplementary motor area and mesolimbic regions involved in speech production. The diagnosis of CM must be considered after a clinical picture of speech deficit after therapeutic endovascualr procedures in territory of distal branches of anterior cerebral artery, specially of frontopolar (FpA branch) and anterior internal frontal (AIFA) branches.

The FREEDOM Study: A Pilot Study Examining the Feasibility and Safety of Early Walking following Femoral Manual Compression after Endovascular Interventions Using 5F Sheath–Compatible Devices

Increasing prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) burning and pressure to reduce costs and promote patient empowerment make outpatient endovascular procedures an attractive alternative to conventional hospitalization. For outpatient peripheral endovascular procedures, femoral manual compression could replace the use of arterial closure devices for small-bore punctures. Presently, safety and feasibility evidence for femoral manual compression is still lacking. FREEDOM is a pilot study designed to demonstrate the feasibility and safety of early walking after femoral manual puncture point compression following a therapeutic endovascular procedure for PAD. From May to August 2015, all patients requiring endovascular treatment for PAD were prospectively screened. Those patients that received therapeutic endovascular procedures involving retrograde femoral punctures with a 5F sheath were included. Manual compression and pressure dressing of the femoral puncture points was applied. The primary end point was defined as the walking ability 5hr after index procedure (H5), which was assessed by a walk test. In total, 129 consecutive patients were screened, and 30 patients met the study criteria. The mean age was 66±11years. The mean duration of the procedure and of the manual compression was 63±24min and 12.8±4min, respectively. At 5 hr following the procedure, 97% of the patients were able to walk 100m. Two patients failed to walk due to cardiac arrhythmia and to a false aneurysm at the femoral puncture site. No further complications were observed at 1month, and quality of life assessed by EQ-5D test was significantly increased compare to baseline (72.3 vs. 60.4; P=0.001). This pilot study demonstrated the benefits of manual compression to close arterial punctures over procedures using 5F shealth-compatible endovascular devices. A sufficiently powered randomized controlled trial is needed to further characterize the potential benefits of manual compression following use of low-profile devices.

Strokes In Young Adults And Children

Stroke is in second place on a mortality list in the world. Also, stroke is a leading cause of disability. Approximately 20% of all strokes occur in Children and young adults. The etiology of stroke in Children and young adults is different from that in older patients, and has an influence on diagnostic evaluation and treatment, so knowledge about older patients cannot always be applied to these patients. The list of stroke etiologies among young adults and children is extensive. Ischemic stroke are more frequent than hemorrhagic strokes in both groups. Stroke in young adults had been thought to be associated with risk factors, including arterial (such as dissection, reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome, inflammatory arteritis ,moyamoya ,migraine - induced stroke, genetic or inherted arteriopathy, premature atherosclerosis ) cardiac (such as patent foramen ovale, cardiomyopathy , congenital heart disease) and hematologic (such as deficiencies of protein S,protein C,or antithrombin;factor V lieden mutation) . Common risk factors for stroke in children include: Sickle-cell disease, diseases of the arteries, abnormal blood clotting, head or neck trauma. There are no specific recommendations or guidelines for primary or secondary stroke prevention in young adults. Primary prevention focused on identifying and managing known vascular risk factors, such as hypertension, disorders of lipid metabolism, and diabetes, and non-drug strategies and lifestyle changes, including smoking, reducing body weight, increasing regular aerobic physical activity, and adopting a healthy diet with more fruit and vegetables and less salt. For secondary stroke prevention, identification of the etiologic mechanism of the initial stroke and the presence of any additional risk factors is most important. It consists of optimal treatment of vascular risk factors administering antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy, and if indicated, invasive surgical or endovascular therapeutic procedures. An integral part of this is lifestyle changes, emphasizing regular physical activity, a diet low in salt and saturated fat and high in fruit and vegetables, reducing overweight and quitting smoking.

Successful Endovascular Neurosurgical Practice in Resource-poor Exclusive Rural Neuro-hospital Setup.

Aim:The aim of this study to evaluate the feasibility of establishing endovascular neurosurgery in remote resource-poor neuro-hospital setup and evaluate its outcome.Materials and Methods:Retrospective analysis of diagnostic and therapeutic endovascular neurosurgical procedures performed during September 2013–June 2016.Results:A total of 174 diagnostic cerebral and spinal digital subtraction angiograms and 70 major endovascular neurosurgeries were performed during the period. The endovascular neurosurgical procedures included 54 aneurysms coiled, 4 cerebral arteriovenous malformation embolization, 2 dural arteriovenous fistulas embolization, 2 cerebral tumor embolizations, 2 intracranial stentings, 5 extracranial carotid stentings, 1 transverse sinus stenting. No complications were seen during diagnostic procedures. Operation related morbidity of 1.4% and mortality of 1.4% seen, with a procedural success rate of 97.2%.Conclusion:Endovascular neurosurgery is feasible in resource-poor remote rural exclusive neuro-hospital setup with procedural success rate and outcomes comparable to existing literature.

Angiographic suppression of the artery of Adamkiewicz by venous hypertension resolving after embolization in a case of spinal epidural arteriovenous fistula

A case of complete angiographic suppression of the artery of Adamkiewicz and anterior spinal artery in a patient with a spinal epidural arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is reported. Slow flow AVFs...

Considering Radiation Exposure During Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures for Arteriovenous Malformations in the Setting of Pregnancy

ontroversy exists on the topic of radiation safety in the setting of pregnancy. As exposure can impose C substantial risk to the developing fetus, procedures involving radiation are typically avoided unless medically necessary. Despite uncertainty of the precise incidence rates, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) clearly do rupture during pregnancy. AVM treatment paradigms vary significantly, and are often individualized according to specific lesional angioarchitecture and clinical presentation. Standard AVM management (in patients who are not pregnant) often entails radiation exposure via diagnostic cerebral angiography, embolization, and/or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Selection of a treatment algorithm becomes increasingly complex in the setting of pregnancy. Despite inherent risks, diagnostic and therapeutic endovascular or radiosurgical procedures may warrant consideration in certain cases, particularly ruptured AVMs. Relative risks and benefits to the mother and her pregnancy must be carefully weighed. In evaluating treatment paradigms, it is critical to understand radiation risks in the context of dosage effects and timing of pregnancy.

Color Doppler evaluation and diagnosis of local complications after arterial endovascular procedures

Diagnostic and therapeutic percutaneous endovascular procedures have become more and more common in recent years, and so also the number of local complications has increased. After such procedures a simple clinical examination may show the presence of an inguinal mass, but does not permit a diagnosis, while Color Doppler and Duplex Scanner can make a differential diagnosis between hematoma, pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula or other disease. Color Doppler is ubiquitously used to diagnose such complications as it offers a low-cost, easy-to-use method, only minimally uncomfortable for the patient. This ultrasound system can provide both anatomic and haemodynamic information. Our study highlights the diagnostic possibilities offered by the Color Doppler and Duplex Scanner and details, using many illustrations and examples, how the most common complications such as hematoma, pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula and thrombosis are imaged. Hematoma appears as a hypoechogenic zone, with no color inside, as flow is not present. Pseudoaneurysms, unlike hematoma, maintain a connection with an injured blood vessel, and so they show blood flow both inside the lesion and in the communicating channel, with a typical pattern. The arteriovenous fistula is a vascular channel created, after a percutaneous procedure, between an artery and an adjacent vein that have both been damaged. An endovascular thrombus is directly shown as a luminal defect of flow. Other less common complications are discussed and illustrated.

Occupational Radiation Doses to Operators Performing Fluoroscopically-Guided Procedures

In the past 30 y, the numbers and types of fluoroscopically-guided (FG) procedures have increased dramatically. The objective of the present study is to provide estimated radiation doses to physician specialists, other than cardiologists, who perform FG procedures. The authors searched Medline to identify English-language journal articles reporting radiation exposures to these physicians. They then identified several primarily therapeutic FG procedures that met specific criteria: well-defined procedures for which there were at least five published reports of estimated radiation doses to the operator, procedures performed frequently in current medical practice, and inclusion of physicians from multiple medical specialties. These procedures were percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), vertebroplasty, orthopedic extremity nailing for treatment of fractures, biliary tract procedures, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation (TIPS), head/neck endovascular therapeutic procedures, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Radiation doses and other associated data were abstracted, and effective dose to operators was estimated. Operators received estimated doses per patient procedure equivalent to doses received by interventional cardiologists. The estimated effective dose per case ranged from 1.7-56 μSv for PCNL, 0.1-101 μSv for vertebroplasty, 2.5-88 μSv for orthopedic extremity nailing, 2.0-46 μSv for biliary tract procedures, 2.5-74 μSv for TIPS, 1.8-53 μSv for head/neck endovascular therapeutic procedures, and 0.2-49 μSv for ERCP. Overall, mean operator radiation dose per case measured over personal protective devices at different anatomic sites on the head and body ranged from 19-800 (median = 113) μSv at eye level, 6-1,180 (median = 75) μSv at the neck, and 2-1,600 (median = 302) μSv at the trunk. Operators' hands often received greater doses than the eyes, neck, or trunk. Large variations in operator doses suggest that optimizing procedure protocols and proper use of protective devices and shields might reduce occupational radiation dose substantially.

Endovascular treatment of superficial femoral artery atherosclerotic disease

OBJECTIVE. Endovascular therapeutic procedures for superficial femoral artery atherosclerosis treatment, consist of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), endovascular stent implantation and selective intraarterial thrombolitic therapy. The aim of this study was to show the validity and benefits of applying those procedures in pathologically changed AFS. METHOD. A prospective study included 40 patients: 20 with PTA dilatations, 18 with stents implantations and six with thrombolytic therapy. The follow-up period was: immediately after the procedure, a month later, and six months later. RESULTS. Of the 20 patients with balloon dilatation, four still suffered from artery stenosis, and they additionally underwent stents implantation. These four patients were in the group of 18 patients who had underwent stent implantation. The last group consisted of six patients with thrombolytic therapy. Restenosis appeared only in the four patients from the first group (PTA) immediately after the intervention. A month later, there was no restenosis or ischemia of the limbs. After six months, restenosis appeared in four patients from the first group (PTA), in one patient from the second group (stent), and in two patients from the third group (thrombolytic therapy). The best results were shown by the stent implantation method (94,4 % success), PTA (75%), and thrombolytic therapy (66,7%). CONCLUSION. On the basis of the obtained results it can be concluded that the endovascular therapeutic procedures of treatment of atherosclerotic AFS are fully justified, especially the stent implantation method being successful in 94,4% of the patients within a six month-period of time, which is a relevant proof of its efficiency.

Safety of Carbon Dioxide Digital Subtraction Angiography

Reports of fatality following carbon dioxide digital subtraction angiography (CO2-DSA) have raised concerns regarding its safety. This study reviews the safety of CO2-DSA. Single-institution retrospective review. Tertiary care teaching hospital in Los Angeles, California. A total of 951 patients who underwent 1007 CO2-DSA procedures during a 21-year period. Preprocedure and postprocedure creatinine values and periprocedural morbidity and mortality. A total of 632 arterial CO2-DSA were performed; 527 were aortograms with or without extremity runoff; 100, extremity alone; and 5, pulmonary. Venous CO2-DSA included 187 inferior vena cavagrams, 182 hepatic or visceral, 5 extremity venograms, and 1 superior vena cavagram. Associated endovascular procedures were performed in 499 cases; 162 were arterial interventions including 62 endovascular aneurysm repairs, 53 visceral or renal percutaneous angioplasty with/without stent, 41 extremity percutaneous angioplasty with or without a stent, and 4 cases of thrombolysis or embolization; 176 caval filters, 98 transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts, 54 transjugular liver biopsies, and 9 other venous interventions. The mean preprocedure creatinine level was 2.1 mg/dL; postprocedure, 2.1 mg/dL (P = .56). There were a total of 61 (6.1%) procedural complications including 4 (0.4%) mortalities. Two were procedure-related complications: 1, suppurative pancreatitis following aortogram; and 2, hepatic bleed following failed transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts. Two were attributable to patient disease; 1, metastatic adenocarcinoma; and 2, refractory, end-stage cardiomyopathy. Carbon dioxide digital subtraction angiography is a versatile technique that can be safely used for diagnostic and therapeutic endovascular procedures. Morbidity and mortality are acceptable with preservation of renal function. Thus, CO2-DSA is a safe alternative to iodinated contrast.