Publications (120) View all
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Article: Percutaneous bilateral metallic stent placement using a stentin-stent deployment technique in patients with malignant hilar biliary obstruction.
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ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to investigate the technical and clinical efficacy of percutaneous bilateral stent-in-stent deployment using open cell-design stents and to compare the clinical outcomes of bilateral stent placement using T and Y configurations. MATERIALS AND METHODS. From January 2006 to December 2010, 106 patients with malignant hilar biliary obstruction (Bismuth type II or higher) were included in this retrospective study. All patients were treated with percutaneous bilateral stent-in-stent deployment using open cell-design stents (64 in a T configuration and 42 in a Y configuration). RESULTS. Bilateral stent-in-stent deployment was technically successful in all patients. Seven patients (6.6%) had major complications, including one with severe hemobilia, two with acute cholecystitis, and four with cholangitis; seven (6.6%) patients had minor complications, including self-limiting hemobilia. Successful internal drainage was achieved in 94 patients (88.7%). Stent occlusion by tumor ingrowth, with or without overgrowth, occurred in 37 patients (34.9%). The median survival and stent patency times were 192 days (95% CI, 153.6-230.4 days) and 319 days (95% CI, 148.5-489.5 days), respectively. Stent configuration did not significantly affect technical success, complications, successful internal drainage, patient survival, or stent patency. CONCLUSION. Percutaneous bilateral stent-in-stent placement using open cell-design stents is effective for bilateral drainage in patients with malignant hilar biliary obstruction. In addition, there was no significant difference in technical and clinical outcomes between T and Y stent configurations.American Journal of Roentgenology 04/2013; 200(4):909-14. · 2.78 Impact Factor -
Article: Usefulness of a guiding sheath for fluoroscopic stent placement in patients with malignant gastroduodenal obstruction.
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ABSTRACT: Background Self-expandable metallic stent placement is widely used to manage malignant gastroduodenal obstructions. However, there are difficulties in negotiating a guidewire (GW) and a stent delivery system (SDS). Purpose To investigate feasibility, usefulness, and safety of a guiding sheath for fluoroscopic stent placement in patients with malignant gastroduodenal obstructions. Material and Methods In July 2001 to August 2011, 726 patients with malignant gastroduodenal obstructions underwent stent placement. Guiding sheath was used in patients in whom a GW could not be passed through the obstruction and a SDS failed to reach the obstruction. Sheath usefulness was evaluated based on the ability of the sheath to successfully assist. The technical success rate and the most frequent reasons for the use of a sheath were evaluated. Results The guiding sheath was needed in 148 of 726 patients (20%). The overall technical success rate was 98% with the guiding sheath. In two of 148 patients, stent placement failed because, the GW could not be passed through the obstruction, in the other, the SDS could not be passed. A minority of patients reported mild discomfort. Patients with pancreatic cancer and duodenal obstruction were significantly more likely to require the use of guiding sheaths (P = 0.002, P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion Using a guiding sheath for fluoroscopic stent placement appears to be feasible, useful and safe in patients with malignant gastroduodenal obstructions.Acta Radiologica 04/2013; 54(3):267-71. · 1.37 Impact Factor -
Article: Gastric Varices and Hepatic Encephalopathy: Treatment with Vascular Plug and Gelatin Sponge-assisted Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration--A Primary Report.
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ABSTRACT: Purpose:To evaluate technical safety, clinical safety, and effectiveness of vascular plug-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration (RTO) for treatment of gastric varices (GV) and hepatic encephalopathy (HE).Materials and Methods:This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board; written informed consent was waived. From April 2009 to December 2011, 20 patients (13, GV; seven, HE) who had undergone vascular plug-assisted RTO were retrospectively evaluated. After retrograde transvenous placement of a vascular plug in the left adrenal vein or gastrorenal shunt, subsequent gelatin-sponge embolization of both gastrorenal shunt and GV was performed. Follow-up computed tomography (CT) and upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy were performed; clinical and laboratory data were collected to evaluate primary (technical success, complications, clinical success) and secondary (change of liver function by using the Child-Pugh score, worsening of esophageal varices) end points. Laboratory data before and after vascular plug-assisted RTO were compared (paired-sample t test).Results:Placement of the vascular plug and subsequent gelatin-sponge embolization were technically successful in all 20 patients, with no procedure-related complications. Follow-up CT within 1 week after vascular plug-assisted RTO showed complete thrombosis of GV and gastrorenal shunts in all patients. Clinical symptoms of HE completely resolved in all seven patients with HE; mean serum NH3 level of 127.4 μmol/L ± 58 (standard deviation) before vascular plug-assisted RTO decreased significantly to 28.1 μmol/L ± 9.8 within 1 week after vascular plug-assisted RTO (P = .002). Eighteen patients who underwent follow-up longer than 2 months showed complete obliteration of GV and gastrorenal shunts at CT and endoscopy. There were no cases of variceal bleeding or HE during mean follow-up of 422 days. Improvement in Child-Pugh score was observed in 12 of 18 (67%) patients 1 month after vascular plug-assisted RTO. Worsening of esophageal varices was observed in four (22%) patients at mean follow-up of 9.4 months.Conclusion:Vascular plug-assisted RTO is technically simple and safe and seems to be clinically effective for treatment of GV and HE.© RSNA, 2013.Radiology 03/2013; · 5.73 Impact Factor -
Article: Treatment of postoperative main portal vein and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis with balloon angioplasty and/or stent placement.
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ABSTRACT: Background Thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy have been used to treat postoperative main portal vein and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis.PurposeTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of balloon angioplasty and/or stent placement without thrombolysis or thrombectomy for treating such thromboses.Material and Methods Fourteen patients with postoperative main portal vein or superior mesenteric vein thrombosis underwent percutaneous transhepatic balloon angioplasty and/or stent placement without thrombolysis or thrombectomy. The rates of technical and clinical success, major complications, and recurrence were evaluated retrospectively.ResultsInitial technical success was achieved in 13 of the 14 patients (93%). After the procedures, these 13 patients showed brisk portal inflow, without a significant amount of residual thrombus in the stented lumen or embolism. One patient was considered to be a technical failure despite showing a brisk portal inflow because 50% stenosis and partial residual thrombus remained in the stented lumen. Initial clinical success was achieved in 13 patients. One patient with technical success died of acute respiratory distress syndrome 8 days after the procedure, whereas one patient with technical failure achieved clinical success. One patient experienced acute rethrombosis 8 days after the procedure. During the median follow-up period of 16.3 months, rethrombosis occurred in six patients (43%), including one patient with acute rethrombosis.Conclusion Balloon angioplasty and/or stent placement without thrombolysis or thrombectomy may be a safe and effective treatment modality for postoperative main portal vein and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis.Acta Radiologica 03/2013; · 1.37 Impact Factor -
Article: Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation with Internally Cooled versus Internally Cooled Wet Electrodes for Small Subphrenic Hepatocellular Carcinomas.
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ABSTRACT: To compare retrospectively technical effectiveness and complications after radiofrequency (RF) ablation with internally cooled wet (ICW) electrodes versus conventional internally cooled (IC) electrodes in patients with small (≤3 cm) subphrenic hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). From March 2008 to January 2012, 165 patients, each with a single small subphrenic HCC, were treated with RF ablation using IC (n = 81) or ICW (n = 84) electrodes. After initial RF ablation, technical success was achieved in 88% of patients treated with IC electrodes and 91% of patients treated with ICW electrodes (P = .623). At 1 month, technical effectiveness was achieved in 93% and 99% (P = .061). Mean ablation volume was significantly greater in patients treated with ICW electrodes compared with patients treated with IC electrodes, using 2-cm (14.5 cm(3) vs 6.2cm(3); P = .001) and 3-cm (32.7cm(3) vs 15.2cm(3); P <.001) exposed tips. The 6-month and 1-, 2-, and 4-year local tumor progression rates were significantly lower after RF ablation with ICW electrodes (5%, 13%, 15%, and 26%) compared with IC electrodes (11%, 24%, 32%, and 35%; P = .044). Major complications occurred in 6% of patients treated with IC electrodes and 2% of patients treated with ICW electrodes. In the treatment of small subphrenic HCCs, percutaneous RF ablation using ICW electrodes results in larger ablation zones and lower rates of local tumor progression than RF ablation using conventional IC electrodes.Journal of vascular and interventional radiology: JVIR 03/2013; 24(3):351-6. · 1.81 Impact Factor
