Device migration after endoluminal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: analysis of 113 cases with a minimum follow-up period of 2 years.
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PURPOSE: Device migration (DM) has been shown to cause late failure after endoluminal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. To establish the incidence rate and the predictive factors of distal migration of the proximal portion of the endograft, computed tomographic (CT) scans performed at different time intervals during follow-up examination of 113 patients were reviewed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between April 1997 and March 1999, 148 patients underwent endoluminal AAA repair with a modular endograft with infrarenal fixation (Medtronic-AVE AneuRx, Santa Rosa, Calif) at our unit. CT scans performed at 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery and yearly thereafter were prospectively stored in a computer imaging database. Patient demographics, risk factors, operative details, and follow-up events were prospectively collected. No patients were lost to follow-up examination. Twelve patients died within 2 years of surgery, four patients underwent immediate conversion to open repair, and adequate CT measurements were not feasible in 19 cases, which left 113 patients available for a minimum 2-year assessment and 418 CT scan results reviewed. Two vascular surgeons, blinded to patient identity and history with tested interobserver agreement (kappa = 0.64), separately reviewed axial reconstructions of CT scans. DM was defined as changes of 10 mm or more in the distance between the lower renal artery and the first visible portion of the endograft at follow-up examination. Ten possible independent predictors of DM were analyzed with multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: One AAA rupture, which was successfully treated, occurred at a mean follow-up period of 28 months (range, 24 to 46 months). Seventeen patients (15%) showed DM. Eight patients (47%) with DM underwent reintervention: a proximal cuff was positioned in six patients and late conversion to open repair was performed in two patients. Of the 10 variables analyzed with Cox proportional hazards regression model, AAA neck enlargement of more than 10% after endoluminal repair (hazard ratio, 7.3; confidence interval, 1.8 to 29.2; P =.004) and preoperative AAA diameter of 55 mm or more (hazard ratio, 4.5; confidence interval, 1.2 to 16.7; P =.02) were positive independent predictors of DM. The probability of DM at 36 months was 27% according to life table analysis. CONCLUSION: DM occurred in a significant portion of our patients, yet aggressive follow-up examination and a high reintervention rate prevented aneurysm-related death. According to our data, dilatation of the infrarenal aortic neck is an important factor that contributes to the distal migration of stent grafts, and patients with large aneurysms are at high risk for DM. (+info)
Early and late complications associated with transcatheter occlusion of secundum atrial septal defect.
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OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to report the early and late complications experienced in atrial septal defect (ASD) transcatheter closure. BACKGROUND: Atrial septal defect transcatheter occlusion techniques have become an alternative to surgical procedures. A number of different devices are available for transcatheter ASD closure. The type and rate of complications are different for different devices. METHODS: Between December 1996 and January 2001, 417 patients (mean age: 26.6 +/- 19 years) underwent transcatheter occlusion of secundum type ASD. Complications were categorized into major and minor. Two different devices were used: the CardioSEAL/STARFlex in 159 patients and the Amplatzer septal occluder in 258 patients. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients experienced 36 complications during the hospitalization (8.6%, 95% confidence interval: 6.1% to 11.1%). Ten patients underwent elective surgical repair because of device malposition (three patients) or device embolization (seven patients). Twenty-four patients experienced 25 minor complications: unsatisfactory device position or embolization. Devices were retrieved using a gooseneck snare and/or a basket; 11 patients experienced arrhythmic problems. Other complications were: pericardial effusion, thrombus formation on the left atrial disc, right iliac vein dissection, groin hematoma, hemorrhage in the retropharynx and sizing balloon rupture. Two patients had late complications: peripheral embolization in the left leg one year after implantation of an Amplatzer device and sudden death 1.5 year later. CONCLUSIONS: Our series of patients with ASD by transcatheter occlusion shows that the procedure is safe and effective in the vast majority of cases. To further reduce the complications rate, the criteria of device selection according to ASD morphology and some technical tips during implantation are discussed. (+info)
A randomised controlled clinical trial of antibiotic impregnation of testosterone pellet implants to reduce extrusion rate.
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OBJECTIVE: Testosterone pellet implantation is a safe, effective and convenient form of depot androgen replacement, with extrusion of pellets following about 10% of procedures the most frequent adverse effect. This study aimed to determine whether extrusion rate could be reduced by antibiotic impregnation of pellets immediately prior to implantation. DESIGN: Prospective, randomised, parallel-group, open-label study design in a single centre. One hundred and eighty-six androgen-deficient men (400 implantation procedures) were randomised into either a group who had their pellets soaked for approximately 2 min in gentamicin solution prior to implantation, or a control group who had the standard implantation procedure. METHODS: Extrusion, infection and/or bruising were evaluated prospectively by self-report from the participants, and retrospectively at subsequent implantation. Other variables (site, shaving, skin preparation, operator, pellet batch, bruising) were collected at implantation time. RESULTS: The extrusion rate was 20% lower (odds ratio=0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.40-1.62) but not statistically different between the two groups (extrusion rate 23/205 (11.2%) for the control group vs 18/195 (9.2%) for the antibiotic-soak group, P=0.42). One operator experienced more total (P=0.0002) and infection-related (P=0.0008) extrusions and marginally more bruising (P=0.06) than other operators. The operator effect did not appear to be explained by differences in experience or implantation style. There was a 4.6-fold excess (95% CI 1.6-18.6) of multiple (19 vs 4 expected) over single (22 vs 10 expected) and no (359 vs 386 expected) extrusions. Extrusion was not related to batch number (P=0.15), location (P=0.15), shaving (P=0.32), old or new site (P=0.59), or the presence of suppuration or not (P=0.42); however, povidone-iodine skin disinfectant had statistically fewer extrusions than mixed alcohol solution. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic impregnation prior to implantation does not significantly decrease testosterone pellet extrusion rate. An operator effect, not due to experience or procedural style, an excess of multiple extrusions and disinfectant effects were confirmed. Neither location, nor preparation of the site, nor pellet batch, influences extrusion rate. (+info)
Tubular foreign body or stent: safe retrieval or repositioning using the coaxial snare technique.
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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility and advantages of the coaxial snare technique in the retrieval of tubular foreign bodies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the coaxial snare technique, we attempted to retrieve tubular foreign bodies present in seven patients. The bodies were either stents which were malpositioned or had migrated from their correct position in the vascular system (n=2), a fragmented venous introducer sheath (n=1), fragmented drainage catheters in the biliary tree (n=2), or fractured external drainage catheters in the urinary tract (n=2). After passing a guidewire and/or a dilator through the lumina of these foreign bodies, we introduced a loop snare over the guidewire or dilator, thus capturing and retrieving them. RESULTS: In all cases, it was possible to retrieve or reposition the various items, using a minimum-sized introducer sheath or a tract. No folding was involved. In no case were surgical procedures required, and no complications were encountered. CONCLUSION: The coaxial snare technique, an application of the loop snare technique, is a useful and safe method for the retrieval of tubular foreign bodies, and one which involves minimal injury to the patient. (+info)
Migration of ventriculoperitoneal shunt into the heart--case report.
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A 76-year-old man underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunting for hydrocephalus after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Eighteen days after the shunt operation, fluoroscopy revealed the peritoneal catheter in the heart. Three-dimensional computed tomography demonstrated penetration of the catheter into the internal jugular vein. Under local anesthesia, part of the peritoneal catheter was pulled out through the cervical incision and cut off. The ends of the peritoneal catheter were connected so that the distal end was settled in the right atrium of the heart under fluoroscopic visualization. The migration of the peritoneal catheter into the heart presumably occurred because the subcutaneous wire guide of the shunt catheter perforated the internal jugular vein and the catheter was drawn into the heart through the internal jugular vein by the negative pressure of the vein and thoracic cavity. (+info)
Plain film imaging of Baerveldt glaucoma drainage implants.
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A glaucoma drainage implant was detected on plain skull radiographs before MR imaging examination of the brain. The patient was denied the MR imaging for fear of dislodging the "metallic foreign body." The Baerveldt glaucoma drainage implant was mistakenly identified as an orbital metallic object based on its radiographic characteristics. Because none of the current glaucoma drainage implants contain ferromagnetic material, patients with these devices can undergo MR imaging without special precaution. (+info)
Bipseudophakia. Clinicopathological findings of a pseudophakic human globe obtained postmortem implanted with an anterior chamber and a posterior chamber intraocular lens.
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We report the clinicopathological findings of a human pseudophakic globe obtained postmortem, containing both anterior and posterior chamber intraocular lens, a condition we termed "bipseudophakia". (+info)
Extra-articular migration of the patellar component following total knee arthroplasty.
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Complications related to patellar resurfacing are well recognized. We present an unusual case where the patellar button, after separating from the patella, extruded from the knee joint to lie within the extra-articular soft tissues. (+info)