[en] This review describes peripheral use of cutting balloon (CB) angioplasty (CBA), its characteristics, and its distinction from conventional BA and describes the experimental and clinical background of its current use in peripheral arteries

[en] Our objective was to evaluate the accuracy of contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography (MRA) in the follow-up of patients with endoluminally treated aortic aneurysms and correlate these findings with uni- or biphasic CT angiography (CTA). Forty MR angiograms in 32 patients with implanted aortic nitinol stent grafts were compared to CTA. Twenty-two MR examinations were correlated with arterial-phase CTA (uniphasic), and 18 MR examinations were correlated with biphasic CTA. Uniphasic CTA demonstrated three type-1/type-3 endoleaks and four reperfusion (type-2) endoleaks. In addition, MRA depicted two type-2 reperfusion endoleaks that were missed by CTA. Using biphasic CTA, two type-1/type-3 endoleaks and three reperfusion (type-2) endoleaks were detected; of those, delayed scanning detected three reperfusion (type-2) endoleaks missed during arterial-phase CTA. In addition to the findings by CTA, MRA depicted another type-2 reperfusion endoleak. Magnetic resonance angiography is at least as sensitive as uni- or biphasic CTA for detecting endoleaks and may consequently offer advantages in patients with contraindications to iodinated contrast agents. (orig.)

[en] This paper reports our experience with endovascular techniques for the retrieval of lost or misplaced intravascular objects. Over 12 years, 78 patients were referred for interventional retrieval of intravascular foreign objects. In this retrospective study, radiological procedure records and patients' medical records were reviewed to determine the exact removal procedure in every case, to report success rates, and to identify significant procedure-related complications. Written, informed consent was obtained from all patients prior to the intervention; this retrospective analysis was performed according to the guidelines of the Institutional Review Board. Thirty-six of seventy-eight foreign objects (46%) were located in the venous system, 27 of 78 (35%) in the right heart, and 15 of 78 (19%) in the pulmonary arteries. For foreign object removal, in 71 of 78 (91%) cases a snare loop was used, in 6 of 78 (8%) cases a sidewinder catheter combined with a snare loop was used, and in 1 case (1%) a sidewinder catheter alone was used for foreign object removal. In 68 of 78 (87%) cases, primary success was achieved. In 3 of 78 cases (4%), foreign objects were successfully mobilized to the femoral vessels and surgically removed. In 7 of 78 cases (9%), complete removal of the foreign object was not possible. In 5 of 78 cases (6%), minor complications occurred during the removal procedure. In conclusion, endovascular retrieval of lost or misplaced intravascular objects is highly effective, with relatively few minor complications. On the basis of our findings, these techniques should be considered as the therapy of choice

[en] Purpose: Retrospective analysis of the results of rt-PA thrombolysis in the treatment of acute thromboembolic occlusion of the upper limb.Methods: Of 55 patients with demonstrated acute embolic arterial occlusion, rt-PA thrombolysis was performed on 40 occlusions in 38 patients (23 women with a mean age of 62 years, range 32-85 years; 15 men with a mean age of 65 years, range 32-92 years) according to the following design: 6 mg rt-PA/hr for 30 min, 3 mg rt-PA/hr for the next 30 min, 1 mg rt-PA/hr for 7 hr, and 0.4 mg rt-PA/hr until the end of lysis. Onset of symptoms varied from 1 to 14 days. Included were three isolated upper-arm occlusions, nine combined brachial and forearm occlusions, and 28 forearm and hand artery occlusions.Results: The overall success rate was 55%. The lysis results for isolated upper arm, combined brachial and forearm occlusions, and forearm and hand artery occlusions were 100%, 66%, and 46%, respectively. In eight patients surgical embolectomy had to be performed after failed thrombolysis. No amputation was required in the follow-up period. No lethal complications occurred.Conclusions: Interventional rt-PA treatment of proximal upper-extremity arterial occlusions may be performed with comparable success rates to surgical embolectomy and without severe complications. For distal occlusions the results are inferior to the success rates obtained with surgery

[en] Purpose: To report about the endovascular treatment of isolated iliac artery aneurysms (IIAA) with stentgraft placement and transluminal or CT-guided embolization of the internal iliac artery or the combination of these methods. Methods and materials: Over a period of 5.6 years, 36 interventions were performed in 20 patients with 23 IIAAs. In a retrospective analysis patient records were reviewed. The CT-angiography follow-up was evaluated for the presence of re-perfusion of the IIAA and for change of aneurysm diameter. Results: Primary success was achieved in 15/23 aneurysms (65%), and secondary success in 21/23 aneurysms (91%). In 5/23 cases two interventions and in 1/23 cases three interventions were necessary to achieve secondary success. Embolization alone, as a therapy for aneurysms involving only the internal iliac artery, had a success rate of 27%. No procedure-related minor or major complications occurred. Mean decrease of aneurysm size during a mean observation period of 14.1 months was 6.9% which was not significant (p = 0.3; 95% confidence interval +7-21%). Conclusion: Endovascular therapy of isolated iliac artery aneurysms performed percutaneously has become a treatment alternative to open surgical repair. This method is feasible and safe with low procedure-related morbidity and mortality. However, on average more than one intervention has to be performed to achieve successful permanent exclusion of the aneurysm and embolization alone in isolated internal iliac artery aneurysms is not sufficient

[en] This article reports the results of carotid artery stenting during an 11-year period. Data from 168 carotid artery stenting procedures (symptomatic, n = 55; asymptomatic, n = 101; symptoms not accessible, n = 12) were retrospectively collected. Primary technical success rate, neurological events in-hospital, access-site complications, and contrast-induced nephropathy (n = 118) were evaluated. To evaluate the influence of experience in carotid artery stenting on intraprocedural neurologic complications, patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 included the first 80 treated patients, and group 2 the remainder of the patients (n = 88). In-stent restenoses at last-follow-up examinations (n = 89) were assessed. The overall primary technical success rate was 95.8%. The in-hospital stroke-death rate was 3.0% (n = 5; symptomatic, 5.4%; asymptomatic, 2.0%; p = 0.346). Neurologic complications were markedly higher in group 1 (4.2%; three major strokes; symptomatic, 2.8%, asymptomatic, 1.4%) compared to group 2 (2.4%; one major and one minor stroke-symptomatic, 1.2%, asymptomatic 1.2%), but this was not statistically significant. Further complications were access-site complications in 12 (7.1%), with surgical revision required in 1 (0.6%) and mild contrast-induced nephropathy in 1 (0.85%). Twenty-one (23.6%) patients had >50% in-stent restenosis during a mean follow-up of 28.2 months. In conclusion, advanced experience in carotid artery stenting leads to an acceptable periprocedural stroke-death rate. In-stent restenosis could be a critical factor during the follow-up course.

[en] Purpose: To investigate whether placement of a polyester-covered stent-graft increases the primary patency of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunts (TIPSS). Methods: Between 1995 and 1997 Cragg Endopro or Passager MIBS stent-grafts were used for the creation of TIPSS in eight male patients, 35-59 years of age (mean 48 years). All patients suffered from recurrent variceal bleeding and/or refractory ascites due to liver cirrhosis. Seven stent-grafts were dilated to a diameter of 10 mm, one to 12 mm. Follow-up was performed with duplex ultrasound, clinical assessment, and angiography. Results: The technical success rate for creation of a TIPSS was 100%. The mean portosystemic pressure gradient decreased from 25 mmHg to 12 mmHg. In seven of eight patients TIPSS dysfunction occurred between 2 days and 3 years after stent-graft placement. In one patient the TIPSS is still primarily patent (224 days after creation). The secondary patency rates are 31 days to 3 years. Conclusion: The primary use of polyester-covered stent-grafts for TIPSS did not increase primary patency rates in our small series

[en] Background: Multidetector CT angiography (CTA) is a non-invasive imaging technique for evaluation of peripheral vascular disease. CTA might be particularly useful for assessment of intermediate- and long-term morphological outcome after endovascular treatment. Validation of CTA vs. the current imaging standard, colour Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS), for quantification of native and in-stent re-stenosis in the superficial femoral artery (SFA) is required. Methods: Seventy randomized patients who underwent stent implantation (n = 47) or balloon angioplasty (n = 23) underwent 6-month follow-up with CDUS and CTA. CTA was compared with CDUS in both sub-groups of patients in terms of binary re-stenosis (>50% lumen narrowing) and re-occlusion. Agreement between CTA and CDUS was assessed using Kappa (κ) statistics with 95% confidence intervals, and correlation coefficients. Results: Binary re-stenosis was detected in 16/70 (22.9%) patients by CTA and 17/70 (24.3%) patients by CDUS (κ = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.80–0.96). Re-stenosis rates after balloon angioplasty were 39.1% (9/23) on CTA and CDUS (κ = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.66–0.98), and after stent implantation 14.9% (7/47) on CTA and 17.0% (8/47) on CDUS (κ = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.84–1.00). Re-occlusions were detected in 3/70 (4.3%) patients by both CTA and CDUS (κ = 0.65; 95% CI 0.54–0.76). Significant correlations (r = 0.85, p < 0.001) were noted between degree of re-stenosis on CTA and peak velocity ratio on CDUS. The correlation coefficient was higher in patients after balloon angioplasty (r = 0.94, p < 0.001) than in patients after stent implantation (r = 0.71, p < 0.001). Conclusion: CTA and CDUS show excellent agreement for evaluation of native and in-stent re-stenosis after endovascular treatment of SFA obstructions. CTA is an appropriate non-invasive imaging modality for follow-up after endovascular therapy

[en] Purpose: To determine whether transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) revisions with the Hemobahn stent-graft or the Viatorr endoprosthesis increase secondary patency rates. Methods: Between 1998 and June 1999,Hemobahn endoprostheses (W.L. Gore, Flagstaff, AZ, USA) were used for the revision of obstructed TIPS in seven patients, 51-67 years of age(mean 59 years). From June 1999 to 2000, the Viatorr endoprosthesis(W.L. Gore, Flagstaff, AZ, USA) was used for revision of obstructed TIPS in nine patients, 33-64 years of age (mean 49 years). Follow-up included duplex ultrasound, clinical assessment and venousportography. Results: The technical success rate of TIPS revision with the Hemobahn stent-graft was 100%. The pressure gradient decreased from a mean of 20 mmHg to 10 mmHg. The mean follow-up was 407 days (range 81-868 days). In two patients TIPS occlusion occurred at 62 and 529 days after stent-graft placement, respectively; in another two patients outflow tract stenosis occurred at 275 and 393 days,respectively. The technical success rate of TIPS revision with the Viatorr endoprosthesis was also 100%. The pressure gradient decreased from a mean of 27 mmHg to 11 mmHg. At a mean follow-up of 201 days(range 9-426 days), all Viatorr endoprostheses are still patent without in-graft stenosis, but angioplasty was required in two patients to treat a portosystemic pressure gradient > 15 mmHg. Four of the nine patients in the Viatorr group suffered from new encephalopathy after TIPS revision. Conclusion: The Viatorrendoprosthesis yielded optimal results with 100% in-graft patency rates at follow-up but had a high incidence of new encephalopathy,whereas the use of Hemobahn stent-graft for TIPS revision did not appear to improve the secondary patency rates in our series