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Biomedical subjects

M D Darcy

Publications and source records attributed to M D Darcy.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Prevalence of local venous thrombosis after transfemoral placement of a Bird's Nest vena caval filter.

Bird's Nest vena caval filters were placed in 63 patients over a 6-month period by means of a transfemoral (n = 62) or transjugular (n = 1) approach. To determine the prevalence of access-site thrombosis, compression color Doppler flow imaging was performed 1-11 days after the procedure in 48 patients without suspected or documented preexisting thrombus. Clinical follow-up was from 5 to 289 days (mean, 100 days). Findings at ultrasound (US) examination were normal in 38 patients, and all of these patients remained clinically asymptomatic. Nonocclusive thrombus was seen in nine patients, eight of whom remained asymptomatic. A single patient had an occlusive thrombus at US. This patient had leg swelling. Nonocclusive thrombus did not predispose patients to the development of clinically evident occlusive thrombosis. The authors conclude that the transfemoral placement of the Bird's Nest vena caval filter is associated with a low prevalence (2%) of femoral vein occlusion documented at US follow-up. This contrasts with results from a similarly designed study demonstrating a 17% prevalence after percutaneous Greenfield filter placement.

Adult↗

Choledochoscopic stone removal through a T-tube tract: experience in 75 consecutive patients.

Retained biliary stones remain a common clinical problem in patients after surgery. Since 1984, the authors have used choledochoscopy in the treatment of suspected retained biliary stones in 75 patients. These procedures were performed in the radiology department with use of local anesthesia supplemented by an intravenously administered sedative and analgesic. A 15-F flexible fiberoptic choledochoscope was used. Fifty-one of the 75 patients were treated as outpatients. Treatment was successful in 74 of 75 patients; in one patient, intrahepatic stones were not completely removed. Electrohydraulic lithotripsy was used to fragment calculi in 11 patients (15%). Biopsies were performed in four patients (5%). Five minor complications occurred; three required overnight admission. Choledochoscopic-assisted removal of retained biliary calculi is a highly effective and safe procedure. Advantages over standard fluoroscopic stone removal include the ability to directly visualize and fragment adherent or impacted stones and visualize noncalculous filling defects, such as air bubbles, mucus, and biliary tumors.

Adult↗

Experience with the Amplatz retrievable vena cava filter.

The Amplatz retrievable inferior vena cava filter was designed to be used as either a permanent indwelling filter or a short-term, percutaneously removable filter. The authors placed 52 filters in 52 patients. No deaths occurred as a result of filter placement or usage. Follow-up in 42 (81%) patients included inferior vena cavography (n = 31), computed tomography (n = 4), duplex ultrasound (n = 4), and autopsy (n = 3). Inferior vena cava thrombosis was found in seven (17.5%) of the 40 previously nonobstructed venae cavae studied. Two patients with caval thrombosis required a second filter to prevent embolization of thrombus that had extended to the lung side of the first filter. No clinically evident pulmonary emboli after filter placement have been noted. Six filters were successfully retrieved or repositioned percutaneously. The relatively high rate of caval thrombosis with extension above the filter may be due to a higher trapping efficiency or to filter geometry. The role of this filter in the treatment of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary emboli is unclear.

Adult↗

Lower-extremity venous thrombosis: comparison of venography, impedance plethysmography, and intravenous manometry.

This study was undertaken to compare impedance plethysmography with lower-extremity venography and venous manometry in the diagnosis of acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremity. Ninety-six extremities were studied. In this population, in which the prevalence of acute DVT was 43.8%, plethysmography had a sensitivity of 86.8% and a specificity of 72.0%. The predictive value of abnormal findings at plethysmography was 70.2%, and the predictive value of normal findings at plethysmography was 87.8%. Venous manometry was performed successfully in 89 extremities. A statistically significant difference was shown in the mean intravenous pressure between patients with and without acute DVT. However, there was considerable overlap between the two populations, limiting the predictive value of impedance plethysmography in any given patient.

Adult↗

Spermatic vein embolization with hot contrast material: fertility results.

Spermatic venography with hot contrast material embolization was undertaken in 81 patients with varicoceles and infertility. Long-term follow-up information was available in 91% of the patients, and there was an overall conception rate of 40.5%. Embolization with hot contrast material was easily performed without special embolization devices and proved to be a safe and effective technique.

Adolescent↗

Urinary obstruction in renal transplants: diagnosis by antegrade pyelography and results of percutaneous treatment.

We reviewed our experience with 51 renal transplants to evaluate the accuracy of antegrade pyelography as compared with that of sonography and nuclear renography in the diagnosis of transplant obstruction. Also, the results of percutaneous treatment were analyzed in 44 of these patients. Obstruction was clinically suspected in all of the patients (increased serum creatinine levels and decreased urine output). Antegrade pyelography showed obstruction in 44 (86%) of the 51 patients, and nephrostomy drainage catheters were inserted. Sonography showed pyelocaliectasis in all 49 cases in which it was performed; in 42, the pyelocaliectasis was due to obstruction (14% false-positive rate). Nuclear renography showed obstruction in only six (18%) of 33 cases in which it was performed; all six cases proved to be obstructed (0% false-positive rate and 82% false-negative rate). Twenty-two (50%) of the 44 patients treated with nephrostomy drainage were managed successfully without surgical intervention; seven of these 22 required balloon dilation of ureteric strictures in addition to catheter decompression of the collecting system. The average duration of catheterization required for successful percutaneous treatment was 35 days. This experience suggests that antegrade pyelography has a definite role in the workup of patients suspected of having renal transplant obstruction. The percutaneous access permits successful catheter drainage. Compared with antegrade pyelography, sonography is reasonably accurate in determining the presence of urinary obstruction, although false-positive diagnoses are found in a substantial number of patients. Nuclear renography is not, however, a useful indicator of obstruction owing to its high false-negative rate. Percutaneous treatment of urinary obstruction in transplantation patients proves successful in approximately 50% of cases.

Humans↗

Urine leaks after renal transplantation: value of percutaneous pyelography and drainage for diagnosis and treatment.

We reviewed our experience with 12 renal transplant patients who had urine leaks to compare the accuracies of sonography and nuclear renography with that of antegrade pyelography in establishing the diagnosis. The leak was proved by surgery in 11 of the 12 cases. We also determined the role of diverting percutaneous nephrostomy drainage in the treatment of such leaks. The diagnosis was established by sonography in eight (67%) of the 12 patients. Nuclear renography, performed in nine patients, showed decreased renal function but showed the leak in only three (33%) of the nine cases. Antegrade pyelography, performed in all 12 patients, showed leakage in 10 (83%). In the other two patients, follow-up nephrostograms done within 24 hr showed leaks near the ureterovesical anastomotic site. Seven of 11 patients who were managed with a combination of percutaneous nephrostomy drainage and surgical reconstruction were treated successfully (i.e., a functioning graft was retained); however, only one patient was managed successfully by percutaneous methods alone. Antegrade pyelography is more accurate than sonography and nuclear renography in the detection of urine leakage after renal transplantation. However, percutaneous nephrostomy drainage appears useful only as an adjunct to surgery for treatment of this complication.

Adolescent↗

Limited usefulness of carbon dioxide as a contrast agent for cholangiography.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) was unsuccessfully used as a biliary contrast agent in 9 of 10 patients undergoing percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography prior to biliary drainage. The technique involved hand injection of 10-20 cc CO2 through the Chiba needle in an attempt to fill preferentially the anterior biliary radicals. Although CO2 remains a useful agent in many instances, particularly for percutaneous nephrostomy, its usefulness in the biliary tract is severely limited.

Carbon Dioxide↗

Percutaneous transhepatic biliary endoscopic procedures.

Two cases are presented to demonstrate the acceptability of the percutaneous route for performing endoscopic procedures in the biliary tree. They involved debridement of an atypical villoglandular polyp and ultrasonic lithotripsy of intrahepatic stones. Both cases serve to introduce percutaneous biliary endoscopy as a viable alternative for diagnosis and therapy in selected cases.

Adult↗

Misplacement of a vena cava filter in the retroperitoneum.

An inferior vena cava filter was misplaced into the pericaval retroperitoneum. This was probably secondary to placement into and avulsion of the right spermatic vein. The filter delivery system was modified, and such misplacement should now be impossible.

Filtration↗

Balloon occlusion femoral angiography prior to in-situ saphenous vein bypass.

The advent of the in situ saphenous vein bypass procedure for peripheral lower extremity ischemic disease has placed new demands on the angiographer. It is imperative that the small runoff arteries of the calf be seen beyond the level of the ankle to include evaluation of the patency of the plantar arch. Balloon occlusion femoral angiography (BOFA) has been used in 45 consecutive lower extremities in 40 patients referred for proposed in situ saphenous vein bypass; excellent visualization of the plantar arch on the first run was obtained in 40 of 45 extremities (88.9%). The patients included 35 (87.5%) insulin-dependent diabetics with severe proximal arterial disease. Initially, in situ candidates were studied using conventional "runoff" methods; it was rarely possible to visualize the upper trifurcation vessels let alone the plantar arch by this conventional method. The BOFA method was used to provide excellent visualization of the plantar arch and foot arteries. It permits use of smaller contrast medium volumes, provides all the arteriographic anatomy on one 51 inch long film, and is safe.

Adult↗

Safe splenoportography.

The records of 37 patients who had undergone splenoportography, including one group of 12 who were studied before 1976 and a second group of 25 who were studied after 1977, were reviewed. The primary difference was that in the second group, the tract in the spleen was occluded with absorbable gelatin sponge (Gelfoam) plugs as the needle was withdrawn. In addition, there were minor changes in technique, such as changes in the needle puncture angle and entry site. When the new technique was used, there was a significant decrease in the complications traditionally associated with splenoportography. This procedure is safe and deserves to be considered the procedure of choice in patients in whom precise anatomic information is needed preoperatively that cannot be obtained with noninvasive procedures such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging.

Adolescent↗

Improved vessel dilator for percutaneous catheterization.

Three commercial vessel dilators and a dilator of an improved design were tested during percutaneous catheterization in 16 mongrel dogs to evaluate arterial damage produced with their use. The results indicate that, although all dilators often produce arterial damage, the improved design produced much less damage. In addition, lesions were less severe overall. The dilator has been safely and successfully used in patients for percutaneous vessel catheterization for the past 30 years at the authors' institution.

Angiography↗

Percutaneously applied ureteral clips: treatment of vesicovaginal fistula.

Percutaneous techniques to manage urinary fistulas have had limited success. To overcome this, self-closing metallic clips were developed to occlude the ureter. The clips are applied through a percutaneously placed 30-F Teflon sheath. A case is reported in which the clips and new technique were successfully used.

Aged↗

Movable core guide wire: evaluation of improved model.

Six commercially available movable core guide wires were compared with each other and with a new design in glass models simulating tortuous vessels. The results demonstrate a wide variability in performance of the commercially available wires and the superiority of the new design.

Angiography↗

A new retention catheter.

A new retention catheter made of a soft, biocompatible material is described. It has the advantages of the Cope- and Malecot-type systems without their inherent disadvantages. It is easily introduced into virtually any fluid collection and is optimal for smaller collections, such as a normal renal pelvis.

Catheterization↗

New super-stiff guide wire.

A super-stiff spring guide wire is described, which overcomes some of the drawbacks of the Lunderquist-Ring guide wire. The new wire couples maximum stiffness with a smooth, gradual transition to a floppy tip, thus decreasing the likelihood of breakage and organ perforation.

Radiography↗