Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M E Hicks.
In the last five years angio-interventional techniques have been applied to the recanalization of proximally occluded fallopian tubes in infertile women. The reported technical success of 90% and subsequent pregnancies in up to 54% of patients has led to considerable interest in this technique. This article will discuss current methodologies and review the reported results of this procedure.
Recently, x-ray equipment manufacturers have produced systems capable of generating nonsubtracted digital angiograms (NSDA) of the arteries of the lower extremities with a high-resolution 1,024 x 1,024 matrix. One such system was compared with conventional screen-film angiography (CSFA) for the evaluation of peripheral vascular disease. Both NSDA and CSFA were performed prospectively in an identical fashion on 47 patients. The images were evaluated, and diagnostic adequacy (ie, information sufficient to direct subsequent therapy) and a variety of image quality attributes--vessel opacification, correct timing, complete anatomic coverage, and ease of reading--were compared. CSFA and NSDA provided similar diagnostic information. NSDA was judged superior to CSFA with regard to timing (P less than .001). CSFA was judged superior with regard to anatomic coverage (P less than .001) and ease of reading (P less than .01). NSDA is a promising method for evaluating patients with peripheral vascular disease. Further work is needed to provide more complete anatomic coverage and to improve the quality of the hard-copy images.
A new multilevel infusion catheter for administration of thrombolytic agents is described that provides near equal flow distribution through each of four infusion ports. Advantages of the catheter include fluoroscopically visible infusion length markers, small size (4.7 F), and secure positioning of the catheter within the occluded segment of graft or vessel. This catheter was used for infusion of urokinase in the treatment of 20 peripheral vascular occlusions. Complete or near complete thrombolysis was achieved in all cases.
The treatment of patients with chronic gastrointestinal bleeding can be a frustrating diagnostic challenge. In the past 10-15 years, a variety of new diagnostic procedures (e.g., fiber-optic endoscopy, scintigraphy, and double-contrast barium studies) have become available to examine these patients. Despite these new procedures, a small number of patients continue to bleed without a defined cause. We sought to evaluate the role of visceral angiography in patients with chronic gastrointestinal bleeding in whom findings on an extensive noninvasive workup have been normal. Between 1983 and 1990, we obtained angiograms on 36 such patients. The cause of bleeding was established by angiography in 16 patients (44%). In 11 of these 16, angiography revealed only a structural abnormality without active bleeding. Twenty patients had normal angiographic findings. No angiograms were false-positive, but three were false-negative (8%). No complication occurred as a result of the angiographic procedures. Our experience shows that visceral angiography can provide a positive diagnosis in a significant number of patients with chronic gastrointestinal bleeding of obscure origin in whom all other diagnostic measures have been unrevealing. Despite improvements in noninvasive diagnostic techniques, angiography still remains an important tool for examining this group of patients.
Adequate venous outflow is critical to the proper function of a vascular-access graft (arteriovenous fistula) used for chronic hemodialysis. Stenosis of the subclavian vein can significantly compromise this venous outflow. The development of such subclavian vein stenoses has been associated with the prior placement of temporary subclavian vein dialysis catheters. We evaluated the importance of preoperative detection of these stenoses before placement of a permanent vascular-access graft in the upper extremity. Upper extremity venography was performed before placement of a permanent vascular-access graft in 43 patients. A total of 62 extremities were evaluated. A 40% prevalence of moderate or severe subclavian vein stenosis was found in patients with prior or existing temporary dialysis catheters in the subclavian vein. No stenoses were found in patients without a history of dialysis catheters in the subclavian vein. This difference in the prevalence of subclavian vein stenosis is statistically significant (p less than .001). In no case was the stenosis suspected clinically. Before placement of a permanent vascular-access graft, the subclavian vein should be evaluated in all patients with a history of a temporary dialysis catheter in the subclavian vein. The use of sites other than the subclavian vein for temporary dialysis is strongly encouraged.
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.
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.
The authors retrospectively reviewed the clinical courses in 36 patients referred for angiographic evaluation of massive arterial hemorrhage from the stomach, gastroesophageal junction, and lower esophagus. Twenty-four patients underwent embolotherapy, and 12 were treated with nontranscatheter therapy such as surgery, Sengstaken-Blakemore tube placement, endoscopic submucosal injection of epinephrine, or supportive medical therapy. Bleeding was controlled completely in 15 (62%) and partially in three (13%) of the patients who underwent embolotherapy. In nine of the patients treated with nontranscatheter therapy (75%), bleeding control was complete. Sixteen patients died, including seven of 28 in whom bleeding was controlled. There was no significant difference in the mortality rates of patients treated with nontranscatheter therapy (46% and 42%, respectively). Survival correlated with the clinical condition at the time of intervention. All patients with multiorgan failure died, while 87% of the other patients, even those with serious cardiovascular compromise, survived. The results imply that massive gastric hemorrhage should be treated aggressively, before it results in multiorgan failure.
We reviewed our experience with 158 consecutive patients who underwent either percutaneous gastrostomy or percutaneous gastroenterostomy during a 2-year period. The catheters used included Foley catheters (36), Cope-type gastric catheters (86), or Carey-Alzate-Coons gastrojejunostomy catheters (36). Gastrojejunostomy tubes were placed in patients with gastroesophageal reflux or aspiration, gastric atony, or partial gastric obstruction. Ninety percent of the tubes were placed for feeding purposes. The technical success rate was 100%. Thirty-day follow-up was obtained in 89%. Thirty-day mortality was 26%, reflecting the substantial number of debilitated patients. No deaths were directly related to tube placement. Major morbidity was 6% and included hemorrhage, peritonitis, tube migration, and sepsis. Minor morbidity was 12%. There was no difference in 30-day mortality or feeding tolerance between the tube types (p less than .05). Patients with Foley catheters had more complications necessitating surgical intervention and an increased incidence of tube changes required within 30 days. These were the only statistically significant differences between the tubes (p less than .05). Our results show that percutaneous gastrostomy is a safe and effective means of gastroenteric feeding or decompression. Because of the fewer complications and ease of insertion, the Cope type of gastrostomy tube has become our preferred catheter for percutaneous feeding or decompression.
Surgical cholecystectomy is associated with a high morbidity and mortality in elderly patients with acute calculous cholecystitis and underlying cardiac or pulmonary disease. Currently there are few alternatives for treating these patients. The authors have used percutaneous cholecystolithotomy in 11 such high-risk patients for definitive treatment of gallbladder calculi. In all 11 patients all stones were successfully removed from the gallbladder and cystic duct. The entire procedure--from initial tube placement to final tube removal--lasted 17-40 days (mean, 21 days). There were two complications: one minor--local wound infection--and one major--bile peritonitis with eventual death. Percutaneous cholecystolithotomy is an effective alternative therapy for acute calculous cholecystitis in elderly, debilitated patients.
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Three hundred sixty-one patients underwent intraarterial digital subtraction angiography for definite or probable occlusive vascular disease of the carotid arteries. Examinations were performed with 65-cm-long, 4-F aortic catheters. A transbrachial approach was used. Images were good or excellent in nearly all cases. No postprocedural neurologic deficits or hematomas occurred. Permanent pulse deficit occurred in two patients, and temporary deficit occurred in three patients, an improvement over the frequency found in previous transbrachial series using 6-8-F catheters. While these results establish the efficacy of this technique, they also indicate a possible greater relative safety in men than in women.
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Forty-two patients underwent intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) of the carotid or renal arteries, utilizing a new 4-F aortic flush catheter; 37 procedures were percutaneous transbrachial, five were percutaneous transfemoral. Image quality was consistently good or excellent. The safety of nonselective intraarterial DSA screening for occlusive vascular disease is being evaluated in our ongoing series.
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PURPOSE: Failure of percutaneous or endoscopic removal of biliary calculi is often associated with impacted stones or stones larger than 1.5 cm. In these difficult cases, intracorporeal electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) is a method that allows large stones to be fragmented and removed percutaneously or endoscopically. In this study, the authors expand their experience with EHL and further evaluate the safety and efficacy of this technique to remove biliary tract calculi. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Intracorporeal electrohydraulic lithotripsy was used to treat 71 patients with calculi in the bile ducts (n = 35) or gallbladder (n = 36). Access was obtained by means of a surgical T-tube tract (n = 16), percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (n = 14), percutaneous cholecystostomy (n = 36), an intraoperative approach during common duct exploration (n = 2), and at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (n = 3). RESULTS: EHL lithotripsy was effective in fragmenting all biliary stones in 69 of the 71 patients (97%). All of the stone fragments were removed in 67 of these 69 patients (94%). Major complications, including bile peritonitis and gallbladder necrosis, occurred in five patients; however, all major complications were related to the initial percutaneous drainage or tract dilation. No significant complications were directly attributable to the EHL procedure. CONCLUSION: Intracorporeal EHL is a safe and effective method that can be used to improve the success of percutaneous and endoscopic biliary calculi removal.
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PURPOSE: Hohn catheters are single- or double-lumen catheters used for intermediate-length central venous access. The authors report their technique, results, and long-term follow-up in a prospective study of their first 100 consecutive patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Indications for Hohn subclavian catheter placement included chemotherapy in 53%, antibiotic therapy in 30%, and total parenteral nutrition in 8%. Patients' ages ranged from 21 to 82 years, and 80% of catheters were placed in inpatients. Hohn catheters were placed with fluoroscopic and/or ultrasound guidance. Patients were followed up for the duration of the study or until their catheters were removed. RESULTS: The technical success rate for catheter placement was 100%. No major procedural complications occurred. Duration of catheter placement varied between 5 and 276 days (mean, 70 days). The catheter infection rate was 8%, which corresponds to 1.1 infections per 1,000 catheter days. Catheter thrombosis occurred in nine cases (9%) and was successfully treated with urokinase in six of these nine. Subclavian vein thrombosis occurred in 3% of patients. CONCLUSION: Technical success, complication, and long-term patency rates for the Hohn catheter are comparable to or better than those in most surgical series involving tunneled external catheters. The Hohn catheter is an excellent alternative for intermediate-length central venous access. Hohn subclavian catheter placement has become a standard part of the authors' interventional radiology service and is easily adaptable to all interventional practices.