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PubMed1993

Enhancing the efficacy of thrombolysis by AMPA receptor blockade with NBQX in a rat embolic stroke model.

Efficacy and safety of combined alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate receptor blockade and thrombolytic therapy with human recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) was tested in a rat embolic stroke model. Sixty-three rats were embolized in the right internal carotid territory with a 200 microliters suspension of microclots formed by alternate moving of 150 microliters whole blood and 50 microliters of thrombin between two interconnected syringes for 4 min. Sixteen embolized rats served as controls, and 16 rats were treated with NBQX immediately after embolization. Thirty-one rats were treated with TPA 2 h following embolization, and in 16 of these rats additional NBQX treatments were initiated 90 min following embolization. Hemispheric cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured by an intraarterial 133Xenon injection method before and after embolization. Carotid angiography displayed the rate of occlusion of the cerebral arterial supply before and after treatment. Brains were fixed after 2 days, evaluated neuropathologically, and infarct volumes were measured. Median CBF was reduced by 70-77% in the affected hemispheres following embolization. Significant recanalization occurred in all groups except those treated with NBQX. TPA-treated rats had significantly better reperfusion compared to controls judged by angiography 3 h following embolization (P = 0.04). NBQX alone and TPA alone caused insignificant reduction in infarct volume but, when combined, total infarct volume was reduced by 77% compared to controls (P = 0.02). Separate measurement of cortical infarct revealed significantly smaller infarcts (P = 0.05) in the combined treatment group compared to the TPA treatment group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Characteristics of memory impairment in cerebral embolized rats at the chronic stage.

The effect of cerebral embolization on learning and memory in rats was studied at the chronic stage (8 weeks or more after embolization). At the chronic stage, embolized rats showed no significant change in emotional behavior, but exhibited an increase in ambulation in the open-field test. Rats with cerebral embolization exhibited marked impairment of the response was observed at the chronic stage. In a two-way active avoidance task, embolized rats showed accelerated acquisition of the avoidance response in comparison with a sham-operated control group. However, at the chronic stage, embolized rats exhibited marked impairment of light-dark discrimination learning. Spatial memory impairment was also observed in embolized rats, as demonstrated by a significant decrease in initial correct responses and an increase in total errors in the radial maze task. Upon microscopic examination, multi-focal necroses were detected in several brain regions, being particularly obvious in the hippocampus and internal capsule of the embolized hemisphere. These results demonstrate that embolized rats show definite impairment of memory and learning at the chronic stage, and suggest that the impairment may be qualitatively different from that observed at the early stage.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Left atrial dimension and risk of systemic embolism in patients with a prosthetic heart valve. Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study on Valvular Heart Disease.

The relation between left atrial dimension measured by M-mode echocardiography and systemic embolization after valve replacement was examined prospectively among 397 patients with a prosthetic valve enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study on Valvular Heart Disease. Baseline characteristics including several measures of left atrial enlargement were compared for 31 patients who developed systemic embolism and 366 who did not develop embolism during a 5 year follow-up period. Variables that were significantly related to left atrial dimension or systemic embolization in univariate analyses were included with several others in a multiple logistic regression model. The incidence rate of systemic embolism was more than three times higher after mitral valve replacement than after aortic valve replacement (4.4 and 1.3 per 100 patient-years, respectively); this difference persisted after adjustment for other factors. Univariate analysis indicated a threefold higher incidence of systemic embolism in patients with a left atrial dimension greater than or equal to 4 cm compared with that in patients with a dimension less than 4 cm (3 versus 1 per 100 patient-years, respectively). However, when the effect of valve location (mitral versus aortic) was taken into account using either univariate or multivariate techniques, left atrial dimension was found not to be associated with systemic embolism. In multivariate analysis, atrial fibrillation, age, ejection fraction and location of the prosthetic valve were significantly associated with embolism. Results of this multicenter study suggest that left atrial dimension is not independently related to the development of systemic embolism in patients undergoing valve replacement.

Aortic Valve↗
PubMed2004

The effect of helical computed tomography on diagnostic and treatment strategies in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: Helical computed tomography (CT) has been proposed as a first-line test for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. How the test affects the diagnostic evaluation of patients with suspected pulmonary embolism is unknown. METHODS: We examined a cohort of 360 patients evaluated for pulmonary embolism at a teaching hospital in the 4 years following the introduction of the helical CT scan. We collected patient demographic and clinical data to calculate the pretest likelihood of pulmonary embolism; we then read the test results and determined rates of further testing and treatment for pulmonary embolism. RESULTS: After the helical CT scan became available, the number of patients referred for pulmonary embolism testing increased markedly from 170 to 624 total evaluations during 1997 to 2000 (P <0.01). This rise was due to increased use of the helical CT scan (9% to 83% of evaluations, P <0.01) as the use of ventilation-perfusion scanning (79% to 17%, P = 0.03) and pulmonary angiography (12% to <1%, P <0.01) fell. There was no change in the pre-test likelihood of disease over time, but the percentage of scans that were positive for pulmonary embolism rose (14% to 32%, P =0.02). Clinicians treated all patients who had a positive CT scan, but became less likely over time to order further testing for patients who had a negative scan (30% to 12%, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: At this academic medical center, introduction of the helical CT scan had a profound effect on the evaluation of pulmonary embolism, resulting in more frequent use of the CT scan, and more frequent diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary embolism, despite no change in the pretest probability of disease. Future studies should confirm our findings and determine whether increased detection of pulmonary emboli results in improved outcomes.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Diagnosing pulmonary embolism in outpatients with clinical assessment, D-dimer measurement, venous ultrasound, and helical computed tomography: a multicenter management study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate a diagnostic strategy for pulmonary embolism that combined clinical assessment, plasma D-dimer measurement, lower limb venous ultrasonography, and helical computed tomography (CT). METHODS: A cohort of 965 consecutive patients presenting to the emergency departments of three general and teaching hospitals with clinically suspected pulmonary embolism underwent sequential noninvasive testing. Clinical probability was assessed by a prediction rule combined with implicit judgment. All patients were followed for 3 months. RESULTS: A normal D-dimer level (<500 microg/L by a rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) ruled out venous thromboembolism in 280 patients (29%), and finding a deep vein thrombosis by ultrasonography established the diagnosis in 92 patients (9.5%). Helical CT was required in only 593 patients (61%) and showed pulmonary embolism in 124 patients (12.8%). Pulmonary embolism was considered ruled out in the 450 patients (46.6%) with a negative ultrasound and CT scan and a low-to-intermediate clinical probability. The 8 patients with a negative ultrasound and CT scan despite a high clinical probability proceeded to pulmonary angiography (positive: 2; negative: 6). Helical CT was inconclusive in 11 patients (pulmonary embolism: 4; no pulmonary embolism: 7). The overall prevalence of pulmonary embolism was 23%. Patients classified as not having pulmonary embolism were not anticoagulated during follow-up and had a 3-month thromboembolic risk of 1.0% (95% confidence interval: 0.5% to 2.1%). CONCLUSION: A noninvasive diagnostic strategy combining clinical assessment, D-dimer measurement, ultrasonography, and helical CT yielded a diagnosis in 99% of outpatients suspected of pulmonary embolism, and appeared to be safe, provided that CT was combined with ultrasonography to rule out the disease.

Emergency Service, Hospital↗
PubMed2004

Prospective validation of Wells Criteria in the evaluation of patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The literature suggests that the d -dimer is useful in patients suspected of having pulmonary embolism and who have a low pretest probability of disease. A previously defined clinical decision rule, the Wells Criteria, may provide a reliable and reproducible means of determining this pretest probability. We evaluate the interrater agreement and external validity of Wells Criteria in determining pretest probability in patients suspected of having pulmonary embolism. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study. Trained research assistants enrolled patients during 120 random 8-hour shifts. Patients who underwent imaging for pulmonary embolism after a medical history, physical examination, and chest radiograph were enrolled. Treating providers and research assistants determined pretest probability according to Wells Criteria in a blinded fashion. Two d -dimer assays were run. Three-month follow-up for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism was performed. Interrater agreement tables were created. kappa Values, sensitivities, and specificities were determined. RESULTS: Of the 153 eligible patients, 3 patients were missed, 16 patients declined, and 134 (88%) patients were enrolled. Sixteen (12%) patients were diagnosed with pulmonary embolism. The kappa values for Wells Criteria were 0.54 and 0.72 for the trichotomized and dichotomized scorings, respectively. When Wells Criteria were trichotomized into low pretest probability (n=59, 44%), moderate pretest probability (n=61, 46%), or high pretest probability (n=14, 10%), the pulmonary embolism prevalence was 2%, 15%, and 43%, respectively. When Wells Criteria were dichotomized into pulmonary embolism-unlikely (n=88, 66%) or pulmonary embolism-likely (n=46, 34%), the prevalence was 3% and 28%, respectively. The immunoturbidimetric and rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay d -dimer assays had similar sensitivities (94%) and specificities (45% versus 46%). CONCLUSION: Wells Criteria have a moderate to substantial interrater agreement and reliably risk stratify pretest probability in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Consequence of atrial fibrillation and the risk of embolism after percutaneous mitral commissurotomy: the necessity of the maze procedure.

BACKGROUND: We sought to investigate the incidence and risk of embolism after percutaneous balloon mitral commissurotomy (PMC) and delineated the necessity of the maze procedure in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: Clinical records of 326 patients, who underwent PMC between April 1988 and March 2003, and 162 patients, who underwent mitral valve surgery (MVS) combined with the maze procedure (MVS/maze) in the same period, were reviewed. We examined the consequence of cardiac rhythm and the incidence and risk of embolism after PMC. Next our current criteria for indication of the maze procedure, which included duration of AF less than 10 years, voltage of f wave on electrocardiography greater than 0.1 mV, cardiothoracic ratio less than 70%, and left atrial dimension less than 70 mm, were applied to all patients. These criteria were satisfied by 190 patients of PMC (PMC group) and 114 patients of MVS/maze (MVS/maze group) and the early and late results of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients suffered from embolic complications after PMC. Of these 33 patients experienced AF before intervention. The actuarial embolism-free rate at 10 years was 81.9% in patients with AF before PMC and 92.9% in patients with sinus rhythm before PMC (p = 0.01). Univariate predictors of embolism after PMC included previous embolic history (p = 0.01), AF (p = 0.01), pressure gradient (p = 0.01), age (p = 0.03), and mitral valve area (p = 0.04). Multivariate analysis identified AF as the independent predictor of embolism in the late follow-up period (p = 0.03). In a comparative study of the selected patients the actuarial AF-free rates after MVS/maze were 89.9% at 1 year and 85.7% at 5 years and were significantly higher than those of 17.3% at 1 year and 4.2% at 5 years after PMC (p < 0.0001). The actuarial embolism-free rate in the MVS/maze group was 98.0% at 5 years and was significantly higher than that of 84.8% at 5 years and 82.4% at 10 years in the PMC group (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: PMC alone is not sufficient with regard to sinus rhythm recovery and prevention of embolism. Surgical treatment concomitant with the maze procedure may be beneficial for patients with AF.

Atrial Fibrillation↗
PubMed2006

Pregnancy after embolization therapy for uterine arteriovenous malformation.

OBJECTIVE: To describe childbearing prognosis following embolization therapy for uterine arteriovenous malformation (AVM). DESIGN: Case report and review. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): Thirteen patients, including our case, who underwent pregnancy after embolization therapy for arteriovenous malformation. INTERVENTION(S): Two successive embolization procedures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Childbearing prognosis following embolization therapy for uterine AVM. RESULT(S): Bilateral embolization was performed in seven patients. In four cases, including ours, two successive embolization procedures were required to treat the uterine AVM. The longest delay between embolization and pregnancy was 5 years and the shortest was six weeks. Two patients presented with postpartum hemorrhage which was treated medically. One neonate required resuscitation after delivery in the context of Listeria infection. CONCLUSION(S): Conservative management of uterine AVMs using embolization therapy is being increasingly developed. New embolization agents and hyperselective technical procedures aim at reducing morbidity related to such treatments and preserving reproductive capacity in women of childbearing age.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Embolization as first-line therapy for diverticulosis-related massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding: evidence from a meta-analysis.

The study goal was to determine which etiologies of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) may best be treated with superselective embolization. A meta-analysis was undertaken of 25 identified publications reporting the use of embolization and an unpublished series of 12 consecutive patients with LGIB from the authors' institution. Six published series and the authors' series met selection criteria for further analysis. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated no significant difference in pooled outcomes when varying the included study, age, or embolization method on the outcome of rebleeding. The pooled odds ratio for arteriovenous dysplastic lesions and other diseases was 3.53 compared with rebleeding after localization and embolization for diverticular disease (95% confidence interval odds ratio, 1.33, 9.41; P < 0.01). Embolization for diverticular bleeding was successful in 85% of patients. In contrast, rebleeding after embolization for nondiverticular bleeding occurred in greater than 40% of patients and over a more protracted period. Embolization for LGIB is most effective for the treatment of diverticular bleeding. Caution should be used when applying embolization therapy for nondiverticular causes due to the considerably higher associated failure rate. An inpatient observation period of 2 days is suggested following embolization for diverticular bleeding.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Time-related distribution, risk factors and prognostic influence of embolism in patients with left-sided infective endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Few studies evaluated systemic arterial embolism after beginning of symptoms of infective endocarditis in a large series of patients. METHODS: We studied 629 patients with left-sided infective endocarditis, aged 37.9+/-17.3 years, 396(63%) men and 233(37%) women. Endocarditis occurred on native valves in 405(64.4%) patients and on prosthetic heart valves in 224(35.6%). Infecting microorganisms were streptococci in 297(47.3%) patients, Staphylococcus aureus in 77(12.3%), Staphylococcus epidermidis in 56(8.9%), enterococci in 51(8.1%), Gram-negative bacteria in 33(5.2%), fungi in 9(1.4%) and other microorganisms in 27(4.2%). In 79(12.6%) patients blood cultures were negative. RESULTS: 146 embolic events occurred in 133(21.1%) out of 629 patients; in 63(47.4%) of them emboli affected the central nervous system, in 57(42.9%) affected peripheral organs and in 13(9.7%) affected both the central nervous system and peripheral organs. Embolism occurred between beginning of symptoms of endocarditis and antimicrobial therapy in 56(42.1%) patients and on the day therapy started in 18(13.5%); 109(81.9%) embolic events occurred up to the 15th day of antimicrobial therapy. Embolic risk was higher in S. aureus endocarditis (relative risk 2.97); in patients with a mitral (relative risk 2.4) or aortic (relative risk 3.3) prosthetic valve and vegetations on echocardiography. Embolic risk was lower in patients with a longer duration of symptoms. The death risk doubled in patients with embolism (relative risk 2.01). CONCLUSIONS: Embolic events were more frequently early events after beginning of symptoms of infective endocarditis. Embolic risk was higher in S. aureus endocarditis and in patients with prosthetic heart valves and vegetations on echocardiography.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Analysis of the prognostic impact of tumor embolization before definitive radiotherapy for cervical carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To assess whether embolization compromises the radiocurability of primary cervical cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Two hundred fifty-four patients with primary cervical cancer (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIGO] stages IB: 47; II: 91; IIIB: 102; IV: 14) were treated with external beam irradiation and Ir-192 high-dose-rate brachytherapy over a period of 15 years. Of these, 24 patients (9.4%) (FIGO stages IB: 1; II: 8; IIIB: 12; IV: 3) had had bilateral embolization of the internal iliac arteries before referral. The median age of the entire cohort was 66 years (range, 34-85 years). Tumor size was >5 cm and paraortic nodes were enlarged (> or =1 cm) on pretreatment CAT scan in 39.4% and 9.1% of patients, respectively. All patients with hemoglobin levels (hb-l) < or =11 g/dL (28.3%) received packed red cell transfusions (PRCT) before and/or during radiotherapy in an attempt to maintain levels >11 g/dL throughout treatment. Cross-table tests were used to compare the distribution of FIGO stage, tumor size, lymph node status, and pretreatment and treatment hb-l of embolized and nonembolized patients. The impact of embolization, along with the above-listed tumor characteristics, on disease-specific survival (DSS), pelvic control (PC), and distant metastases-free survival (MFS) was determined by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Embolized patients presented at a statistically significant younger median age (55 vs. 67 years; p = 0.003), with larger tumors (66.7% vs. 36.5%; p = 0.007), and lower pretreatment hb-l (75% vs. 23.5%; p < 0.001) than nonembolized patients. There was no significant difference in stage distribution or lymph node status, and although embolized patients responded better to PRCT (50% vs. 29.6%), this difference was not statistically significant. Univariate analysis showed a trend toward decreased DSS (p = 0.09) and PC (p = 0.07) for embolized patients but no effect on MFS, whereas all other variables tested were significantly correlated with DSS, PC, and MFS (all p < 0.001). In the multivariate model, tumor embolization, FIGO stage, and pretreatment hb-l ceased to impact significantly on outcome. Tumor size remained the most powerful independent predictor for all endpoints tested, followed by treatment hb-l. Paraortic node status was significantly correlated with DSS and MFS. CONCLUSION: Although a trend toward poorer DSS and PC was observed in embolized patients, no impact on radiocurability could be demonstrated in multivariate analysis after controlling for the major tumor characteristics and treatment hb-l.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2005

Use of spiral computed tomography contrast angiography and ultrasonography to exclude the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in the emergency department.

Spiral computed tomography (CT) contrast angiography is a promising imaging modality for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism but the negative predictive value of this test remains controversial. We performed a multi-center prospective cohort study to determine the safety of relying on a negative spiral CT contrast angiography scan to exclude pulmonary embolism. Patients presenting to the Emergency Departments of three tertiary care institutions with clinically suspected pulmonary embolism were potentially eligible for the study. Patients underwent a clinical evaluation to categorize pretest probability into low, moderate, and high categories, and had D-dimer testing performed. Patients at low pretest probability with normal D-dimer were considered to have pulmonary embolism excluded. The remaining patients underwent spiral CT contrast angiography scan of the pulmonary arterial circulation and bilateral venous ultrasound of the proximal leg veins. Patients who were confirmed to have pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis were treated with anticoagulant therapy. Patients in whom the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism was excluded did not receive anticoagulant therapy and were followed for a 3-month period for the development of venous thromboembolic complications. Eight hundred fifty-eight (858) patients were enrolled in this study. Three-hundred sixty-nine (369) patients had low pretest probability and negative D-dimer results and no further diagnostic tests were performed. None of these patients subsequently developed venous thromboembolic complications (0%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0% to 1.0%). The remaining 489 were referred for spiral CT contrast angiography scan and ultrasound. Sixty-seven patients were confirmed to have pulmonary embolism and an additional 15 patients with negative CT scans had proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) on ultrasound for a total prevalence of venous thromboembolism of 82/489 (16.8%). Two of 409 patients who had pulmonary embolism excluded in the initial evaluation phase developed proximal venous thromboembolism (0.5%; 95% CI 0% to 1.8%) in the 3-month follow-up period. These findings suggest that the combination of a negative spiral CT contrast angiography scan and normal venous ultrasound imaging safely excludes the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in the Emergency Department setting.

Contrast Media↗
PubMed2006

Concomitant unilateral internal iliac artery embolization and endovascular infrarenal aortic aneurysm repair.

INTRODUCTION: Endograft limb extension to the external iliac artery with embolization of an internal iliac artery (IIA) may be necessary in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) extending to the common iliac artery to prevent endoleak during endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). Coil embolization of the IIA can be performed at the same operative setting as EVAR or, alternatively, as a staged procedure. Most interventionalists favor the latter approach to avoid excessive contrast material and prolonged operative time. We investigated the clinical outcome of concomitant vs staged unilateral IIA embolization in the setting of EVAR. METHODS: Vascular surgeons at our institution treated 24 patients with infrarenal EVAR and unilateral coil embolization of the IIA from October 1, 2000 to June 30, 2005. All patients had normal renal function. The details of the operative procedure and perioperative complications were compared in patients undergoing concomitant vs staged procedures. Follow up was 1 to 40 months (average, 11 months). RESULTS: Among the 24, 16 underwent concomitant unilateral IIA embolization in the setting of EVAR and eight patients underwent the staged procedure. Average duration of operative time (298 vs 284 minutes), amount of intravenous contrast (215 mL vs 164 mL), and preoperative (1.12 vs 1.26 mg/dL), and postoperative (1.15 v. 1.31 mg/dl) creatinine levels were similar in the concomitant vs staged group, respectively (P > .05 for all factors). More sensitive markers of renal insufficiency such as creatinine clearance were not measured. In the concomitant group, 25% (4/16) of patients reported significant symptoms of buttock claudication ipsilateral to the embolized IIA, which resolved after a mean of 8.8 months (range, 1 to 15 months) vs no cases (0/8) in the staged group (P = .02048). One patient in the staged group developed ischemic colitis, which was treated conservatively. Coil embolizations that were performed as staged procedures were all done on an outpatient basis. All 24 patients were admitted the day of the EVAR and were discharged the next day, except one patient in the concomitant group was discharged the second day after the procedure, and one patient in the staged group was discharged 7 days after the procedure. CONCLUSION: Despite concern of prolonged operative time and the amount of contrast needed to perform concomitant IIA embolization and EVAR, our results showed that in patients with normal renal function, concomitant unilateral IIA embolization in the setting of EVAR was safe and effective and associated with shorter hospitalization compared with staged procedures. The disadvantage of a concomitant procedure is an increased likelihood of transient buttock claudication, but the small number of patients in this series prohibits definite conclusions about this complication. The concomitant procedure may be preferable for infirm patients with normal renal function who would be greatly inconvenienced by two procedures.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Risk factors for "major" embolic events in hospitalized patients with infective endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis often is complicated by embolic events after hospital admission. Identifying patients at higher risk may improve the disease outcome. This study was aimed at identifying predictors of embolic risk among the clinical and laboratory data obtained on hospital admission in patients diagnosed as having definite infective endocarditis according to the Duke criteria. METHODS: Ninety-four patients were enrolled in a prospective study. The results of hematologic, echocardiographic, and microbiological investigations were analyzed, using statistical methods as appropriate. Multivariate analysis was applied to variables significantly associated with embolism in univariate analysis. RESULTS: Forty-six percent of patients had a major embolic complication after admission. No association was found between embolism and sex, site of infection, or microorganism involved. Patients with embolism were significantly younger, had larger vegetation, and showed a significantly higher level of serum C-reactive protein and lower albumin concentrations than those without embolism. Young age, larger vegetation size, and high levels of C-reactive protein were the independent variables associated with an increased incidence of embolic events in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that patients with infective endocarditis with young age and/or with large vegetation and/or with high serum levels of C-reactive protein are at increased risk of major embolic complications during the in-hospital course of the disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Embolization with detachable balloons--applications outside the head.

Detachable balloons, although widely used as an embolization material in neurovascular work, are rarely used outside the head. Yet they offer distinct advantages over other methods of embolization in certain situations. They can effect an instant and precise occlusion of large arteries and fistulae and unlike any other embolization technique the occlusion is reversible until the balloon is finally detached. In addition, they can be floated out to distal locations inaccessible with more conventional catheter techniques. They are inflated with contrast medium or silicone monomers. Large arteries and arteriovenous fistulae (AVFs) are best suited to balloon embolization where embolization distal to the fistula resulting in parenchymal infarction is not indicated. Thirteen patients underwent 14 detachable balloon embolizations. Eleven had large AVFs (4 coronary AVFs, 4 Blalock-Taussig shunts, 2 vertebro-vertebral fistulae and 1 renal AVF) and three had large arteries (2 aorto-pulmonary collaterals in one patient and 1 innominate artery pseudo-aneurysm). Twelve of these embolization procedures were successful and there were no complications. The two failures were due to inability to pass the balloon catheter around an acute angle in the introducer catheter and to early deflation. These cases illustrate a wide range of situations where balloon embolization may be used successfully. Continued refinement and improvement in the technique will allow expansion of the indications for non-neurological balloon embolization.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Pregnancy after embolization of uterine myoma: report of 12 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To treat uterine myomas with embolization, to look for pregnancy-induced myoma recurrences, and to assess pregnancy course and outcome after embolization. DESIGN: Observational clinical study. SETTING: University of Paris VII hospital. PATIENT(S): Nine women had embolization for symptomatic myoma, with 12 pregnancies observed. INTERVENTION(S): Embolizations were highly selective and performed bilaterally through the uterine arteries with polyvinyl alcohol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Pregnant women were evaluated by physical and sonographic examinations. RESULT(S): Before embolization, the mean uterine volume was 450 cm(3), and in six patients polymyomas were present. The median age at embolization was 40 years; the median delay before pregnancy was 9 months; and the median age at first pregnancy outcome was 41 years. Five early miscarriages occurred. The seven other pregnancies were uneventful, although three premature births and one case of late toxemia occurred unrelated to previous embolization. Three women delivered vaginally and four by cesarean section. Neither myoma recurrence nor abnormality in uterine function was observed. CONCLUSION(S): The results of this first series of 12 pregnancies after myoma embolization are promising. If these preliminary results are confirmed, embolization could be a major breakthrough in the management of myoma and could replace conventional medical and surgical treatments.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Comparison of long-term outcomes of myomectomy and uterine artery embolization.

OBJECTIVE: To compare long-term outcomes of uterine artery embolization and abdominal myomectomy in patients with symptomatic uterine myomas. METHODS: At a single institution in an 18-month time, 59 patients had bilateral uterine artery embolization and 38 patients had abdominal myomectomy to treat symptomatic uterine myomas. We reviewed medical records and surveyed patients 3 or more years after their procedures to assess how many needed further surgical procedures in the intervening years, to what extent symptoms remained improved, and how satisfied the patients were with the long term results of the index procedure. RESULTS: Follow-up was available on 51 embolization and 30 myomectomy patients and ranged from 37 to 59 months. Patients who had embolization were older (44 versus 38 years, P <.001) and more likely to have had previous surgical procedures (P <.001) than those who had myomectomy. Taking into account the variable follow-up period, embolization patients were more likely to have had further invasive treatment for myomas (29% versus 3%) (P =.004). Among women not needing further surgery, overall symptoms improved in 92% (33/36) of embolization and 90% (26/29) of myomectomy patients (P =.78). Ninety-four percent (34/36) of embolization patients and 79% (23/29) of myomectomy patients were at least somewhat satisfied with their choice of procedure (P =.06). CONCLUSION: Women who had embolization were more likely than those who had myomectomy to need further invasive treatment (surgery or repeat embolization) in the 3-5 years after the index procedure. Among women who did not need such treatment, satisfaction and relief of symptoms were similar. Large, randomized trials are needed to more accurately compare these two procedures.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Embolic potential of left ventricular thrombus after myocardial infarction: a two-dimensional echocardiographic study of 119 patients.

Left ventricular thrombus complicating myocardial infarction was diagnosed by two-dimensional echocardiography in 119 patients. The infarct site was anterior in 98 patients and inferior in 11. Systemic embolism occurred in 26 patients (stroke in 18, lower limb embolism in 7 and mesenteric embolism in 1). A protruding configuration of the thrombus was more common in the patients with embolism than in those without (23 [88%] of 26 versus 17 [18%] of 93) (p less than 0.01). Free mobility of the thrombus was found in 15 (58%) of 26 and 3 (3%) of 93 cases, respectively (p less than 0.01). In predicting embolism, protruding thrombus configuration had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 82%, and positive and negative predictive accuracy was 57 and 96%, respectively. For free mobility of the thrombus, sensitivity was 58%, specificity 97%, positive predictive accuracy 85% and negative predictive accuracy 89%. In the 46 patients whose echocardiogram was obtained during the hospital admission for the index infarct, repeat echocardiograms were obtained during oral anticoagulant therapy. Twelve of these 46 patients had embolism and 2 of the 12 died. In seven of these patients, full dose oral anticoagulant therapy had been given before embolism occurred and in five it was started after an embolic event. The thrombus decreased in size or disappeared in six patients; in four the thrombus showed no change, and in two of these four emboli recurred despite anticoagulation. It is concluded that two-dimensional echocardiography may help delineate the embolic potential of left ventricular thrombus complicating myocardial infarction and may be of value in weighing the benefits and disadvantages of oral anticoagulant therapy.

Anticoagulants↗