Cardiovascular and interventional radiology
-
Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol · Nov 2008
Comparative StudyPain levels within 24 hours after UFE: a comparison of morphine and fentanyl patient-controlled analgesia.
The purpose of this study was to assess the presence and severity of pain levels during 24 h after uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) for symptomatic leiomyomata and compare the effectiveness and adverse effects of morphine patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) versus fentanyl PCA. We carried out a prospective, nonrandomized study of 200 consecutive women who received UFE and morphine or fentanyl PCA after UFE. Pain perception levels were obtained on a 0-10 scale for the 24-h period after UFE. ⋯ We conclude that patients develop pain requiring IV opioid PCA within 24 h after UFE. Morphine PCA is more effective in reducing post-uterine artery embolization pain than fentanyl PCA. Nausea is a significant adverse effect from opioid PCA.
-
Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol · Nov 2008
Treatment of extraspinal painful bone metastases with percutaneous cementoplasty: a prospective study of 50 patients.
The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of percutaneous cementoplasty (PC) with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) in painful extravertebral lytic bone metastases not responding to conventional therapy. Fifty patients (25 females), mean age 64.7 +/- 11.2 years, underwent PC after giving informed consent. Procedures were performed under fluoroscopy (1/50) or combined fluoroscopy-CT (49/50) guidance in local anesthesia or under deep sedation in 7 patients with large metastases who underwent radiofrequency thermoablation (RFA) in the same session. ⋯ No complications arose during the procedure. Two patients with metastases in the femoral diaphysis reported a fracture 1 month after treatment. PC is effective to obtain pain regression in painful bone metastases not responding to conventional analgesic therapy; bone consolidation cannot be obtained in the diaphysis of long weight-bearing bones.
-
Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol · Nov 2008
Case ReportsA novel approach to treatment of unexpected vertebroplasty complication.
We report a novel approach to treatment of an unexpected complication of vertebroplasty. During initial positioning of transpedicular vertebroplasty needles in a 73-year-old woman, we encountered unexpected ease of needle advancement resulting in progression of the needle through the anterior cortex of the thoracic vertebral body. ⋯ Administration of polymethylmethacrylate cement was performed to tamponade bleeding at the time of the procedure and to reduce the risk of potential delayed bleeding complications within the mediastinum. The treatment was successful and the patient had no immediate or delayed complications as a result of the unintended needle advancement.
-
Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol · Nov 2008
Case ReportsContinuous intra-arterial nimodipine for the treatment of cerebral vasospasm.
Two patients with refractory symptomatic cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) were treated by continuous intra-arterial nimodipine infusion via a catheter placed in the internal carotid artery or vertebral artery for 3 and 12 days, respectively. Recovery of the neurological deficits, normalization of MR perfusion, a decrease in the elevated mean flow velocity measured by transcranial duplex sonography, and angiographic recanalization were observed. Continuous intra-arterial nimodipine might be a treatment option in severe refractory vasospasm following SAH.
-
Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol · Nov 2008
Preoperative transcatheter selective arterial chemoembolization in treatment of unresectable hepatoblastoma in infants and children.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical feasibility and efficacy of transcatheter selective arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for unresectable hepatoblastoma in infants and children. The study was performed with the approval of our institutional review board. Sixteen patients (13 boys, 3 girls) with unresectable hepatoblastoma were treated one to three times with preoperative TACE in an effort to improve the surgical and clinical outcome. ⋯ Correspondingly, event-free survival rate was 75%, 62.5%, and 43.7%, respectively. In addition, there was no marked chemotherapeutic agent-induced toxicity noted during the observation period. We conclude that TACE is feasible, well tolerated, and effective in inducing surgical resectability of hepatoblastoma in pediatric patients, which has become an independent palliative or curative therapeutic option, especially for patients without distant metastasis.