Acute celiac artery occlusion secondary to blunt trauma: Two case reports

BACKGROUND

Acute celiac artery (CA) injuries are extremely rare but potentially life-threatening and are more often caused by a penetrating injury rather than a blunt injury. The clinical manifestation of CA injuries is usually atypical, which easily causes missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis. Currently, there are only a few reports of acute traumatic occlusion of CA. The CA artery gives off branches to dominate the liver, stomach. and spleen; however, occluded CA did not cause significant organ ischemia, and the compensatory blood flow from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) played a pivotal role.

CASE SUMMARY

Herein, we report two cases of acute CA occlusion secondary to severe blunt trauma. Case one was a 19-year-old male, suffered from a motorcycle crash. He complained of dyspnea, and the closed drainage was performed soon after the hemopneumothorax was confirmed by ultrasound. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed hemopneumothorax, multiple rib fractures, right scapular fracture, and liver rupture. Reexamination with contrast-enhanced CT suggested perihepatic fluid was significantly increased, and CA was occluded. Because the hepatic hemorrhage is associated with hepatic artery injury, the CA was retrogradely opened through the SMA, and then, the right hepatic artery was embolized with coils successfully through the conventional pathway. Stent implantation was not performed, and the CA occlusion was managed by conservative treatment. A follow-up CT scan 3 mo after discharge showed the origin of CA remained occluded. Case two was a 37-year-old man, suffered injury from fall from height. He complained of lower back and bilateral heel pain. Contrast-enhanced CT examination revealed multiple rib fractures, bilateral pneumothorax, fourth lumbar (L4) vertebral burst fracture, and pelvic fractures. Furthermore, a small high-density mass in a lesser peritoneal sac and in front of the abdominal aorta was detected. The reexamination 14 h after admission showed the CA was occluded. The patient was conservatively treated. The symptoms of nausea after meals disappeared about 4 wk later, and abdominal distension was significantly relieved after 6 wk. The abdominal CT angiography at 60 d showed that the CA thrombus was not recanalized.

CONCLUSION

Patients with CA occlusion will have different clinical manifestations, and the dominant organ will not have obvious ischemia. Conservative treatment is safe, and the patient’s symptoms will be improved with the establishment of collateral circulation.

Prognostic Factors for Acute Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Occlusion Using Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene-Covered Stent

BACKGROUND

The expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE)-covered stent has been widely used in the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure. However, the epidemiologic data of acute TIPS occlusion (ATO) and the underlying mechanisms are scarce.

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and prognostic factors for ATO within 1 week in TIPS recipients using ePTFE-covered stents.

METHODS

We identified 222 patients who underwent ePTFE-covered TIPS creation for complications of portal hypertension between June 2015 and June 2017 at a large tertiary center. Medical records and TIPS procedure data were retrospectively reviewed, and the influence of these variables on ATO was assessed by multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

TIPS technical success was achieved in 219 patients (98.6%). Two patients were excluded due to missing data, leaving 217 patients for final analysis. ATO occurred in nine patients (4.1%). Blood flow was restored by balloon angioplasty (n = 4), additional stent insertion (n = 4), and parallel TIPS (n = 1). In multivariable logistic regression, intrastent stenosis (HR 43.871; 95% CI 3.816, 504.373; P = 0.002), previous splenectomy (HR 26.843; 95% CI 2.106, 342.124; P = 0.011), and stent shortening in the hepatic vein (HR 11.54; 95% CI 1.021, 130.416; P = 0.048) were demonstrated as independent significant risk factors for ATO.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that the intrastent stenosis, previous splenectomy, and stent shortening in the hepatic vein are vital prognostic factors for ATO in TIPS recipients. Individualized post-TIPS management strategy was required.

Conservative treatment of acute traumatic left renal vein occlusion: Importance of left gonadal vein, case report

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A blunt renal injury commonly leads to thrombotic partial renal infarct, but only rarely to an isolated acute renal vein occlusion.

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The surgical approach of thrombosed renal vein for preserving the kidney is likely to be an extensive operation, otherwise nephrectomy.

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Collateral pathway of the left renal venous drainage may be well known to urologists, but may be unfamiliar to trauma surgeons.

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If the gonadal vein is patent, left renal vein occlusion could be treated conservatively.

Introduction

Isolated acute traumatic renal vein occlusion is rare. As both kidneys have limited capsular and peripelvic vein collaterals, acute renal vein occlusion could lead to renal infarction. However, the left renal vein has potential collateral pathways through the gonadal vein.

Presentation of case

A 56-year-old woman was transferred to our trauma center after a pedestrian accident. Computed Tomography (CT) with contrast enhancement showed that no delineation of left renal vein with adjacent retroperitoneal hematoma around renal vessels, but left renal venous flow was being drained through left gonadal vein, therefore, left kidney was not congested. Her serum creatinine concentration was normal. We elected to treat her left renal vein occlusion conservatively because of the collateral pathway into the gonadal vein.

Discussion

Collateral pathway of the left renal venous drainage may be well known to urologists or vascular surgeons, but may be unfamiliar to trauma surgeons. Therefore, trauma surgeon’s attempts for revascularization of thrombosed left renal vein may lead to massive bleeding or nephrectomy.

Conclusion

Acute left renal vein occlusion close to the inferior vena cava can result in temporary venous hypertension and congestion followed by complete or nearly complete return of function as collateral veins enlarge. If the gonadal vein is patent, left renal vein occlusion could be treated conservatively.

Successful endovascular treatment in patients with acute thromboembolic ischemia of the lower limb including the crural arteries

AIM

To examine the efficacy and safety of the 6 French (6F) Rotarex^®S catheter system in patients with acute limb ischemia (ALI) involving thromboembolic occlusion of the proximal and mid-crural vessels.

METHODS

The files of patients in our department with ALI between 2015 and 2017 were examined. In seven patients, the Rotarex^®S catheter was used in the proximal segment of the crural arteries. Data related to the clinical examination, Doppler sonography, angiography and follow-up from these patients were further used for analysis.

RESULTS

Two patients (29%) had thrombotic occlusion of the common femoral artery, and the remaining five exhibited thrombosis of the superficial femoral artery and popliteal artery. Mechanical thrombectomy was performed in all cases using a 6F Rotarex^®S catheter. Additional Rotarex^®S catheter thrombectomy due to remaining thrombus formation with no reflow was performed in the anterior tibial artery in two of seven cases (29%), in the tibiofibular tract and posterior tibial artery in two of seven cases (29%) and in the tibiofibular tract and fibular artery in the remaining three of seven cases (43%). Ischemic symptoms resolved promptly in all, and none of the patients experienced a procedural complication, such as crural vessel dissection, perforation or thrombus embolization.

CONCLUSION

Mechanical debulking using the 6F Rotarex^®S catheter system may be a safe and effective treatment option in case of thrombotic or thromboembolic occlusion of the proximal and mid-portion of crural arteries.

Special Endovascular Treatment for Acute Large Artery Occlusion Resulting From Atherosclerotic Disease

BACKGROUND

Acute intracranial atherosclerotic disease (IAD)-related large artery occlusion (LAO) is typically refractory to mechanical thrombectomy. We evaluated the feasibility and safety of emergency balloon-assisted or stent-assisted angioplasty performed with tirofiban administration for acute IAD-related LAO.

METHODS

We identified, from among 55 consecutive patients who underwent endovascular treatment for LAO, 12 patients with acute IAD-related LAO who underwent balloon-assisted or stent-assisted angioplasty with (n = 3) or without passage of a stent retriever. The treatment included tirofiban administration. We obtained, from patients' clinical records, thrombolysis in cerebral infarction scores (to assess the extent of reperfusion), follow-up magnetic resonance angiography images (to assess patency of the responsive arteries), and 90-day modified Rankin (mRS) scores (to assess outcomes).

RESULTS

Temporary blood flow and severe stenosis were observed angiographically in all 12 patients, either when the stent retriever was deployed or when a microcatheter was advanced through the site of occlusion. Persistent recanalization was achieved in all patients, and there was no operative complication or arterial reocclusion. All 8 patients with an occluded major artery in the anterior circulation had a good outcome, with an mRS score of ≤2. Two of the 4 patients with basilar artery occlusion had a good outcome, with an mRS score of ≤2. One patient (25%) died within 72 hours after procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data point to the safety and feasibility of emergency balloon-assisted or stent-assisted angioplasty performed with tirofiban administration and a single or no passage of the stent retriever for acute IAD-related LAO.

Increased susceptibility of asymmetrically prominent cortical veins correlates with misery perfusion in patients with occlusion of the middle cerebral artery

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate tissue perfusion and venous susceptibility in ischaemic stroke patients as a means to predict clinical status and early prognosis.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 51 ischaemic stroke patients were enrolled in this study. Susceptibility, perfusion and National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) were compared between patients with and without asymmetrically prominent cortical veins (APCVs). The correlation between susceptibility, perfusion and NIHSS was performed.

RESULTS

Compared to patients without APCVs, the age of patients with APCVs was statistically older (p = 0.017). Patients with APCVs at discharge showed clinical deterioration in their NIHSS. Mean transit time (MTT), time to peak (TTP) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the stroke hemisphere were statistically delayed/decreased in patients with and without APCVs (all p < 0.05). In patients with APCVs, the changes in susceptibility positively correlated with increases in MTT and TTP (p < 0.05). Susceptibility and TTP positively correlated and CBF negatively correlated with NIHSS both at admission and discharge (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with APCVs have a tendency of deterioration. The presence of APCVs indicates the tissue has increased oxygen extraction fraction. Increased susceptibility from APCVs positively correlated with the delayed MTT and TTP, which reflects the clinical status at admission and predicts an early prognosis.

KEY POINTS

• Patients with and without APCVs have similar misery perfusion. • Patients with APCVs have a tendency of deterioration compared to those without. • The presence of APCVs indicated the tissue has increased oxygen extraction fraction. • Increased susceptibility from APCVs positively correlated with the MTT and TTP. • Increased susceptibility from APCVs reflected the clinical status at admission.