Here, percutaneous spinal cord injury (SCI) methods using a balloon catheter in adult rats are described. A balloon catheter was inserted into the epidural space through the lumbosacral junction and then inflated between T9-T10 for 10min under fluoroscopic guidance. Animals were divided into three groups with respect to inflation volume: 20 microL (n = 18), 50 microL (n = 18) and control (Fogarty catheter inserted but not inflated; n = 10). Neurological assessments were then made based on BBB score, magnetic resonance imaging and histopathology. Both inflation volumes produced complete paralysis. Gradual recovery of motor function occurred when 20 microL was used, but not after 50 microL was applied. In the 50 microL group, all gray and white matter was lost from the center of the lesion. In addition, supramaximal damage was noted, which likely prevented spontaneous recovery. This percutaneous spinal cord compression injury model is simple, rapid with high reproducibility and the potential to serve as a useful tool for investigation of pathophysiology and possible protective treatments of SCI in vivo.
Animals ; Balloon Embolectomy/*methods ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Compression/*therapy

We report here on a case of successfully removing a calcified plaque embolus that complicated performing angioplasty. A 67 year-old woman underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for a stenosis of the right superficial femoral artery (SFA). The angiogram showed a marked stenosis at the mid-portion of SFA and diffuse circular calcification along the atheroma rim was seen on the computed tomographic angiography. Although balloon inflation was attempted on the lesion, it was not fully dilated. After repeated balloon inflations, a radiopaque calcified atheroma was detached from the arterial wall and it migrated proximally along with withdrawing the balloon. The embolus was too extensive to be pulled out through the catheter sheath; therefore, a small balloon was inflated at the distal end of the embolic atheroma to anchor it and the embolus was removed with the balloon and the sheath system via an arteriotomized puncture site. A huge cylindrical atheroma that measured 4 cm in length was successfully removed. The final angiography showed a widened target site without any dye leakage.
Angiography ; Angioplasty ; Balloon Embolectomy ; Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Embolism ; Female ; Femoral Artery ; Humans ; Inflation, Economic ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Punctures

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of a Fogarty arterial embolectomy catheter (Fogarty catheter) in intraoperative balloon angioplasty of the cephalic vein, in order to determine its effect on the patency of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) created for hemodialysis access. METHODS: A total of 156 patients who underwent creation of an AVF were divided into two groups, based whether a Fogarty catheter was used during AVF creation. Group A (89 patients) comprised the patients who underwent balloon angioplasty with a Fogarty catheter during the operation. Group B (67 patients) included the patients in whom a Fogarty catheter was not used during the operation. Patient records were reviewed retrospectively and documented. The patency rate was determined by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The records of 156 patients who underwent the creation of an AVF from January 2007 to October 2011 were included. The mean follow-up duration was 40.2+/-19.4 months (range, 1 to 97 months). The patency rates in group A at 12, 36, and 72 months were 83.9%+/-3.9%, 78.3%+/-4.6%, and 76.3%+/-4.9%, respectively, while the corresponding patency rates in group B were 92.5%+/-3.2%, 82.8%+/-0.5%, and 79.9%+/-5.7%, respectively. The patency rates in group B were found to be slightly higher than those in group A, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.356). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative balloon angioplasty of the cephalic vein using the Fogarty catheter is a simple and easily reproducible procedure, and it can be helpful in increasing AVF patency in cases of insufficient runoff or a suboptimal cephalic vein.
Angioplasty, Balloon* ; Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Catheters* ; Embolectomy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Renal Dialysis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Vascular Patency ; Veins

OBJECTIVETo present one cases of the use of balloon catheter in surgical treatment of renal angiomyolipoma involving the renal vein and vena cava as a tumor thrombus and review literatures.

METHODSAbdominal ultrasound and CT and MRI demonstrated a large right renal mass with tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava. Right nephrectomy and en-bloc removal of the intra caval tumor thrombus were performed. A balloon catheter was used to block vena cava under the level of liver vena during the operation.

RESULTSThe pathological diagnosis was angiomyolipoma. The length of the tumor thrombus was 6.5 cm. The patient recovered well 1 year after surgery.

CONCLUSIONRenal angiomyolipoma with a tumor thrombus should be paid more attention.

Adult ; Angiomyolipoma ; complications ; surgery ; Balloon Occlusion ; Embolectomy ; methods ; Embolism ; etiology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; complications ; surgery ; Liver ; blood supply ; pathology ; surgery ; Nephrectomy ; Vena Cava, Inferior

OBJECTIVETo improve the treatment of renal neoplasm with tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava.

METHODSFrom May 2005 to May 2006, 9 cases of renal neoplasm with tumor thrombus were treated with balloon catheters to block inferior vena cava under the level of liver vena during the operations. Among the patients, 6 were male and 3 were female. The patients were from 20 to 76 years old (average 53).

RESULTSAll cases were succeed by transabdominal incisions. The average length of tumor thrombus was 5.0 cm (3.0 - 6.7 cm). The blood pressure and heart rate were stable during operations. No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. The follow up ranged from 6 to 18 months. One patient died at 6 months after surgery. The others lived well.

CONCLUSIONThe use of balloon catheter during surgical treatment of renal neoplasm with inferior vena cava thrombus is suitable for type II and III tumor thrombus.

Adult ; Aged ; Balloon Occlusion ; Embolectomy ; methods ; Embolism ; etiology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; complications ; surgery ; Liver ; blood supply ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrectomy ; Treatment Outcome ; Vena Cava, Inferior

Early treatment to facilitate the muscular blood flow can avert myonephropathic metabolic syndrome (MNMS) and major amputation for patients suffering with acute limb ischemia. Delayed reperfusion or microemboli in the small vessels can aggreviate: ischemic changes and lead to irreversible muscle necrosis. Amnion is an excellent biological dressing, and we tried using it to treat anterior compartment muscle necrosis (ACMN). The amnions were aseptically collected from caesarean sections. Additional betadine (1 : 3 solution) and vaseline-soaked gauzes were applied over the amnion as a daily biologic wet dressing. The amnion was replaced every three days. Finally, split skin grafting was performed on the healthy granulation tissue. We treated two patients who happened to have shin muscle necrosis. A 65-year-old man with a femoro-femoral arterial bypass showed graft thrombosis. Thirteen days after performing balloon angioplasty with stent insertion in the right femoral artery, new emboli were found in the stent and in the left popliteal artery. There was an attack of myocardial infarction the next day after embolectomy. The severe MNMS and ACMN at the right shin occurred after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The dry gangrene was excised 3 months later, and this was followed by a skin graft 4 months later. An 81-year-old woman with atrial fibrillation showed left common femoral arterial obstruction and ACMN on the left shin during the management of congestive heart failure. The dry gangrene was excised 2 months later, and this was followed by a skin graft 3 months later. The amnion dressing shows promises for providing healthy granulation tissue for split skin grafts when treating muscle necrosis of the leg. Biologic dressing with using amnion is an option for limb salvage in the case of muscle necrosis that is caused by acute limb ischemia, although the treatment takes a long time.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Amnion* ; Amputation ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Bandages* ; Biological Dressings ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Cesarean Section ; Embolectomy ; Extremities* ; Female ; Femoral Artery ; Gangrene ; Granulation Tissue ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Ischemia* ; Leg ; Limb Salvage ; Lower Extremity* ; Myocardial Infarction ; Necrosis* ; Popliteal Artery ; Povidone-Iodine ; Pregnancy ; Reperfusion ; Skin ; Skin Transplantation ; Stents ; Thrombosis ; Transplants