PURPOSE: We evaluated the usefulness of intracranial stent implantation for treating patients with atherosclerotic stenosis and with recurrent, ischemic, neurological symptoms despite having undergone medical therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 2004 and April 2010, we attempted intracranial, stent-assisted angioplasty in 77 patients with 85 lesions (anterior circulation 73 cases, posterior circulation 12 cases) and who had ischemic neurological symptoms with more than 50% major cerebral artery stenosis. We analyzed the results regarding the technical success rate, complication rate, and restenosis rate during the mean 29.4 month follow-up period. RESULTS: Intracranial stent implantation was successfully performed in 74 cases (87.1%). In nine cases among the 11, failed cases, stent implantation failure was due to the tortuosity of the target vessel. One patient experienced middle cerebral artery rupture during the procedure, and we embolized the vessel using a microcoil. Five patients developed cerebral infarction in three weeks after the procedure, three of whom improved using conservative management, although the other, two patients expired. The mean number of residual stenoses decreased from 72.3% to 14.7%. Three patients demonstrated significant in-stent restenosis, i.e. more than 50%, during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: As stent-assisted angioplasty in intracranial, atherosclerotic stenosis is effective and relatively safe, it can be considered as an alternative treatment for patients with recurrent, ischemic, neurologic symptoms despite having undergone medical therapy.
Angioplasty ; Cerebral Arteries ; Cerebral Infarction ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Rupture ; Stents

Objective To investigate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of transarterial embolization with low concentration of n-butyl cyanoacrylate(NBCA) in rabbit VX2 liver tumor models. MethodsTwenty-four rabbits were implanted with VX2 hepatic tumors into the left hepatic lobes, and were scanned with CT to measure the volume of the tumor after 14 days. They were randomly divided into three groups with 8 rabbits assigned to each group. Transarterial embolization was conducted with physiological saline in control group A, with pure Lipiodol in group B, with 2.5% NBCA in group C. Hepatic toxicity was evaluated by blood biochemical analysis of the plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). One week later, the volumes of the tumors were measured by CT again. Tumor growth rate was the ratio of tumor's volume at 7th day after embolization to the tumors' volume before embolization. The survival periods of the rabbits of the three groups after treatment were also recorded. The data of ALT and AST mean values from each group were analyzed with repeated measurement analysis of variance (ANOVA). Tumor growth rates and survival periods were analyzed by using one-way ANOVA. Results All animal models were successfully established and underwent interventional catheterization. Both ALT and AST mean values of the rabbits in group A, B and C at each time point before and after embolization were significantly different (ALT F=10.508, 16.443, 19.828, respectively; AST F=23.696, 23.334, 15.594, respectively)(P＜0.05). ALT in group A, B, C were (49.4±13.5), (115.2±48.8), (124.7±49.4)U/L, while AST in group A, B, C were (52.3±12.0), (128.3±50.1), (137.0±66.9)U/L 4 days after embolization. The ALT and AST mean values were significantly elevated 4 days after embolization in group B and group C compared with those before embolization and those of group A 4 days after treatment(P＜0.05). However, the ALT and AST mean values showed no statistically significant difference in all the groups before embolization and 7 days after embolization. On the other hand, the growth rates of the tumors differed significantly among the three groups(F=110.865, P=0.000). The group C showed significantly lower tumor growth rate (0.839±0.144)% than the group A(2.978±0.547)%(P=0.000), but no significantly different tumor growth rate compared with group B(0.871±0.0725)%( P=0.845). Consequently, the survival period of the animals in group C(38.9±4.0) days was significantly longer than that in group A(32.1±3.1)days (P=0.006), while it was not significantly different from that in group B(36.9±4.8)days(P=0.366). ConclusionsTransarterial embolization with low concentration of NBCA was feasible and safe. It could be a new option of treatment for HCC and might have potential further clinical value.

Objective Acute massive pulmonary embolism(PE)is a clinical emergency requiring rapid and supportive measures.With the development of interventional technology and devices,percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy(PMT)is considered to be an alternative for the treatment of PE,though there is still relative lack of clinical experience.The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of PMT in the management of acute massive PE.Methods The clinical data of massive PE patients treated with interventional methods were collected and analyzed in a retrospective way.From Jan.2003 to Jan.2008,6 patients(5 males and one female,with a mean age of 62 years)with acute massive PE,which was initially diagnosed by computed tomography and finally confirmed by pulmonary angiography,were treated with percutaneous catheter fragmentation and/or Straub Rotarex thrombectomy device.Results The improvement of clinical status and restoration of blood flow in the main branches of pulmonary artery were obtained in all patients.Oxygen saturation(SaO2)increased from preoperative(79.5±5.3)%to postoporative (92.8±3.4)%,with P＜0.01.Partial arterial oxygen pressure(PaO2)increased from preoperative(58.0±9.8)mmHg to postoperative(88.7±4.1)mmHg(P＜0.01).After PMT treatment,the mean pulmonary artery pressure(PAP)decreased from preoperative(40.8±7.8)mmHg to postoperative(29.8±8.0)mmHg (P＜0.01).Miller index decreased from preoperative 0.54±0.03 to postoperative 0.18±0.07(P＜0.01).During a clinical follow-up period ranged from 1 to 5 years,four patients showed no recurrence of PE,the other two patients lost touch with the authors.Conclusion The preliminary experience in onr series suggests that PMT is an easy,effective and safe therapy in the clinical management of acute massive PE,especially when thrombolysis is contraindicated.

Although the interventional radiology, a rapidly expanding medical specialty, has already been widely popularized and generally accepted for many years, it is still facing lots of challenges and turf wars, such as the brain drain, understaffed and the gap between the old and the young. This article attempts to analyze the reasons through investigating the current teaching situation of interventional radiology in medical coUeges and finding out the undergraduates' attitude to interventional radiology, in order to explore possible paths for solving the imbalance between supply and demand of qualified personnel.

Radiofrequency ablation is an effective treatment for malignant tumors. With the development of imaging technique, it has been widely used in treating different kinds of malignant tumors, such as liver cancer, lung cancer, kidney carcinoma, etc. Radiofrequency ablation has a lot of advantages. As a minimally-invasive, safe and effective treatment with less sufferings and fewer complications, this technique has attracted more and more attention of the experts both at home and abroad.

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of embolization therapy using N-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate(NBCA)for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)complicated with arterio-portal fistula(APF).Methods Eighty patients with HCC and APF underwent embolothempy with NBCA(NBCA group,26 patients)or absolute alcohol(alcohol group,54 patients).The APF wag first treated with liquid embolic agent during the TACE procedure.We used NBCA-Lipiodol mixtures in concentration of 20%-50% according to tlle different circulation times of these APF in NBCA group,Absolute alcohol plus gelfoam or other materisis were used for embolization of APF in alcohol group.The pain reaction during the procedure,influence for liver function(X2 test).occlusive suceessfxil rate after single embolization(Fisher's exact test)and the survival rate of 1 year(log-rank analysis)between two groups were compared after the embolotherapy.Results Four patients in NBCA group and 52 patients in alcohol group felt painful during the pmcedures.There wag statistically significant difference between two groups(x2=58.86,P＜0.001).The APF disappeared after only sin~e embolization in 24(92.3%,24/26)cages of NBCA group and in 37(68.5%,37/54)patients of alcohol group.There wag also significant difference between two groups (P=0.024).There were no statistical ditierence in the post.embolization liver function change and 1 year survival rate between two groups.Conclusions The embolization therapy using NBCA for HCC complicated with APF is safe.effective and more accurate.It can be used as a new technique for these patients.

Objective To discuss the technique of Neuroform stent-assisted coil embolization for the treatment of intracranial wide-necked aneurysms and to evaluate its clinical efficacy and complications.Methods Neuroform stent-assisted technique was used for coil embolization treatment in 31 patients with intracranial wide-necked aneurysms, all aneurysms were ruptured and the patients suffered from subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Of the total 43 aneurysms, 39 were wide-necked and 4 were narrow-necked. Results Thirty-five stents were inserted in 31 patients. The stents were implanted in both internal carotid arteries in 3 patients and in both middle cerebral arteries in one patient, Intra-arterial embolization with coils was successfully performed in 41 of 43 aneurysms. Intraoperative hemorrhage occurred in 2 patients, which probably resulted from the rupture of middle cerebral artery branch due to microwire damage. The cerebral isehemic symptom happened in 1 patient with posterior communicating artery aneurysm due to the shifting of the coil from the original site to M2 segment of middle cerebral artery. During a follow-up period of 24.7 months in average, neither death nor recurrent hemorrhage occurred in 29 cases. Twenty-eight patients were in good living condition and the remaining one patient showed obvious disturbance of neural function.Conclusion For the treatment of intracranial wide-necked aneurysms, intra-arterial coil embolization with Neuroform stent-assisted technique is a safe and effective clinical therapy. It can effectively broaden the extent of indications in treating intracranial aneurysms by using interventional technique.

The past decades have witnessed interventional radiology in China to go from a very initial clinical practice to an important medical player in modem medicine. Recently, a friendly collaboration has been successfully established between the Chinese Interventionai Radiology Sub-society and the Journal of Interventional Radiology. The Chinese Interventional Radiology Sub-society will take the full responsibility for the academic governance of the Journal of Interventional Radiology and the Journal of Interventional Radiology will formally become the sole interventional academic periodical of the Chinese Interventional Radiology Sub-society in China. This collaboration will surely make Chinese interventional radiology to initiate a new era, promote the further development of interventional radiology at home and enable the Journal of Interventional Radiology to step into the international medical circle.

Objective To discuss the safety,efficacy and time window of thombolysis using recombinant staphylokinase(r-Sak).Methods The model of acute cerebral infarction was established with interventional embolization technique in 24 adult beagle dogs,which were randomly divided into 3 groups including control group,6 h intra-arterial group and 3 h intravenous group.Angiography was performed before thrombolysis.We administered r-Sak for thrombolysis(10 ml of saline in control group,0.2 mg/kg of r-Sak in the intra-arterial group through left internal carotid artery 6 h after embolization,and 0.2 mg/kg of r-Sak in the intravenous group through femoral vein 3 h after embolization).Follow-up angiography was repeated half,1 and 2 hours after thrombolysis.The plasma levels of PT,APTT and D-dimer were assayed at the time points of 30 min before thrombolysis,30 min,60 min and 120 min after thrombolysis.These canines were sacrificed,and their brains were taken out for pathological study at 24 hours after embolization.Results The recanaled vessels at 2 hours after thrombolysis was 11(11/13) in the intra-arterial group,8(8/11) in r-Sak intravenous group and 1(1/10) in control group,and the vessels of complete recanalization was 6(6/13),2(2/11) and 0(0/10),respectively.There were statistically significant differences among the three groups (P=0.001 and P=0.035 respectively),but there were no statistically significant differences between the intra-arterial and the intravenous groups (P=0.630 and P=0.211).The PT and APTT are significantly prolonged in the thrombolytic groups.The levels of D-dimer was not changed after thrombolysis (P＞0.05). All dogs were alive 24 h ours after embolization.The clinical presentations in the thrombolytic groups were better.Pathologically,there were no cerebral hemorrhage in all groups.Conclusion r-Sak has strong effect of thrombolysis,and its complication of intracerebral hemorrhage is rare.The intra-arterial thrombolysis 6 h after embolization using r-Sak is safe and effective.

Resolution of the complications after liver transplantation is one of the important factors related to prognosis. Hepatic artery thombosis (HAT) after liver transplantation can lead directly to trans- planted liver undergone necrosis, biloma formation and liver functional exhaustion. The early diagnosis with Color Doppler which should be the first method of choice, CTA, MRA and angiography could lead to exact demonstration, and proper treatment can result in better prognosis. The microinvasive techniques such as local thrombolysis, balloon dilatation and stent placement are safe and effective for treatment of hepatic artery thombosis. The vascular reconstruction and oxygen hyperbaric are effective therapeutic methods. Repeat liver transplantation is still the last important choice for survival.