Objective To investigate the value of the quantitative analysis of digital subtraction angiography(DSA)and dynamic contrast-enhanced CT in evaluating the efficacy of hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy(HAIC)for liver cancer.Methods Fifty patients who were clinically diagnosed with primary liver cancer and treated with HAIC at least 3 times were enrolled in the study.Based on the enhanced CT scans taken within 1 week before the 1st and 3rd HAIC,patients were divided into good response group(CR+PR)and poor response group(SD+PD)according to the modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumor.The hemodynamic parameters[time to peak(TP),peak density(PV),and slope of the rising edge of the time-density curve(SU)]of liver cancer on DSA before treatment and after two HAIC,as well as the changes in the CT values of liver cancer in each phase of CT enhancement were compared,and then sensitivity analysis was conducted.Significant indicators were further analyzed with Logistic regression and ROC curve to assess their efficacies in evaluating HAIC response in liver cancer.Results The differences in pre-treatment CT values and DSA indicators between two groups were trivial(P>0.05).All patients successfully completed HAIC twice.The enhanced CT taken 1 week before the 3rd HAIC showed reductions in the arterial-and venous-phase CT values in good response group(P<0.05),while no significant difference was found in the delayed-phase CT value(P>0.05).At the 3rd HAIC,DSA angiography demonstrated significant reductions in PV and SU,and a significant prolongation of TP in good response group(P<0.05);while there were no significant differences in various indicators in poor response group.Regression analysis showed that arterial-phase CT values and DSA angiography SU were significantly correlated with therapeutic efficacy.ROC curve results indicated that arterial-phase CT values and SU were effective indicators for evaluating therapeutic efficacy.Conclusion The SU from DSA angiography and the CT values from dynamic contrast-enhanced CT which can objectively reflect the changes in blood supply of liver cancer after HAIC and are associated with HAIC efficacy can serve as radiological evidence for evaluating HAIC response.

Objective:To evaluate the feasiblity and safety of in situ fenestration during the endograft of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) via the left subclavian artery (LSA).Methods:A total of 23 patients, including 17 patients with thoracic aortic dissection and 6 patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm, were respectively enrolled from October 2018 to June 2019 at Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. All of the patients underwent in situ fenestration of LSA via the thoracic artery endograft following the TEVAR procedure. A 21 G preflex hollow needle was used to puncture the endograft from the medial segment of LSA for in situ feneatration. The success rate, clinical effect and complications were recorded on 1, 3 and 6 months after in situ fenestration.Results:The success rate was 100% in all the 23 patients with needle puncture in situ fenestration of LSA. The rechecked thoracic aorta angiography showed that both thoracic aortic main endograft and the LSA branch cover stent were well expanded, and there were no endoleaks occurred around the LSA branch cover stent. No hematoma was found in the supraclacicular fossa within all the perioperative period. A small pneumatothorax in the left pleural cavity which did not need treatment was being detected in 1 patient on the chest film 3 days after the procedure. The mean follow-uptime was (4.2±1.4) months. There were no retrograde tearing happened in the proximal end of the endograft, and no endoleak happened around the LSA branch cover stent either.Conclusion:The technique of needle puncture fenestration of LSA via the thoracic artery endograft is considered as a simple, safe, and effective method of in situ LSA reconstruction.

Objective To investigate the clinical applications of sandwich technique according to area calculation in endovascular aneurysm repair of patients with aorta and iliac artery lesions.Methods Six patients with aortoiliac artery disease confirmed by CT were treated using sandwich technique according to area calculation.The diameter of the main stent and two branches stents were chosen according to the area calculation.Technical success rate,patency of the stent graft and complications were observed.Results Technical success rate was 100％ (6/6),and no complications occurred in all the 6 patients.The clinical symptoms were significantly improved.Gutter endoleak was found in 1 patient 2 months after the procedure,and was managed by coil embolization successfully.No endoleak occurred in other patients during follow-up of 6-31 months.Conclusion For patients with special anatomy of aorta and iliac artery lesions,the application of area calculation in the sandwich technique provides a feasible approach in choosing the matching size of the main body stent and two side branches stents.

Objective To compare the curative effect of thoracic endovascular repair (TEVAR) plus medication with that of pure medication in treating uncomplicated type B aortic dissection,and to discuss the treatment strategy for uncomplicated type B aortic dissection.Methods The clinical data of 118 patients with definitely confirmed uncomplicated type B aortic dissection,who were admitted to authors' hospital during the period from 2004 to 2015,were retrospectively analyzed.Among the 118 patients,57 patients received TEVAR plus medication (TEVAR group) and 61 patients were treated with pure medication (drug group).The complications and mortality within one month and during follow-up period in both groups were calculated respectively,and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to compare the survival rate between the two groups.Results The incidences of complications and morbidity during hospitalization and within one month after treatment in TEVAR group were 5.2％ and 0％ respectively,which in the drug group were 0％ and 0％ respectively.The patients were followed up for 1-110 months,with a mean of (43.3±36.7) months.The incidence of main complications and the mortality in TEVAR group were 7.0％ and 5.3％ respectively,which in the drug group were 6.6％ and 8.1％ respectively.The one-,2-,4-and 7-year cumulative survival rates in TEVAR group were 100％,97.1％,93.5％ and 78.0％ respectively,which in the drug group were 98.4％,96.4％,90.8％ and 72.7％ respectively,the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant (~=0.019,P=0.890).Conclusion For the treatment of uncomplicated type B aortic dissection,TEVAR plus medication is superior to pure drug therapy in reducing expansion rate of false cavity,but TEVAR carries some procedure-related complications,besides,TEVAR can not improve the survival rate.(J Intervent Radiol,2017,26:266-269)

Objective To discuss the safety and efficacy of using ExoSealTM vascular closure device to obtain rapid hemostasis of puncture site in interventional procedure via retrograde femoral artery access.Methods The clinical data of 124 patients,who were admitted to authors' hospital during the period from March 2016 to April 2016 to receive interventional procedure via retrograde femoral artery access,were retrospectively analyzed.During the performance of intervention,ExoSealTM vascular closure device (ExoSealTM group,n=52) or manual compression (MC group,n=72) was employed to make femoral artery puncture point hemostasis.The time spent for hemostasis,the manual compression time,the limb immobilization time,the amount of blood loss during compression process,and the procedure-related complications were recorded and the results were compared between the two groups.Results Technical success rate in ExoSealTM group was 98.1％(51/52).In ExoSealTM group and MC group,the time spent for hemostasis was (0.28±0.08) min and (5.83±1.46) min respectively,the manual compression time was (2.65 ±0.57) min and (7.70± 1.88) min respectively,the limb immobilization time was (2.72±0.43) h and (6.15±0.69) h respectively;all the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P＜0.01).In ExoSealTM group subcutaneous hemotoma occurred in one patient,while in MC group subcutaneous hemotoma occurred in 3 patients and pseudoaneurysm in one patient;the complication rates were 1.92％ (1/52) and 5.56％ (4/72) respectively,but the difference was not statistically significant (P＞0.05).In MC group the amount of blood loss during compression process was (1.11±0.86) ml,which was remarkably less than (7.83±2.08) ml in ExoSealTM group,the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P＜0.01).Conclusion For hemostasis of puncture site in interventional management via retrograde femoral artery access,the use of ExoSealTM vascular closure device is safe and effective.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles combined with chemoembolization using chemotherapeutic agents or chemotherapeutic agents lipiodol emulsion (CALE)in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) complicated by hepatic arteriovenous shunt (HAVS) and related prognostic factors.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 133 patients with HCC complicated by HAVS.HAVS was classified into slow-flow HAVS,intermediate-flow HAVS,and high-flow HAVS,which were treated with 300-500 μm,500-710 μm,and 710-1000 μm PVA particles,respectively.The patients with slow-flow and intermediate-flow HAVS underwent embolization with PVA combined with chemotherapeutic agents followed by CALE,while those with high-flow HAVS underwent the treatment with PVA combined with chemotherapeutic agents alone.The survival time,progression-free survival time,and postoperative complications were followed up and analyzed.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate cumulative survival rate and the Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine prognostic factors.Results The median overall survival (OS) of 133 patients was 9.1 months,and the 6-,12-,and 24-month survival rates were 73.7％,36.2％,and 10.2％,respectively.The median OS of slow-flow group (36 patients),intermediate-flow group (58 patients),and high-flow group (39 patients) were 7.3,9.1,and 10.8 months,respectively.And the 6-and 12-month survival rates were 69.2％/19.0％,72.4％/39.2％,and 77.8％/42.7％,respectively.There was no significant difference in survival time between the patients with different types of HAVS (x 2 =2.865,P =0.239).The incidence rates of postoperative gastroesophageal variceal bleeding and acute liver failure were 1.1％ and 0.4％,respectively.The results of Cox regression analysis showed that preoperative alpha-fetoprotein level ≥ 400 ng/ml (HR =2.105,P =0.006) was an independent risk factor,while multiple embolizations (H7 =0.482,P =0.011),tumor remission (HR =0.431,P =0.041),and multimodality therapy (HR =0.416,P =0.004) were independent protective factors.Conclusion PVA particles combined with chemotherapeutic agents or CALE is safe and effective in the treatment of HCC complicated by HAVS.Patients with multiple embolizations,tumor remission,and multimodality therapy tend to have good prognosis,while those with a high level of alpha-fetoprotein before embolization often have poor prognosis.

Objective To investigate the stability of 1% lauromacrogol foam sclerosant prepared with different liquid-to-air ratio in order to find out the optimal liquid-to-air ratio. Methods According to Tessari technique, two 10 ml disposable plastic syringes and one three-way plastic stopcock were used to mix 1%lauromacrogol with room air, and liquid-to-air ratios from 1∶1 to 1∶9 were separately employed to make the preparation of the foam sclerosant. Each kind of liquid-to-air ratio was used to separately make bubbles for 5 times, the foam half-life time (FHT), the foam drainage time (FDT) and the foam coalescence time (FCT) were recorded, and their mean values were calculated. The optimal liquid-to-air ratio was defined as the intermediate values of all the above measured indexes. Results When the liquid-to-air ratio was 1 ∶ 1, 1 ∶2, 1 ∶ 3, 1 ∶ 4, 1 ∶ 5, 1 ∶ 6, 1 ∶ 7, 1 ∶ 8 and 1 ∶ 9, the FHT of 1% lauromacrogol foam sclerosant was 184.8, 169.3, 135.9, 110.8, 111.5, 92.6, 76.3, 74.7 and 49.9 seconds respectively; the FDT was 10.6, 17.8, 14.6, 13.7, 13.0, 12.3, 10.7, 11.5 and 12.6 seconds respectively; while the FCT was 108.4, 79.8, 41.8, 20.3, 10.4, 0, 0, 0 and 0 seconds respectively. Conclusion Based on Tessari technique, the indoor air, two 10 ml disposable plastic syringes and one three-way plastic stopcock are used to prepare 1%lauromacrogol foam sclerosant, and the optimal liquid-to-air ratio is 1 ∶ 2.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the long-term outcome of the femoral artery following total percutaneous endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) with preclose technique using a vascular closure device (VCD).

METHODSFrom July, 2009 to July, 2012, total percutaneous EVAR was performed in 113 patients (106 males, 7 females; mean age 59.4∓13.5 years) with pre-close technique, including 60 with Stanford type B aortic dissection, 3 with thoracic aortic aneurysm, and 48 with infra-renal abdominal aortic aneurysm, and 2 with thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms. The Technical success and complication rates were evaluated, and the outcomes of the femoral artery were followed up with computed tomography or color Doppler ultrasound.

RESULTSThe overall technical success rate was 97.6% (161/165) with conversion to open surgery in 4 cases. The size of the sheaths used were 24Fr (n=37), 22Fr (n=29), 20Fr (n=24), 18Fr (n=25), 16Fr (n=12) and 14 Fr (n=38), and 347 VCDs were used for hemostasis of 165 femoral sites; 147 femoral sites were closed using 2 VCDs. Four access-related adverse events, including femoral arterial-venous fistula, acute femoral thrombosis, bleeding, and lower extremity ischemia, occurred in 4 (2.4%) of the 165 cases. In cases using ≤18Fr sheaths, the success rate of closure using 2 VCDs was 98.7%, as compared to 81.1% in cases using larger (≥20Fr) sheaths (P=0.0003). The success rate of the 82 anterior sites was lower than that of the 82 posterior sites (82.9% vs 95.2%, P=0.013). No lower extremity ischemia was observed, nor was femoral artery stenosis detected during the follow-up for 26∓9 months (12-50 months) in these cases.

CONCLUSIONTotal percutaneous EVAR with preclose technique using VCD provides a safe and effective alternative to open femoral surgery. The sheath size can be a predictor of percutaneous access failure to require conversion to open femoral surgery or using more than 2 devices for suture. Total percutaneous endovascular aortic repair using VCD with preclose technique is safe and effective, which can be adopted as an alternative technique of surgically femoral arterial cut-down operation when the surgeon reduce the learning curve.

Aged ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; Angiography ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; methods ; Female ; Femoral Artery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; Vascular Closure Devices

Objective To compare the therapeutic efficacy of preventive transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with that of preventive transhepatic arterial infusion (TAI) for patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatectomy. Methods During the period from June 2011 to June 2012 at authors’ hospital, preventive transhepatic interventional therapy was employed in 79 HCC patients within three months after hepatectomy. The followed-up endpoint was in June 2013. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into TACE group (n=41) and TAI group (n=38). No significant differences in age, sex, preoperative liver function, Child-Pugh scores, tumor size and AFP level existed between the two groups. During interventional procedure , catheterization of proper hepatic artery was performed first, which was followed by angiography in order to clarify that there were no newly-developed tumor vessels or tumor lesions in the residual liver, then the chemotherapeutic agents were infused through the catheter. The emulsion of iodized oil with chemotherapeutic agent was used in the patients of TACE group, while only chemotherapeutic agent was adopted in the patients of TAI group. By using Chi-square test the one-year recurrence rate was determined. Kaplan-Meier estimation method was used to calculate the disease-free survival time, and t test was adopted to estimate the mean hospitalization days. The results were compared between the two groups. Results Of the 79 patients, postoperative recurrence was confirmed in 11, and the overall one-year recurrence rate was 13.9%. The one-year recurrence rate of TACE group and TAI group was 12.20% and 15.79% respectively , and no significant difference in one- year recurrence rate existed between TACE group and TAI group (χ2= 0.213, P = 0.645). The average disease-free survival time of TACE group and TAI group was (21.60 ± 1.52) months and (17.38 ± 3.01) months respectively, the difference between the two groups was of statistical significance (P = 0.038). The mean hospitalization days of TACE group and TAI group were (6.30 ± 1.84) days and (5.89 ± 2.08) days respectively, and the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.522). Conclusion No significant difference in one-year recurrence rate exists between the patients receiving preventive TACE and the patients receiving preventive TAI after hepatectomy for HCC. Nevertheless , preventive TACE can probably improve the disease-free survival time after hepatectomy.

Objective To evaluate the long-term outcome of the femoral artery following total percutaneous endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) with preclose technique using a vascular closure device (VCD). Methods From July, 2009 to July, 2012, total percutaneous EVAR was performed in 113 patients (106 males, 7 females;mean age 59.4±13.5 years) with pre-close technique, including 60 with Stanford type B aortic dissection, 3 with thoracic aortic aneurysm, and 48 with infra-renal abdominal aortic aneurysm, and 2 with thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms. The Technical success and complication rates were evaluated, and the outcomes of the femoral artery were followed up with computed tomography or color Doppler ultrasound. Results The overall technical success rate was 97.6%(161/165) with conversion to open surgery in 4 cases. The size of the sheaths used were 24Fr (n=37), 22Fr (n=29), 20Fr (n=24), 18Fr (n=25), 16Fr (n=12) and 14 Fr (n=38), and 347 VCDs were used for hemostasis of 165 femoral sites;147 femoral sites were closed using 2 VCDs. Four access-related adverse events, including femoral arterial-venous fistula, acute femoral thrombosis, bleeding, and lower extremity ischemia, occurred in 4 (2.4%) of the 165 cases. In cases using≤18Fr sheaths, the success rate of closure using 2 VCDs was 98.7%, as compared to 81.1%in cases using larger (≥20Fr) sheaths (P=0.0003). The success rate of the 82 anterior sites was lower than that of the 82 posterior sites (82.9%vs 95.2%, P=0.013). No lower extremity ischemia was observed, nor was femoral artery stenosis detected during the follow-up for 26 ± 9 months (12-50 months) in these cases. Conclusion Total percutaneous EVAR with preclose technique using VCD provides a safe and effective alternative to open femoral surgery. The sheath size can be a predictor of percutaneous access failure to require conversion to open femoral surgery or using more than 2 devices for suture. Total percutaneous endovascular aortic repair using VCD with preclose technique is safe and effective, which can be adopted as an alternative technique of surgically femoral arterial cut-down operation when the surgeon reduce the learning curve.