OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the technical feasibility and clinical outcome of percutaneous aspiration embolectomy for embolic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2010 and December 2013, 9 patients with embolic occlusion of the SMA were treated by percutaneous aspiration embolectomy in 2 academic teaching hospitals. The aspiration embolectomy procedure was performed with the 6-Fr and 7-Fr guiding catheter. Thrombolysis was performed with urokinase using a multiple-sidehole infusion catheter. The clinical outcome was investigated retrospectively. RESULTS: Superior mesenteric artery occlusion was initially diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) in all patients, and all patients had no obvious evidence of bowel infarction on CT scan. Percutaneous aspiration embolectomy was primarily performed in 6 patients, and thrombolysis was initially performed in 3 patients. In 3 patients who received primary thrombolysis, percutaneous aspiration was undertaken because the emboli were resistant to urokinase. Complete angiographic success was achieved in 6 patients and partial angiographic success was accomplished in 3 patients. One patient underwent bowel resection. One patient died of whole bowel necrosis and sepsis, and 8 patients survived without complications. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous aspiration embolectomy is a useful tool in recanalization of embolic occlusion of the SMA in select patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiography/methods ; Embolectomy/*methods ; Embolism/complications/radiography/*surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior/radiography/*surgery ; Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion/etiology/radiography/*surgery ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Suction/instrumentation/methods ; Thrombolytic Therapy/methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator/administration & dosage ; Vascular Access Devices

BACKGROUNDPulmonary lipiodol embolism after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was rare and life-threatening, occasionally reported in previous literatures. We aimed to review the records of 11 patients with pulmonary oily embolism and analyze their characteristics of radiographic findings and risk factors.

METHODSRecords of 478 consecutive patients who underwent 1 026 percutaneous TACE procedures were retrospectively analyzed. Eleven cases with respiratory symptoms were identified as having symptomatic pulmonary lipiodol embolism after TACE. Data of these patients, including clinical presentation, techniques of TACE, imaging features of tumor and chest imaging findings, were assessed.

RESULTSEleven (2.3%) of 478 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous TACE procedures had a pulmonary oily embolism after procedures. The mean size of target tumors embolized was (13.6 ± 2.0) cm. All were hyper-vascular. The mean volume of lipiodol was (21.8 ± 8.2) ml. Pulmonary oily embolisms were revealed within 12-48 hours after TACE. The most severe respiratory symptoms and imaging abnormalities of the eight patients who survived presented between 2 and 5 days after TACE, becoming normal between 12 and 35 days after TACE. Three patients died. Chest CT revealed retention of radiopaque lipiodol in lungs.

CONCLUSIONSPulmonary lipiodol embolism occurs easily in patients who have large hyper-vascular hepatic malignant tumor. The high-density lipiodol deposition in the lung field can be used as diagnostic feature.

Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; adverse effects ; Embolism, Fat ; etiology ; Ethiodized Oil ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy ; Pulmonary Embolism ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies

The therapeutic potential of human multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells, especially human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hASC), is promising. However, there are concerns about the safety of infusion of hASC in human. Recently, we have experienced pulmonary embolism and infarct among family members who have taken multiple infusions of intravenous autologous hASC therapy. A 41-year-old man presented with chest pain for one month. Chest CT showed multiple pulmonary artery embolism and infarct at right lung. Serum D-dimer was 0.8 microg/mL (normal; 0-0.5 microg/mL). He had received intravenous autologous adipose tissue-derived stem cell therapy for cervical herniated intervertebral disc three times (one, two, and three months prior to the visit). His parents also received the same therapy five times and their chest CT also showed multiple pulmonary embolism. These cases represent artificial pulmonary embolisms and infarct after IV injection of hASC. Follow-up chest CT showed spontaneous resolution of lesions in all three patients.
Adipose Tissue/cytology ; Adult ; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy/*adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation/*adverse effects ; Pulmonary Embolism/*etiology/radiography ; Pulmonary Infarction/etiology/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

There has been a controversy over data of thrombolytic and endovascular surgical treatment about cerebral infarction secondary to infective endocarditis. We report a woman who received early mechanical embolectomy as a treatment of acute stroke with infective endocarditis. A 35-yr-old woman was hospitalized due to right hemiparesis. Brain image showed cerebral infarction at the middle cerebral artery and echocardiography demonstrated vegetation at the mitral valve. She was successfully treated with embolectomy and parenteral antibiotics without any neurologic sequelae. This report shows that the early retrieve of septic cerebral emboli can be a helpful treatment of acute stroke associated with endocarditis.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Cerebral Arteries/radiography/*surgery ; Embolectomy ; Endocarditis/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Embolism/surgery ; Mitral Valve/ultrasonography ; Streptococcus/isolation & purification ; Stroke/*diagnosis/etiology/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The development of hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) is rare but it might be associated with serious disease and poor clinical outcome. Recently, several iatrogenic causes of HPVG have been reported. HPVG as a complication of endoscopic balloon dilatation is a previously unreported event. We experienced a case of HPVG after endoscopic balloon dilatation in a 31 yr-old man with pyloric stricture due to corrosive acids ingestion. The patient was treated conservatively with fluid resuscitation, antibiotics and Levin tube with natural drainage. Five days later, the follow-up CT scan showed spontaneous resolution of HPVG. This case reminded us the clinical importance and management strategy of HPVG. We report here a case of iatrogenic HPVG with a review of relevant literature.
Adult ; Balloon Dilation/*adverse effects ; Embolism, Air/etiology/*radiography/therapy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Hepatic Veins/*radiography ; Humans ; Male ; Portal Vein/*radiography ; Pyloric Stenosis/therapy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The Tempofilter II is a widely used temporary vena cava filter. Its unique design, which includes a long tethering catheter with a subcutaneous anchor, facilitates the deployment and retrieval of the device. Despite this, the Tempofilter II has been used only in the inferior vena cava of patients with lower extremity deep venous thrombosis. In this article, we present a case of superior vena cava filtering using the Tempofilter II in patients with upper extremity deep venous thrombosis.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Pulmonary Embolism/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis/radiography/*therapy ; *Vena Cava Filters ; *Vena Cava, Superior

Skull base osteomyelitis (SBO) is difficult to diagnose when a patient presents with multiple cranial nerve palsies but no obvious infectious focus. There is no report about SBO with septic pulmonary embolism. A 51-yr-old man presented to our hospital with headache, hoarseness, dysphagia, frequent choking, fever, cough, and sputum production. He was diagnosed of having masked mastoiditis complicated by SBO with multiple cranial nerve palsies, sigmoid sinus thrombosis, and septic pulmonary embolism. We successfully treated him with antibiotics and anticoagulants alone, with no surgical intervention. His neurologic deficits were completely recovered. Decrease of pulmonary nodules and thrombus in the sinus was evident on the follow-up imaging one month later. In selected cases of intracranial complications of SBO and septic pulmonary embolism, secondary to mastoiditis with early response to antibiotic therapy, conservative treatment may be considered and surgical intervention may be withheld.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Anticoagulants/therapeutic use ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis ; Cranial Nerve Diseases/complications/diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Enterobacter aerogenes/isolation & purification ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Humans ; Lung/pathology/radiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mastoiditis/complications/diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Osteomyelitis/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Pulmonary Embolism/complications/*diagnosis/microbiology ; Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial/complications/diagnosis ; Skull Base ; Sputum/microbiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), which encompasses deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (PE), increases in patients with cancer. Anticancer treatment is also associated with an increased risk for VTE. We conducted this study to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with cancer and PE related to anticancer treatment in a tertiary care hospital in Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of patients with an underlying malignancy who were diagnosed with PE by chest computed tomography (CT) with or without lower extremity CT angiography between January 2006 and December 2007 at Seoul National University Hospital. RESULTS: Overall, 95 patients with malignancies among 168 with PE were analyzed. The median age was 64 years. The median time interval from the malignancy diagnosis to the PE diagnosis was 5.5 months. Lung cancer was the most common malignancy (23.0%), followed by pancreatobiliary cancer, stomach cancer, gynecological cancer, breast cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Platinum-containing and pyrimidine analog-containing chemotherapeutic regimens were common. CONCLUSIONS: PE was diagnosed within 1 year after the cancer diagnosis in almost 70% of patients. Lung cancer was the most common underlying malignancy.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiography ; Antineoplastic Agents/*therapeutic use ; Biliary Tract Neoplasms/drug therapy/epidemiology/radiotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy/epidemiology/radiotherapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Neoplasms/drug therapy/epidemiology/radiotherapy ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/drug therapy/epidemiology/radiotherapy ; Pulmonary Embolism/*epidemiology/radiography ; *Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms/drug therapy/epidemiology/radiotherapy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy is a common procedure in the practice of pulmonology. An air embolism is a rare but potentially fatal complication of a percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy. We report four cases of a cerebral air embolism that developed after a percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy. Early diagnosis and the rapid application of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is the mainstay of therapy for an embolism. Prevention is the best course and it is essential that possible risk factors be avoided.
Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy, Needle/*adverse effects/methods ; Embolism, Air/*etiology/therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Intracranial Embolism/*etiology/therapy ; Lung/*pathology ; Male ; Radiography, Interventional

Acute embolic occlusion of the common iliac artery is a rare medical emergency that is not only limbthreatening, but also potentially life-threatening. Several treatment options exist for acute limb ischemia, although no treatment is clearly best. We report a case of acute embolic occlusion of the left common iliac artery in a patient with atrial fibrillation who was treated successfully using mechanical thrombectomy following intra-arterial thrombolysis.
Acute Disease ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases/radiography/*therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Embolism/radiography/*therapy ; Female ; Fibrinolytic Agents/*administration & dosage ; Humans ; *Iliac Artery/radiography ; Middle Aged ; *Thrombectomy ; *Thrombolytic Therapy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator/*administration & dosage