Diagnosis of gynecological pseudoaneurysms and embolization with cyanoacrylate

Pseudoaneurysms of the uterine artery are an uncommon cause of severe gynecological bleeding secondary to surgical manipulation of the pelvis or to instrumental delivery. The different imaging techniques are of vital importance in the diagnosis. Angiography is the technique used for confirmation and also for treatment in many cases. Endovascular treatment by embolizing the pseudoaneurysm has become established as the treatment of choice, making it possible to avoid hysterectomy in women of childbearing age. This article presents two cases of gynecological bleeding due to pseudoaneurysms (one secondary to surgery and one secondary to childbirth) that were embolized in a novel way using cyanoacrylate.

Interventional Radiology in the Management of Visceral Artery Pseudoaneurysms: A Review of Techniques and Embolic Materials

Visceral artery pseudoaneurysms occur mostly as a result of inflammation and trauma. Owing to high risk of rupture, they require early treatment to prevent lethal complications. Knowledge of the various approaches of embolization of pseudoaneurysms and different embolic materials used in the management of visceral artery pseudoaneurysms is essential for successful and safe embolization. We review and illustrate the endovascular, percutaneous and endoscopic ultrasound techniques used in the treatment of visceral artery pseudoaneurysm and briefly discuss the embolic materials and their benefits and risks.

Contrast-Enhanced Sonographic Follow-up After Stenting of Visceral Artery Aneurysms

We report 2 cases of exclusion of visceral artery aneurysms. The first was a common hepatic artery aneurysm treated with a multilayer stent; the second was a celiac trunk aneurysm excluded by a covered stent. Computed tomographic angiography was performed at regular intervals after each procedure, together with echo color Doppler imaging and contrast-enhanced sonography. Computed tomographic angiography and contrast-enhanced sonography were able to detect endoleaks in both patients and the related inflow vessel; moreover, diameter measurements of the sacs were identical. In our preliminary experience, contrast-enhanced sonography appeared to be as accurate as computed tomographic angiography after endovascular visceral artery aneurysm exclusion.

Endovascular Stent-Graft Treatment of Giant Celiac Artery Pseudoaneurysm

BACKGROUND

Visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs) comprise an uncommon but life-threatening vascular disease. When rupture is the first clinical presentation, mortality rate reaches 70%. Increased use of cross-sectional imaging has led to a greater rate of diagnosis (40-80%) of asymptomatic VAAs. In the past, surgery was the treatment of choice for VAAs carrying high risk of mortality and morbidity.

CASE REPORT

A 22-year-old man, who had undergone gastric, pancreatic and aortic surgery 2.5 years earlier, presented with progressive abdominal pain. Multidetector computed tomography scan revealed an 8-cm celiac pseudoaneurysm. We report a giant celiac pseudoaneurysm treated with stent-graft implantation.

CONCLUSIONS

Endovascular treatment of VAA is a safe and effective method alternative to surgery.

[Management of complications after reconstruction of mesenteric arteries]

Because of the low ischemia tolerance of abdominal organs and the comorbidities of patients with abdominal ischemic syndromes, complications after the reconstruction of visceral arteries are often severe and associated with a significant mortality rate. The possible complications after interventions on the visceral arteries and their treatment are presented. Endovascular procedures have gained an increasingly important role in many primary interventions as well as in the treatment of complications.

Visceral artery aneurysms: Incidence, management, and outcome analysis in a tertiary care center over one decade

Objectives

To evaluate the incidence, management, and outcome of visceral artery aneurysms (VAA) over one decade.

Methods

233 patients with 253 VAA were analyzed according to location, diameter, aneurysm type, aetiology, rupture, management, and outcome.

Results

VAA were localized at the splenic artery, coeliac trunk, renal artery, hepatic artery, superior mesenteric artery, and other locations. The aetiology was degenerative, iatrogenic after medical procedures, connective tissue disease, and others. The rate of rupture was much higher in pseudoaneurysms than true aneurysms (76.3 % vs.3.1 %). Fifty-nine VAA were treated by intervention (n = 45) or surgery (n = 14). Interventions included embolization with coils or glue, covered stents, or combinations of these. Thirty-five cases with ruptured VAA were treated on an emergency basis. There was no difference in size between ruptured and non-ruptured VAA. After interventional treatment, the 30-day mortality was 6.7 % in ruptured VAA compared to no mortality in non-ruptured cases. Follow-up included CT and/or MRI after a mean period of 18.0 ± 26.8 months. The current status of the patient was obtained by a structured telephone survey.

Conclusions

Pseudoaneurysms of visceral arteries have a high risk for rupture. Aneurysm size seems to be no reliable predictor for rupture. Interventional treatment is safe and effective for management of VAA.

Key Points

• Diagnosis of visceral artery aneurysms is increasing due to CT and MRI.

• Diameter of visceral arterial aneurysms is no reliable predictor for rupture.

• False aneurysms/pseudoaneurysms and symptomatic cases need emergency treatment.

• Interventional treatment is safe and effective.

Calcified pelvic masses on radiographs: a case report and discussion

Calcified pelvic masses are frequently detected on plain radiographs in the field of emergency radiology, particularly after trauma. While many of these findings are benign, a subset may be life-threatening if not accurately identified. The differential diagnosis depends on the location of the tumor and the patient's gender and history of trauma. Diagnostic possibilities include aneurysms, musculoskeletal and female pelvic malignancies and more benign entities, such as heterotopic ossification or phleboliths. Considering the possibility of these lesions will help to accurately identify relevant findings on radiographs and effectively select the appropriate treatment plan for patients presenting to the emergency room with pain.

Superselective arterial embolization of pseudoaneurysm and arteriovenous fistula caused by transurethral resection of the prostate

Background

Pelvic vascular lesions such as pseudoaneurysms and arteriovenous fistulas associated with the internal pudendal artery are uncommon. The most common cause is traumas including those of iatrogenic origin. Surgical treatment is complicated due to location of the lesions and endovascular approach is usually the first choice among the treatment options.

Case Report

A 79-year-old patient was admitted with massive hematuria following transurethral resection of prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Doppler US and angiography revealed a pseudoaneurysm and arteriovenous fistula originating from the right internal pudendal artery. It was successfully treated with coil embolization.

Conclusions

Arteriovenous fistulas and pseudoaneurysms concerning internal pudendal artery may occur as complications of prostate operations. Minimally invasive endovascular methods provide safe and efficient treatment and today should be considered as the first line of choice.

Percutaneous thrombin embolization of a pancreatico-duodenal artery pseudoaneurysm after failing of the endovascular treatment

Pancreatico-duodenal artery (PDA) pseudoaneurysms are rare vascular conditions with high mortality rates after rupture and they are frequently secondary to pancreatitis, surgery, trauma or infection. Due to the high risk of rupture and bleeding, it is mandatory to treat all pseudoaneurysms, regardless of their size or symptomatology. First option of treatment is open surgical repair, but it has high mortality rate, especially in hemodynamically unstable patients. In the recent years, percutaneous ultrasonography (US)- or computed tomography-guided thrombin injection was proposed as an alternative method for treating visceral aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms, but few reports described this therapy in case of peri-pancreatic pseudoaneurysms. We present a rare case of pseudoaneurysm of the PDA in a patient with no previous history of pancreatitis nor major surgery but with an occlusive lesion of the celiac axis. To the best of our knowledge this is the first reported case of PDA pseudoaneurysm successfully treated in emergency by single transabdominal US-guided injection of thrombin after failed attempts of percutaneous catheterization of the feeding vessel of the pseudoaneurysm.

Giant uterine artery pseudoaneurysm after a missed miscarriage termination in a cesarean scar pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Uterine artery pseudoaneurysms are dangerous and can lead to severe hemorrhage. We report an uncommon cause of a giant pseudoaneurysm in a missed miscarriage in a woman with a cesarean scar pregnancy.

CASE PRESENTATION

The patient was a 25-year-old Chinese woman with a missed miscarriage in a cesarean scar pregnancy. Curettage was performed under ultrasound monitoring. A uterine artery pseudoaneurysm measuring 71 × 44 × 39 mm was detected the next day by Doppler ultrasonography. While waiting for admittance to an advanced institution to undergo embolization treatment, the pseudoaneurysm ruptured spontaneously. The subsequent severe hemorrhage necessitated hysterectomy.

CONCLUSION

A delay in diagnosis of uterine artery pseudoaneurysms may result from a long period between the curettage and follow-up examination. Ultrasound and Doppler ultrasonography should be performed repeatedly at short intervals to rule out them, especially in cesarean scar pregnancies. For a giant uterine artery pseudoaneurysm, interventional embolization might be the first treatment choice. If time allows, intra-operative ligation of the feeding vessels should be attempted before any decision to perform a hysterectomy is made. However, hysterectomy remains a possibility when severe bleeding occurs.

Endovascular embolisation of visceral artery pseudoaneurysms

Objective. To evaluate the technical success, safety, and outcome of endovascular embolization procedure in management of visceral artery pseudoaneurysms. Materials and Methods. 46 patients were treated for 53 visceral pseudoaneurysms at our institution. Preliminary diagnostic workup in all cases was performed by contrast enhanced abdominal CT scan and/or duplex ultrasound. In all patients, embolization was performed as per the standard departmental protocol. For data collection, medical records and radiology reports of all patients were retrospectively reviewed. Technical success, safety, and outcome of the procedure were analyzed. Results. Out of 46 patients, 13 were females and 33 were males. Mean patient age was 44.79 ± 13.9 years and mean pseudoaneurysm size was 35 ± 19.5 mm. Technical success rate for endovascular visceral pseudoaneurysm coiling was 93.47% (n = 43). Complication rate was 6.52% (n = 3). Followup was done for a mean duration of 21 ± 1.6 months (0.5–69 months). Complete resolution of symptoms or improvement in clinical condition was seen in 36 patients (80%) out of those 45 in whom procedure was technically successful. Conclusion. Results of embolization of visceral artery pseudoaneurysms with coils at our center showed high success rate and good short term outcome.