Stent-Assisted Coil Embolization of a Mycotic Renal Artery Aneurysm by Use of a Self-Expanding Neurointerventional Stent

Splenic Artery Infectious Aneurysms in Infective Endocarditis - An Observational Study and Comprehensive Literature Review

BACKGROUND

To determine the prevalence, the clinical and radiological features, associated factors, treatment, and outcome of splenic artery aneurysms (SAAs) in infective endocarditis (IE).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 474 consecutive patients admitted to our institution with definite IE (2005-2020).

RESULTS

Six patients had SAAs (1.3%; 3 women; mean age: 50 years). In all cases, the diagnosis was obtained by abdominal computed tomography angiography (CTA). SAAs-IE were solitary and saccular with a mean diameter of 30 mm (range: 10-90 mm). SAAs-IE were intrasplenic (n = 4) or hilar (n = 2). Streptococcus spp. were the predominant organisms (n = 4). In all cases, a left-sided native valve was involved (aortic, n = 3; mitral, n = 2; mitral-aortic, n = 1). SAAs were silent in half patients and were revealed by abdominal pain (n = 2) and by the resurgence of fever after cardiac surgery (n = 1). All patients underwent emergent valve replacement. One patient died within 24 hr from multiorgan failure. For the others, uneventful coil embolization was performed in 4 patients after valve replacement (3 diagnosed early and 1 at 8 weeks). In the remaining patient, SAA-IE diagnosed at abdominal CTA at day 16, with complete resolution under appropriate antibiotherapy alone.

CONCLUSIONS

SAAs-IE are a rare occurrence that may be clinically silent. SAAs-IE can be intrasplenic or hilar in location. Endovascular treatment in this context was safe. According to current guidelines, radiologic screening by abdominal CTA allowed the detection of silent SAAs which could be managed by endovascular treatment to prevent rupture. The delayed formation of these SAAs could justify a CTA control at the end of antibiotherapy.

[Delayed renal infectious aneurysm 3 months after cardiac surgery for a Streptococcus pyogenes infective endocarditis ; case report and literature review]

Infective endocarditis (IE) due to Streptococcus pyogenes (SP) (Group A Streptococcus) is uncommon and infectious renal artery aneurysm (IRAA) is an exceptional complication of IE, with few cases reported in the literature. We describe a case of SP native mitral valve IE in a 58-year-old man, presenting with large valve vegetations, abscess and severe regurgitation. Initial CT-angiography showed bilateral kidney and splenic infarcts. He underwent successful emergent bioprosthetic valve replacement. Antibiotic regimen consisted in linezolid and rifampicin for 8 weeks. Three months later, CT-angiography for feet gangrene revealed a 16mm aneurysm of the left intraparenchymal renal artery, which was occluded by coil-embolization. This case shows that an infectious aneurysm may develop several months after antibiotic treatment and emergent valve replacement for IE.

Radial Artery Graft for Giant Common Carotid Artery Pseudoaneurysm After Carotid Artery Stenting

BACKGROUND

We present a patient who underwent left superior temporal artery (STA)-to-right middle cerebral artery (MCA) bypass using a radial artery (RA) graft with resection of a giant right cervical common carotid artery (CCA) pseudoaneurysm after carotid artery stenting (CAS) and discuss the treatment strategy and surgical procedure in detail.

CASE DESCRIPTION

An 86-year-old male presented with sudden onset of altered consciousness and complete left hemiparesis. Magnetic resonance angiography and catheter angiography of the brain revealed occlusion of the right cervical ICA. Endovascular thrombectomy and stenting of the cervical segment of the ICA were performed. Thirty-two days after CAS, the patient developed a high fever and rapid swelling of the neck. Catheter angiography showed a giant right CCA pseudoaneurysm that had a fistula just proximal to the carotid stent, and the aneurysm extended to the neck entirely. Because of the expanding neck infection, stent placement long lesion, and lack of distal collateral flow on angiography, we performed aneurysm and stent removal and left STA-to-right MCA bypass using an RA graft. The harvested RA graft was anastomosed side to end to both the M2 segment of the right MCA and the left STA. Bypass patency was confirmed before neck exposure. The pseudoaneurysm and proximal portion area of the stent were resected. The patient recovered well postoperatively, and follow-up catheter angiography showed patency of the bypass.

CONCLUSIONS

Left STA-RA-right MCA bypass with aneurysm resection is a good treatment option for giant CCA pseudoaneurysms that occur after CAS.

Double-Lumen Balloons, Are They Only Useful in Neurointerventions? Preliminary Outcomes of Double-Lumen Balloon-Assisted Embolization of Visceral Artery Aneurysms

Objectives:

This study aimed to assess the feasibility and results of double-lumen balloon-assisted embolization of visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs).

Methods:

Nine patients (mean age, 55.3 ± 10.8 years) diagnosed with VAA (superior mesenteric, n = 5; splenic, n = 2; renal, n = 2) and undergoing double-lumen balloon-assisted embolization were included in this study. Magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) was used in the 6-month follow-up to assess the aneurysms and patency of the parent arteries.

Results:

All patients were successfully treated with no reports of morbidity or mortality. Residual filling of the aneurysm neck was detected in 2 patients at the end of the procedure, but those parts were found to be stable in the sixth-month MRA. In 1 patient with renal aneurysm, a stent had to be deployed using a double-lumen balloon catheter because of the prolapse of the coil into the main artery. In another patient with a very large-necked superior mesenteric artery aneurysm, additional coils could be used at the same time thanks to the double-lumen balloon as the coils were not stabilized enough during embolization with the microcatheter coils. Liquid embolic agent was also used in this patient from the same lumen because of the large diameter of the aneurysm.

Conclusions:

Double-lumen balloons, which are mostly used in neurointerventional procedures, can be efficiently used as in the treatment of VAAs due to their ability to deploy stent and perform coil-liquid embolization through 1 lumen.

Endovascular Therapy for Distal Superior Mesenteric Artery Mycotic Aneurysms due to Infective Endocarditis

Purpose: To report 3 patients with infective endocarditis who underwent transcatheter arterial embolization for mycotic aneurysm of the distal superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Case Report: Three men (60, 64, and 65 years old) were diagnosed with infective endocarditis. Antibiotics were initiated immediately after admission and continued for several weeks to months. Distal SMA mycotic aneurysm was identified on computed tomography in the vicinity of the ileocolic artery at 33, 26, and 30 days after admission. In case 1, the ileal artery was occluded distal to the aneurysm, with collateral flow to the ileum. In case 2, the mycotic aneurysm was located below the ileocolic artery, which was stenosed distal to the lesion. In case 3, the aneurysm was located on a branch of the ileal artery. Transarterial embolization using microcoils was successfully performed in all patients. No complications associated with embolotherapy or relapse of infection were observed in these 3 patients at 60, 30, and 15 months, respectively. Conclusion: Transcatheter arterial embolization for distal SMA mycotic aneurysm could provide an alternative to open surgery. Anatomical assessment of collateral flow and preprocedure long-term antibiotic therapy could play important roles in preventing bowel ischemia and minimizing the risk of infection relapse.

Mycotic Renal Artery Aneurysm Presenting as Critical Limb Ischemia in Culture-Negative Endocarditis

Mycotic renal artery aneurysms are rare and can be difficult to diagnose. Classic symptoms such as hematuria, hypertension, or abdominal pain can be vague or nonexistent. We report a case of a 53-year-old woman with a history of intravenous drug abuse presenting with critical limb ischemia, in which CT angiography identified a mycotic renal aneurysm. This aneurysm tripled in size from 0.46 cm to 1.65 cm in a 3-week interval. Echocardiography demonstrated aortic valve vegetations leading to a diagnosis of culture-negative endocarditis. The patient underwent primary resection and repair of the aneurysm, aortic valve replacement, and left below-knee amputation after bilateral common iliac and left superficial femoral artery stenting. At 1-year follow-up, her serum creatinine is stable and repaired artery remains patent.

Stent-Assisted Coil Embolization of a Symptomatic Renal Artery Aneurysm at a Bifurcation Point

BACKGROUND

Symptomatic renal artery aneurysms at bifurcation points present challenging clinical scenarios rarely amenable to endovascular repair due to concerns regarding parenchymal loss following intervention. Herein, we add to the scant body of literature describing successful endovascular repair of a saccular, symptomatic renal artery aneurysm situated at a bifurcation point.

METHODS

A 52-year-old woman with a 2.5-cm extraparenchymal, saccular, symptomatic left renal artery aneurysm underwent self-expanding stent-assisted detachable platinum microcoil embolization.

RESULTS

Complete aneurysm exclusion was achieved with minimal parenchymal loss. There were no perioperative complications, and no evidence of acute kidney injury perioperatively or at 3-month follow-up. Sustained symptomatic relief was achieved.

CONCLUSIONS

Endovascular therapy can provide safe and effective aneurysm treatment within challenging bifurcated renal artery anatomy.

Endoluminal occlusion devices: technology update

Endoluminal occlusion has been performed since the early beginning of interventional radiology. Over recent decades, major technological advances have improved the techniques used and different devices have been developed for changing conditions. Most of these occlusion devices have been implemented in the vascular territory. Early embolization materials included glass particles, hot contrast, paraffin, fibrin, and tissue fragments such as muscle fibers and blood clots; today, occlusion materials include metallic devices, particles, and liquid materials, which can be indicated for proximal or distal occlusion, high-flow and low-flow situations, and in large-caliber and small-caliber vessels, based on need. Technological progress has led to a decreased size of delivery catheters, and an increase in safety due to release systems that permit the withdrawing and replacement of embolization material. Furthermore, bioactive embolization materials have been developed to increase the efficacy of embolization or the biological effect of medication. Finally, materials have been modified for changing indications. Intravascular stents were initially developed to keep an artery open; however, by adding a covering membrane, these stents can be used to occlude the wall of a vessel or other endoluminal structures. This article gives an overview of the devices most utilized for occlusion of endoluminal structures, as well as their major purpose in the endovascular territory.

The role of interventional radiology in the management of abdominal visceral artery aneurysms

Abdominal visceral artery aneurysms (VAA) include true and false aneurysms. The majority are asymptomatic and are discovered on cross-sectional imaging performed for unrelated clinical indications. With the maturation of techniques and devices used for embolization procedures and the treatment of aneurysms in other locations, most VAAs are now suitable for treatment by minimally invasive transcatheter techniques. The choice of technique used greatly depends on the local anatomy of the VAA and the experience of the interventional radiologist in complex vascular interventional techniques.