Emergency stent-graft implantation for iatrogenic peripheral arterial rupture

Percutaneous treatment of vascular access-site complications: a ten years' experience in two centres

Background

The spread of percutaneous arterial catheterization in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures has led to a parallel increase of vascular access site complications. The incidence of these events is between 0.2–1%. A detailed analysis of injuries by type of procedure shows a higher incidence of injuries after therapeutic procedures (3%) than those observed for diagnostic ones (1%), due to the greater size of the vascular devices used and the necessity to frequently administer anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy during procedures. The iatrogenic arterial injuries requiring treatment are the pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula, arterial rupture and dissection. Less frequent complications include distal embolization of the limbs, nerve damage, abscess and lymphocele.

Moreover, the use of percutaneous vascular closure devices (VCD) has further expanded the types of complications, with an increased risk of stenosis, thrombosis, distal embolism and infection. Our work aims to bring the personal 10 years’ experience in the percutaneous treatment of vascular access-site complications.

Results

Ninety-two pseudoaneurysms (PSA), 12 arteriovenous fistulas (AVF), 15 retrograde dissections (RD) and 11 retroperitoneal bleedings (RB) have been selected and treated. In 120/130 cases there were no periprocedural complications with immediate technical success (92.3%). Nine femoral PSA, treated with percutaneous ultrasound-guided thrombin injection, showed a failure to close the sac and therefore they were treated by PTA balloon inflation with a contralateral approach and cross-over technique. Only one case of brachial dissection, in which the prolonged inflation of the balloon has not led to a full reimbursement of the dissection flap, was then surgically repaired. At the 7 days follow-up, complications were two abscesses in retroperitoneal bleedings, treated by percutaneous drainage. At 3 months, acute occlusion of 3 covered femoral stents occurred, then treated by loco-regional thrombolysis and PTA. A total of 18 major complications was recorded at 2 years, with a complication rate at 2 years of 13.8%.

Conclusions

The percutaneous treatment of vascular access-site complications is the first-choice treatment. It represents a safe and effective option, validated by a high technical success rate and a low long-term complication rate, that allows avoiding the surgical approach in most cases.

Emergency management of iatrogenic arterial injuries with a low-profile balloon-expandable stent-graft: Preliminary results

Endovascular treatment of arterial injuries with stent-graft is a reliable alternative approach in patients not suitable for embolization or at high risk for surgery. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of the BeGraft stent-graft, a low-profile balloon expandable covered stent, for emergency endovascular treatment of iatrogenic arterial injuries.Between August 2015 and September 2018, 34 consecutive patients (mean age 71 ± 12 years, 9 females) underwent implantation of BeGraft stent-grafts for iatrogenic arterial injuries (22 active bleedings, 11 pseudoaneurysms, and 1 enteric-iliac fistula). The primary endpoints were technical and clinical success and rates of major and minor complications. The secondary endpoint was the patency of the device during the follow-up. Imaging follow-up was performed by duplex ultrasound and/or computed tomography angiography (according to lesion site/target vessel), at 1-6-12-15 and 24 months.In all 34 patients (100%), the lesion or the defect was effectively excluded with a cumulative amount of 42 stent-grafts. The clinical success was documented in 30/34 patients (88.2%). Neither device- or procedure-related deaths, or major complications occurred. A minor complication was reported in 1 patient (2.9%), successfully treated during the same procedure. Thirty (88.2%) patients were available for a mean follow-up time of 390 ± 168 days (minimum 184, maximum 770), with no observed loss of patency, yielding a 100% Kaplan-Meier cumulative survival patency function. The percentage of patent patients was 30/30 at 6 months, 22/22 at 12 months, and 5/5 at 15 months.Endovascular treatment of iatrogenic arterial injuries with the BeGraft stent-graft is minimally invasive and effective, with good patency rate at midterm follow-up.

Role of percutaneous transcatheter embolization (PTE) in the treatment of spontaneous bleeding associated with anticoagulant therapy

PURPOSE

To evaluate safety and clinical efficacy of percutaneous transcatheter embolization (PTE) in the treatment of spontaneous bleedings (SBs) in patients submitted to chronic anticoagulation therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From January 2007 to December 2012, 20 patients (mean age 75.8 years, range 68-91 years) with 23 SBs were retrospectively evaluated. Active bleeding was documented by contrast enhanced-multidetector row computed tomography (CE-MDCT). PTE was performed using different embolic agents. Technical success (TS), clinical success (CS), late success (LS) and mortality rate (M) related to the angiographic procedure and complications were evaluated.

RESULTS

CE-MDCT and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) identified active bleeding sites in 18 cases (18/20). In two cases (2/20) DSA did not confirm the arterial bleeding diagnosed on CE-MDCT. Twenty-three sessions of PTE were performed. TS, CS, LS and M were, respectively, 100, 85, 15 and 0%. No major complications were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

PTE could be considered a safe and effective "first line" approach to treat SB associated with anticoagulation therapy.