Value of interventional radiology and their contributions to modern medical systems

Interventional radiology (IR) is a unique specialty that incorporates a diverse set of skills ranging from imaging, procedures, consultation, and patient management. Understanding how IR generates value to the healthcare system is important to review from various perspectives. IR specialists need to understand how to meet demands from various stakeholders to expand their practice improving patient care. Thus, this review discusses the domains of value contributed to medical systems and outlines the parameters of success. IR benefits five distinct parties: patients, practitioners, payers, employers, and innovators. Value to patients and providers is delivered through a wide set of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Payers and hospital systems financially benefit from the reduced cost in medical management secondary to fast patient recovery, outpatient procedures, fewer complications, and the prestige of offering diverse expertise for complex patients. Lastly, IR is a field of rapid innovation implementing new procedural technology and techniques. Overall, IR must actively advocate for further growth and influence in the medical field as their value continues to expand in multiple domains. Despite being a nascent specialty, IR has become indispensable to modern medical practice.

Complications of Peritoneal Dialysis Part I: Mechanical Complications

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a form of KRT that offers flexibility and autonomy to patients with ESKD. It is associated with lower costs compared with hemodialysis in many countries. However, it can be associated with unexpected interruptions to or discontinuation of therapy. Timely diagnosis and resolution are required to minimize preventable modality change to hemodialysis. This review covers mechanical complications, including leaks, PD hydrothorax, hernias, dialysate flow problems, PD-related pain, and changes in respiratory mechanics. Most mechanical complications occur early, either as a result of PD catheter insertion or the introduction of dialysate and consequent increased intra-abdominal pressure. Late mechanical complications can also occur and may require different treatment.

Advanced Image-Guided Percutaneous Technique Versus Advanced Laparoscopic Surgical Technique for Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Placement

Rationale & Objective

Timely placement of a functional peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter is crucial to long-term PD success. Advanced image-guided percutaneous and advanced laparoscopic techniques both represent best practice catheter placement options. Advanced image-guided percutaneous is a minimally invasive procedure that does not require general anesthesia.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study comparing time from referral to procedure, complication rate, and 1-year catheter survival between placement techniques.

Setting & Participants

Patients who had advanced laparoscopic or advanced image-guided percutaneous PD catheter placement from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013 in an integrated Northern California health care delivery system.

Exposure

PD catheter placement using advanced laparoscopic or advanced image-guided percutaneous techniques.

Outcomes

One-year PD catheter survival; major, minor, and infectious complications; time from referral to PD catheter placement; and procedure time.

Analytical Approach

Wilcoxon rank sum tests to compare referral and procedure times; χ2/Fisher exact tests to compare complications; and modified least-squares regression to compare adjusted 1-year catheter survival between PD placement techniques.

Results

We identified 191 and 238 PD catheters placed through advanced image-guided percutaneous and advanced laparoscopic techniques, respectively. Adjusted 1-year PD catheter survival was 80% (95% CI, 74%-87%) using advanced image-guided percutaneous technique vs 91% (87%-96%) using advanced laparoscopic technique (P = 0.01). Major complications were <1% in both groups. Minor and infectious complications were 45.6% and 38.7% in advanced image-guided percutaneous and advanced laparoscopic techniques, respectively (P = 0.01). Median days from referral to procedure were 12 and 33 for patients undergoing advanced image-guided percutaneous and advanced laparoscopic techniques, respectively (P < 0.001). Median procedure time was 30 and 44.5 minutes for patients undergoing advanced image-guided percutaneous and advanced laparoscopic techniques, respectively (P < 0.001).

Limitations

Retrospective study with practice preference influenced by timing, local expertise, and resources.

Conclusions

Both advanced image-guided percutaneous and advanced laparoscopic techniques reported rare major complications and demonstrated excellent (advanced laparoscopic) and acceptable (advanced image-guided percutaneous) 1-year PD catheter survival. For patients referred for PD catheter placement at centers where advanced laparoscopic resources or expertise remain limited, the advanced image-guided percutaneous technique can provide a complementary and timely option to support the utilization of PD.

Plain-Language Summary

Peritoneal dialysis is a preferred dialysis modality for many patients. However, the lack of available skilled surgeons can limit the placement of the peritoneal dialysis catheter in a timely manner. In the past decade, interventional radiology has developed expertise in placing peritoneal dialysis catheters. Using data from an integrated health care system, we compared the outcome of peritoneal dialysis catheters placed using laparoscopic surgery and interventional radiology techniques. Our results showed excellent 1-year patency of peritoneal dialysis catheters placed using laparoscopic surgery, whereas interventional radiology placement of catheters had lower but acceptable 1-year patency survival, based on best practice guideline criteria. Hence, interventional radiology placement of peritoneal dialysis catheters may be a viable alternative when laparoscopic surgery is not available or feasible.

Imaging of Peritoneal Dialysis Complications in Children

Worldwide, peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the preferred renal replacement therapy option for children with end-stage renal disease who are awaiting transplantation. PD involves the instillation of a specifically formulated solution into the peritoneal cavity via a PD catheter, with two-way exchange of solutes and waste products along a concentration gradient. This exchange occurs across the peritoneal membrane. The PD catheter has intraperitoneal, abdominal wall, and external components. Enormous efforts have been directed to augment the efficiency and longevity of the peritoneum as a dialysis system by preventing PD-related infectious and noninfectious complications, which may otherwise result in technique failure and a subsequent temporary or permanent switch to hemodialysis. Imaging has an instrumental role in prompt diagnosis of PD complications and in guiding the management of these complications. The main imaging techniques used in the setting of PD complications-namely, conventional radiography, US, CT, MRI, and peritoneal scintigraphy-as well as the benefits and limitations of these modalities are reviewed. The authors also describe the frequently encountered radiologic findings of each complication. Familiarity with these features enables the radiologist to play a crucial role in early diagnosis of PD complications and aids the pediatric nephrologist in tailoring or discontinuing PD and transitioning to hemodialysis if necessary. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ^©RSNA, 2022.

Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Placement: Percutaneous and Peritoneoscopic Techniques

Chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an underutilized renal replacement therapy in treating end-stage renal disease that has several advantages over hemodialysis. The success of continuous ambulatory PD is largely dependent on a functional long-term access to the peritoneal cavity. Several methods have been developed to place the PD catheter using both surgical and percutaneous techniques. The purpose of this article is to describe the percutaneous techniques using fluoroscopy guidance and peritoneoscope method. While fluoroscopic method uses fluoroscopy guidance and a guidewire to place the PD catheter, the peritoneoscopic technique utilizes a needlescope to directly visualize the peritoneal space to avoid adhesions and omentum during catheter placement. These percutaneous approaches are minimally invasive procedures that can be performed on an outpatient basis without the need for general anesthesia.

Patient Selection and Planning for Image-Guided Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Placement

Image-guided percutaneous peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter insertion has become increasingly relied upon to provide urgent access for late presenting kidney failure patients, to overcome surgical backlogs and limited operating room access, to avoid general anesthesia in high-risk patients, and, by itself, as an alternative approach to surgical PD access. Advanced planning for the procedure is essential to assure the best possible outcome. Appropriate selection of patients for percutaneous PD catheter placement, choosing the most suitable catheter type, determining insertion and exit site locations, and final patient preparations facilitate the performance of the procedure, minimizes the risk of complications, and improves the likelihood of providing a successful long-term peritoneal access.

Combined fluoroscopic- and sonographic-assisted Tenckhoff catheter insertion for patients with previous intraperitoneal surgery

BACKGROUND

Tenckhoff catheter (TC) insertion for patients with previous intraperitoneal surgery (IPS) is challenging.

METHODS

This is a case series of 11 patients with history of previous IPS who underwent TC insertion under combined fluoroscopic and sonographic (CFS) guidance with preperitoneal tunneling at our center.

RESULTS

This is an interim result of our study. The mean age of the patients was 49.1 (±12.7). Seven were females, and four were males. Only two patients underwent more than one IPS prior to this procedure. The mean body mass index (BMI) of patients was 29.2 kg/m² (±6.2). All patients underwent the procedure successfully. One patient developed post-procedure exit site bleeding which resolved spontaneously. One patient had urgent-start peritoneal dialysis (PD) (less than 72 h), and two patients had early-start PD (less than 2 weeks). Median catheter survival is 8 months at the time of writing.

CONCLUSION

CFS-assisted TC insertion with preperitoneal tunneling for patients with previous IPS is a safe and effective technique.