Percutaneous embolization of congenital portosystemic venous fistula in an infant with down syndrome

Iatrogenic Arteriovenous Fistula Secondary to Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Causing Severe Decompensated Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure has long been a well-known cause of both morbidity and mortality for thousands of people worldwide. Consequences of decompensated heart failure are systemic and widespread, including but not limited to pulmonary edema, dyspnea, hypoxia, peripheral edema, and end-organ hypoperfusion. Common etiologies of congestive heart failure include systemic hypertension, coronary artery disease, longstanding alcohol abuse, valvular dysfunctions, and myocarditis. While the vast majority of congestive heart failure cases are secondary to one of these common etiologies, there is a subset of cases that cannot be traced to any of these causes and are most often grouped under the category of idiopathic. One rarely seen etiology of decompensated heart failure is an arteriovenous fistula, whether naturally occurring or iatrogenic. We report a case of an iatrogenic AV fistula secondary to percutaneous coronary intervention causing severe decompensated heart failure that was successfully treated with surgical ligation.

Pre and postnatal diagnosis of congenital portosystemic shunt: Impact of interventional therapy

INTRODUCTION

Congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) are rare vascular malformations that can lead to severe complications. With advanced imaging techniques, diagnosis is becoming more feasible occurring in fetal life. Different approaches have been adopted to manage these cases, with an increased utilization of interventional therapy recently. This cohort aims to describe the course of children diagnosed with CPSS and the impact of interventional therapy on the outcome.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review was done for all patients who were diagnosed with CPSS in our institution between January 2006 and December 2015.

RESULTS

Six patients were diagnosed with CPSS. During this period, 8,680 mothers carrying 9548 fetuses underwent fetal ultrasound examinations. Three patients were diagnosed antenatally at a median [IQ] gestational age of 33 [26-33] weeks, and three patients were diagnosed postnatally at 0, 2, and 43 months, respectively. At a median follow-up of 87 [74-110] months, 5 patients are alive; 4 of whom had received transcatheter closure for different indications, and one who had spontaneous resolution of her CPSS. One infant died at the age of 6 weeks secondary to sepsis.

CONCLUSION

CPSS can result in significant complications in children. Interventional therapy is feasible at any age group, but long-term follow-up is warranted.

Congenital portosystemic shunts: diagnosis and treatment

Congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) are rare vascular malformations that create an abnormal connection between portal and systemic veins resulting in complete or partial diversion of the portal flow away from the liver to the systemic venous system. Different anatomic types exist and several classifications have been proposed. They can be associated with other malformations especially cardiac and heterotaxia. The main complications include hepatic encephalopathy, liver tumors, portopulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary arteriovenous shunts. Diagnosis relies on imaging, and prenatal diagnosis is possible. Spontaneous closure of the CPSS is possible in some anatomic forms during the first year of life. When the CPSS remains patent, radiologic or surgical closure of the CPSS may prevent, resolve, or stabilize complications. Interventional radiology plays a key role for both the preoperative evaluation with occlusion test to assess the exact anatomy and to measure portal pressure after occlusion of the CPSS. Endovascular closure is the first option for treatment when possible.

Transarterial and Transhepatic Endovascular Intervention to Alleviate Portal Hypertension Secondary to Arterioportal Fistula in a Trisomy 21 Infant

Individuals with trisomy 21 have an 80% risk reduction of vascular anomalies compared with general population. However, an association of trisomy 21 and portal vascular and arteriovenous anomalies has been defined in the literature. The primary hemodynamic abnormality in portal hypertension is increased resistance to portal blood flow. In various case reports in adults and pediatric age group patients, transarterial coil embolization of hepatoportal fistula was described. One of the authors of this article has previously reported successful treatment of congenital arterioportal fistula (APF) with percutaneous transhepatic liquid embolization in a patient who previously had transarterial coil embolization. To date, eight patients with trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) and congenital portosystemic shunts were reported of which four were treated with embolization. Here, we describe a 3-month-old infant with trisomy 21 and intrahepatic APF associated with extrahepatic portal hypertension and massive ascites. In the current report, a rare case of a patient with a diagnosis of trisomy 21 is discussed who was attempted to be treated with transarterial coil embolization and percutaneous transhepatic liquid embolization of the congenital APF in a single session.

Asymptomatic Intrahepatic Portosystemic Venous Shunt: To Treat or Not To Treat?

Intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts (IPSVSs) are rare vascular malformations. They can be asymptomatic or present with various symptoms including encephalopathy. We present two cases of IPSVS, one involving a patient presenting with altered mental status and the other discovered incidentally. While there is no question that patients presenting with symptomatic IPSVS should undergo definitive treatment, there is no consensus regarding elective therapy for asymptomatic lesions.