Paediatric interventional radiology

Pediatric Interventional Radiology: Non-Vascular Interventions

Pediatric interventional radiology (PIR), which includes variety of procedures done under image guidance has emerged as an essential adjunct to various surgical and medical conditions, plays a significant role in the delivery of safe and effective care by reducing surgical risks, decreasing the length of hospital stay and reducing costs. The application of interventional techniques in children has been delayed over years as compared to adults due to lack of special hardwares/equipments, lack of adequately trained physicians and also the lack of awareness among the pediatric practitioners. This situation is gradually changing now owing to the advancements in technology. In this review, authors will discuss various non-vascular interventional procedures undertaken in pediatric patients.

Imaging in the evaluation of renovascular disease

Renovascular disease (RVD) is an important cause of hypertension in children, as it often is amenable to potentially curative treatment. Imaging aimed at finding RVD therefore needs to have high sensitivity so as not to miss important findings. Digital subtraction angiography is the gold standard investigation. Doppler ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) angiography and magnetic resonance (MR) angiography can all be helpful, but none has, at present, high enough sensitivity to rule out RVD in a child with a suggestion of that diagnosis.

Renovascular hypertension in children

Renovascular disease is an uncommon but important cause of hypertension in children. It is usually diagnosed after a long delay because blood pressure is infrequently measured in children and high values are generally dismissed as inaccurate. Many children with renovascular disease have abnormalities of other blood vessels (aorta, cerebral, intestinal, or iliac). Individuals suspected of having the disorder can be investigated further with CT, MRI, or renal scintigraphy done before and after administration of an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor, but angiography is still the gold standard. Most children with renovascular disease will need interventional or surgical treatment. Endovascular treatment with or without stenting will cure or reduce high blood pressure in more than half of all affected children. Surgical intervention, if needed, should be delayed preferably until an age when the child is fully grown. Modern treatment provided by a multidisciplinary team of paediatric nephrologists, interventional radiologists, and vascular surgeons offers good long-term treatment results.

Interventional radiology for renovascular hypertension in children

Pediatric renovascular hypertension is an uncommon but important clinical problem. Atherosclerosis is rare in children, who typically suffer from fibromuscular dysplasia, neurofibromatosis type 1, Williams syndrome, or certain other rare conditions. Children with renovascular disease often have involvement of other arteries including the aorta and mesenteric and cerebral vessels. The pediatric interventional radiology service has a vital role in the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of renovascular hypertension. Renal vein renin sampling appears to be more useful in children than in adults, because their arterial disease is more often bilateral and segmental. Diagnostic angiography is still superior to less-invasive methods of imaging the renal arteries, especially the smaller branches. Interventional options include angioplasty, stenting, and ethanol ablation. Angioplasty is almost always technically successful and usually gives a worthwhile clinical improvement. Stenting is only used in children when angioplasty fails. Ethanol embolization may be appropriate in children with focal renin-producing areas that are untreatable by angioplasty.