Transcatheter arterial embolization for traumatic mesenteric bleeding: a 15-year, single-center experience

Performance of three predictive scores to avoid delayed diagnosis of significant blunt bowel and mesenteric injury: A 12-year retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Avoiding missed diagnosis and therapeutic delay for significant blunt bowel and mesenteric injuries (sBBMIs) after trauma is still challenging despite the widespread use of computed tomography (CT). Several scoring tools aiming at reducing this risk have been published. The purpose of the present work was to assess the incidence of delayed (>24 hours) diagnosis for sBBMI patients and to compare the predictive performance of three previously published scores using clinical, radiological, and laboratory findings: the Bowel Injury Prediction Score (BIPS) and the scores developed by Raharimanantsoa Score (RS) and by Faget Score (FS).

METHODS

A population-based retrospective observational cohort study was conducted; it included adult trauma patients after road traffic crashes admitted to Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland, between 2008 and 2019 (n = 1,258) with reliable information about sBBMI status (n = 1,164) and for whom all items for score calculation were available (n = 917). The three scores were retrospectively applied on all patients to assess their predictive performance.

RESULTS

The incidence of sBBMI after road traffic crash was 3.3% (38 of 1,164), and in 18% (7 of 38), there was a diagnostic and treatment delay of more than 24 hours. The diagnostic performances of the FS, the RS, and the BIPS to predict sBBMI, expressed as the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, were 95.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 92.7-97.9%), 89.2% (95% CI, 83.2-95.3%), and 87.6% (95% CI, 81.8-93.3%) respectively.

CONCLUSION

The present study confirms that diagnostic delays for sBBMI still occur despite the widespread use of abdominal CT. When CT findings during the initial assessment are negative or equivocal for sBBMI, using a score may be helpful to select patients for early diagnostic laparoscopy. The FS had the best individual diagnostic performance. However, the BIPS or the RS, relying on clinical and laboratory variables, may be helpful to select patients for early diagnostic laparoscopy when there are unspecific CT signs of bowel or mesenteric injury.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level III.

Comparative efficacy of sequential treatment and open abdomen approaches for corrosive abdominal hemorrhage due to inadequate drainage of duodenal leakage: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Intra-abdominal bleeding resulting from inadequate drainage of duodenal leakage (DL) is typically caused by the corrosiveness of duodenal fluid. Open abdomen (OA) treatment addresses both the drainage and bleeding simultaneously. However, a sequential treatment (ST) approach involving hemostasis through transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) followed by percutaneous drainage of source control has emerged as an alternative method. This study aimed to evaluate the prognosis of ST in cases of DL-induced intra-abdominal bleeding.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 151 participants diagnosed with DL-induced intra-abdominal bleeding from January 2004 to December 2010, and January 2013 to December 2021. The ST and OA groups were established based on the treatment method applied. Propensity score-matching (PSM) matched patients in the ST group with those in the OA group.

RESULTS

Among the 151 patients, 61 (40.4%) died within 90 days after the bleeding episode. ST was associated with a lower mortality rate (28.2% vs. 51.3% adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.34; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.17-0.68; P = 0.003) compared to OA. Following PSM, ST remained the only factor associated with reduced mortality (OR = 0.32; 95% CI 0.13-0.75; P = 0.009). Moreover, ST demonstrated a higher rate of initial hemostasis success before (90.1% [64/71] vs. 77.5% [62/80]; adjusted OR = 2.84; 95% CI 1.07-7.60; P = 0.04) and after PSM (94.4% [51/54] vs. 77.8% [42/54], adjusted OR = 3.85; 95% CI 2.15-16.82; P = 0.04). Additionally, ST was associated with a lower incidence of rebleeding within 90 days after the initial bleeding, before (7 vs. 23; adjusted OR 0.41; 95% CI 0.18-0.92; P = 0.03) and after PSM (5 vs. 14; adjusted OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.15-0.93; P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Applying ST involving TAE and subsequent percutaneous drainage might be superior to OA in lowering the mortality in DL-induced intra-abdominal hemorrhage.

Successful minimally invasive management using transcatheter arterial embolization in a hemodynamically stable elderly patient with mesenteric vascular injury in a hybrid emergency room system cin Korea: a case report

Mesenteric injury occurs rarely in cases associated with blunt abdominal trauma. Despite its low incidence, mesenteric injury can lead to fatal outcomes such as hypovolemic shock due to hemoperitoneum or sepsis due to intestinal ischemia, or perforation-related peritonitis. For mesenteric injuries, especially those involving massive bleeding, intestinal ischemia, and perforation, the standard treatment is surgery. However, in the case of operative management, it should be borne in mind that there is a possibility of complications and mortality during and after surgery. The usefulness of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is well known in solid organs but is controversial for mesenteric injury. We present a 75-year-old man with mesenteric injury due to blunt abdominal trauma. Initial abdominal computed tomography showed no hemoperitoneum, but a mesenteric contusion and pseudoaneurysm with a diameter of 17 mm were observed near the origin of the superior mesenteric artery. Since there were no findings requiring emergency surgery such as free air or intestinal ischemia, it was decided to perform nonoperative management with TAE using microcoils in hybrid emergency room system. TAE was performed successfully, and there were no complications such as bleeding, bowel ischemia, or delayed bowel perforation. He was discharged on the 23rd day after admission with percutaneous catheter drainage for drainage of mesenteric hematoma. The authors believe that treatment with TAE for highly selected elderly patients with mesenteric injuries has the positive aspect of minimally invasive management, considering the burden of general anesthesia and the various avoidable intraoperative and postoperative complications.

H12-(ADP)-liposomes for hemorrhagic shock in thrombocytopenia: Mesenteric artery injury model in rabbits

BACKGROUND

Damage control resuscitation improves patient outcomes after severe hemorrhage and coagulopathy. However, effective hemostasis methods for these critical situations are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the hemostatic efficacy of fibrinogen γ-chain (HHLGGAKQAGDV, H12)-coated, adenosine-diphosphate (ADP)-encapsulated liposomes (H12-[ADP]-liposomes) in thrombocytopenic rabbits with hemorrhagic shock.

METHODS

Acute thrombocytopenia (80%) was induced in rabbits that also received mesenteric vessel injury, leading to hemorrhagic shock. Five minutes after injury, subjects received intravenous bolus injection with H12-(ADP)-liposomes (20 mg/kg), followed by isovolemic transfusion with stored red blood cells (RBCs)/platelet poor plasma (PPP) (RBC:PPP = 1:1 [vol/vol]), or lactated Ringer solution every 5 min to compensate blood loss. One group received H12-(phosphate buffered saline [PBS]) liposomes followed by RBC/PPP. Additional groups were received isovolemic transfusion with RBC/platelet rich plasma (PRP) (RBC:PRP = 1:1 [vol/vol]), RBC/PPP, PPP alone, or lactated Ringer solution.

RESULTS

Treatment with H12-(ADP)-liposomes followed by RBC/PPP transfusion and RBC/PRP transfusion effectively stopped bleeding in all thrombocytopenic rabbits. In contrast, three of 10 rabbits treated with RBC/PPP failed hemostasis, and no rabbits receiving lactated Ringer solution stopped bleeding or survived. Twenty-four hours after hemorrhage, 80% of rabbits receiving H12-(ADP)-liposome followed by RBC/PPP transfusion survived and 70% of rabbits receiving RBC/PRP transfusion also survived, although RBC/PPP-transfused rabbits showed 40% survival. Rabbits receiving H12-(ADP)-liposomes followed by lactated Ringer solution showed a transient hemostatic potential but failed to survive. H12-(PBS)-liposomes showed no beneficial effect on hemostasis. Neither the PPP group nor the lactated Ringer group survived.

CONCLUSION

H12-(ADP)-liposome treatment followed by RBC/PPP may be effective in lethal hemorrhage after mesenteric vessel injury in coagulopathic rabbits.

Safety and efficacy of emergency transarterial embolization for mesenteric bleeding

Background

Patients with spontaneous or traumatic active mesenteric bleeding cannot be treated endoscopically. Transarterial embolization can serve as a potential alternative to emergency surgery. Literature on transarterial embolization for mesenteric bleeding remains very scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of transarterial embolization for mesenteric bleeding. We reviewed all consecutive patients admitted for mesenteric bleeding to the interventional radiology department, in a tertiary center, between January 2010 and March 2021. Mesenteric bleeding was defined as mesenteric hematoma and contrast extravasation and/or pseudoaneurysm visible on pre-operative CT scan. We evaluated technical success, clinical success, and complications.

Results

Among the 17 patients admitted to the interventional department for mesenteric bleeding, 15 presented with active mesenteric bleeding requiring transarterial embolization with five patients with hemodynamic instability. Mean age was 67 ± 14 years, including 12 (70.6%) males. Technical success was achieved in 14/15 (93.3%) patients. One patient with technical failure was treated by percutaneous embolization with NBCA-Lipiodol mixture. Three patients (20%) had early rebleeding: two were treated by successful repeat embolization and one by surgery. One patient (6.7%) had early death within 30 days and two patients (13.3%) had late death after 30 days. Mean length of hospitalization was 12.8 ± 7 days. There were no transarterial embolization-related ischemic complications.

Conclusion

Transarterial embolization is a safe and effective technique for treating mesenteric bleeding even in patients with hemodynamic instability. Transarterial embolization doesn’t close the door to surgery and could be proposed as first intention in case of mesenteric bleeding.

The Role of Interventional Radiology in Treatment of Patients with Acute Trauma: A Pictorial Essay

Acute trauma is a common cause of mortality in individuals aged < 40 years. As organ preservation has become important in treating trauma patients, the treatment is shifting from surgical management to non-operative management. A multidisciplinary team approach, including interventional radiology (IR), is essential for the optimal management of trauma patients, as IR plays an important role in injury evaluation and management. IR also contributes significantly to achieving the best clinical outcomes in critically ill trauma patients. This pictorial essay aims to present and summarize various interventional treatments in trauma patients requiring critical care.

Pancreaticoduodenal arterial hemorrhage following blunt abdominal trauma treated with transcatheter arterial embolization: Two case reports

RATIONALE

Although surgery has been the standard treatment for pancreaticoduodenal trauma because of the complex anatomical relation of the affect organs, transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) has recently been introduced as a safe and effective treatment. However, TAE for pancreaticoduodenal arterial hemorrhage (PDAH) can be challenging because it is difficult to localize the involved artery and to embolize the bleeding completely due to the abundant collateral channels of the pancreaticoduodenal artery (PDA).

PATIENT CONCERNS

Herein, we report 2 cases of PDAH that occurred after falling down in case 1 and a pedestrian traffic accident in case 2.

DIAGNOSES

Multidetector computed tomography scan revealed massive retroperitoneal hematoma with active extravasation of contrast media from the PDA without any duodenal perforation or advanced pancreatic injury in both patients.

INTERVENTIONS

All patients were successfully treated using only TAE with a combination of microcoils and n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) in case 1, and only NBCA in case 2.

OUTCOMES

There was no complication such as duodenal ischemia or pancreatitis. Laparotomy was not needed after TAE.

LESSONS

In selective PDAH cases, TAE may be a reasonable alternative to emergency laparotomy. It is expected that a careful and repetitive approach, based on complete angiography and embolization with a permanent liquid embolic agent such as NBCA could increase the success rate of TAE.

Transcatheter arterial embolization in abdominal blunt trauma with active mesenteric bleeding: case series and review of literature

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) in treating traumatic mesenteric injuries with active bleeding, to report the outcome in a case series, and to compare the results with the existing data.

METHODS

All consecutive patients with active mesenteric bleeding due to blunt abdominal trauma referred to a level-one Trauma Center and treated by TAE were included; the related demographic and medical data were retrospectively reported. A literature review was conducted; all reported cases were collected and analysed together with our case series. A univariate analysis of risk factors for TAE failure, bowel necrosis, complication and length of stay was performed.

RESULTS

Four consecutive patients were included. Technical success was 100%. One patient developed colon ischemia after the procedure and underwent surgical treatment; another presented transient mild renal failure and late respiratory failure. No 30-day mortality was reported. These results are consistent with those reported in literature. The analysis of our cases together with case collected from literature resulted in a case series of 25 patients. Univariate analysis showed colon as site of bleeding as a significant risk factor for bowel necrosis and older age as a significant risk factor for longer length of stay. TAE failure was not significantly associated neither with a higher complication rate nor with a higher length of stay.

CONCLUSION

TAE is a safe and effective procedure to control mesenteric bleeding, thus should be considered, in selected cases and in appropriate setting, as an alternative to emergency surgery.

Transcatheter arterial embolization for initial hemostasis in a hemodynamically unstable patient with mesenteric hemorrhage: A case report

Surgical treatment of mesenteric injuries is necessary to control hemorrhage, manage bowel injuries, and evaluate bowel perfusion. It has recently been suggested that some patients can be managed with transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for initial hemostasis. We present a hemodynamically unstable patient who was initially managed by TAE for traumatic mesenteric hemorrhage. A 60-year-old man was injured in a motor vehicle accident and transported to our facility. On arrival, the patient was hemodynamically stable, and had abdominal pain. Physical examination revealed a seatbelt sign on the lower abdomen. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan showed intra-abdominal hemorrhage, mesenteric hematoma, and a giant-pseudoaneurysm, but no intra-abdominal free air or changes in the appearance of the bowel wall. After the CT scan, his vital signs deteriorated and surgical intervention was considered, but TAE was performed to control the hemorrhage. After TAE, the patient was hemodynamically stable and had no abdominal tenderness. A follow-up CT scan was performed 2 days later which showed partial necrosis of the transverse colon and some free air. Resection of the injured transverse colon with primary anastomosis was performed. The patient improved and was discharged 35 days after injury. TAE can be effective as the initial hemostatic procedure in patients with traumatic mesenteric hemorrhage.

Diagnosis and Management of Rare Case of Mesenteric Hematoma Rupture after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR): A Case Report and Review of the Literature

We present a case of a 78-year-old female with history of diastolic heart failure and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation on apixaban presenting with worsening shortness of breath. She underwent transesophageal echocardiogram showing severe aortic stenosis with a valve area of 0.8 cm2. Coronary angiography did not reveal significant coronary artery disease. CT of chest, abdomen, and pelvis did not show any evidence of hematoma or dissection. Patient was scheduled for transfemoral TAVR. Patient's apixaban was discontinued prior to the procedure. She received heparin during the procedure. She successfully underwent left transfemoral aortic valve replacement. Shortly after the procedure, she complained of abdominal pain and became hypotensive. Blood pressure was 76/44 mm of Hg (MAP 58). Hemoglobin dropped to 8.1 g/dl (baseline 13). Stat CT abdomen and pelvis showed a large volume of hemorrhage in the peritoneal cavity. CTA of abdomen showed no evidence of aortic aneurysm or dissection but active extravasation below the inferior aspect of the spleen. Catheterization of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) identified ileal branch of SMA as the source of bleeding. Embolization using gel foam slurry followed by a coil insertion was performed. Repeat angiogram demonstrated continued extravasation through arcade collaterals. A rapid exploration of the abdominal cavity revealed ruptured mesenteric hematoma. Evacuation of hematoma was performed. Portion of small ileum and bleeding mesenteric branch vessel was resected. Her condition stabilized with no postoperative bleeding and she was discharged on warfarin postoperatively. Use of antithrombotic therapy increases risk of bleeding in TAVR patients. Mesenteric hematoma rupture if not identified can be life-threatening. We believe that this is the first reported case of mesenteric hematoma rupture after a TAVR procedure.

Avoiding delayed diagnosis of significant blunt bowel and mesenteric injuries: Can a scoring tool make the difference? A 7-year retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Significant blunt bowel and mesenteric injuries (sBBMI) are frequently missed despite the widespread use of computed tomography (CT). Early treatment improves the outcome related to these injuries. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of sBBMI, the incidence of delayed diagnosis and to test the performance of the Bowel Injury Prediction Score (BIPS), determined by the white blood cell (WBC) count, presence or absence of abdominal tenderness and CT grade of mesenteric injury.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Single-centre, registry-based retrospective cohort study, screening all consecutive trauma patients admitted to Lausanne University Hospital Trauma Centre from 2008 to 2015 after a road traffic accident. All patients with reliable information about the presence or absence of sBBMI who underwent abdominal CT and for whom calculation of the BIPS was possible were included for analysis. The incidence of delayed (>24h after admission) diagnosis in the patient group with sBBMI was determined and the diagnostic performance of the BIPS for sBBMI was assessed.

RESULTS

For analysis, 766 patients with reliable information about the presence or absence of sBBMI were included. The prevalence of sBBMI was 3.1% (24/766). In 24% (5/21) of stable trauma patients undergoing CT, a diagnostic delay of more than 24h occurred. Abdominal tenderness (p<0.0001) and CT grade ≥4 (p<0.0001) were associated with sBBMI, whereas CT grade 4 alone (p=0.93) and WBC count ≥17G/l (p=0.30) were not. A BIPS ≥2 had a sensitivity of 89% (95% CI, 67-99), specificity of 89% (95% CI, 86-91), positive likelihood ratio of 8 (95% CI, 6.1-10), negative likelihood ratio of 0.12 (95% CI, 0.03-0.44), positive predictive value (PPV) of 19% (95% CI, 15-24) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 99.7% (95% CI, 98.7-99.9). CT alone identified 79% (15/19) and the BIPS 89% (17/19) of patients with sBBMI (p=0.66).

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnostic delays in patients with sBBMI are common (24%), despite the routine use of abdominal CT. Application of the BIPS on the present cohort would have led to a high number of non-therapeutic abdominal explorations without identifying significantly more sBBMI early than CT alone.

Angiographic management of the left hepatic artery disruption following motor vehicle accident

Trauma is a leading cause of death in younger individuals. Blunt abdominal trauma has the potential to mask severe injuries—there can be serious organ or vascular injury underneath intact skin. Increasingly, there is a trend toward nonoperative management of blunt abdominal trauma. We report the case of a left hepatic artery transection managed in the interventional radiology suite.

“Beyond saving lives”: Current perspectives of interventional radiology in trauma

Interventional radiology (IR) has become an integral part in the management of traumatic injuries. There is an ever-increasing role of IR in traumatic injuries of solid abdominal organs, pelvic and peripheral arteries to control active bleeding by therapeutic embolization or vascular reconstruction using stent grafts. Traditionally, these endovascular treatments have been offered to hemodynamically stable patients. However, in recent times endovascular approach has become preferable to surgery even in hemodynamically unstable patients with injury of surgically difficult-to-access sites. With shifting trends towards non operative management coupled with availability of the current state-of-the-art equipments, hardware and technical expertise, IR has gained an impeccable role in trauma management. However, due to lack of awareness and widespread acceptance, IR continues to remain an ocean of unexplored potentialities.