Evidence-based changes in devices and methods of endovascular recanalization therapy

Standards of anesthesiology practice during neuroradiological interventions

Interventional radiology is a rapidly growing discipline with an expanding variety of indications and techniques in pediatric and adult patients. Accordingly, the number of procedures during which monitoring either under sedation or under general anesthesia is needed is increasing. In order to ensure high-quality care as well as patient comfort and safety, implementation of anes-thesiology practice guidelines in line with institutional radiology practice guidelines is paramount [1]. However, practice guidelines are no substitute for lack of communi-cation between specialties. Interdisciplinary indications within neurosciences call for efficient co-operation among radiology, neurology, neurosurgery, vascular surgery, anesthesiology and intensive care. Anesthesia team and intensive care personnel should be informed early and be involved in coordinated planning so that optimal results can be achieved under minimized risks and pre-arranged complication management.

Application of (68)Ga-PRGD2 PET/CT for αvβ3-integrin imaging of myocardial infarction and stroke

Purpose: Ischemic vascular diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke, have been found to be associated with elevated expression of α_vβ₃-integrin, which provides a promising target for semi-quantitative monitoring of the disease. For the first time, we employed ⁶⁸Ga-S-2-(isothiocyanatobenzyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid-PEG3-E[c(RGDyK)]₂ (⁶⁸Ga-PRGD2) to evaluate the α_vβ₃-integrin-related repair in post-MI and post-stroke patients via positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT).

Methods: With Institutional Review Board approval, 23 MI patients (3 days-2 years post-MI) and 16 stroke patients (3 days-13 years post-stroke) were recruited. After giving informed consent, each patient underwent a cardiac or brain PET/CT scan 30 min after the intravenous injection of ⁶⁸Ga-PRGD2 in a dose of approximately 1.85 MBq (0.05 mCi) per kilogram body weight. Two stroke patients underwent repeat scans three months after the event.

Results: Patchy ⁶⁸Ga-PRGD2 uptake occurred in or around the ischemic regions in 20/23 MI patients and punctate multifocal uptake occurred in 8/16 stroke patients. The peak standardized uptake values (pSUVs) in MI were 1.94 ± 0.48 (mean ± SD; range, 0.62-2.69), significantly higher than those in stroke (mean ± SD, 0.46 ± 0.29; range, 0.15-0.93; P < 0.001). Higher ⁶⁸Ga-PRGD2 uptake was observed in the patients 1-3 weeks after the initial onset of the MI/stroke event. The uptake levels were significantly correlated with the diameter of the diseases (r = 0.748, P = 0.001 for MI and r = 0.835, P = 0.003 for stroke). Smaller or older lesions displayed no uptake.

Conclusions: ⁶⁸Ga-PRGD2 uptake was observed around the ischemic region in both MI and stroke patients, which was correlated with the disease phase and severity. The different image patterns and uptake levels in MI and stroke patients warrant further investigations.