Citations

Remimazolam is an ultrashort acting intravenous sedative-hypnotic approved for procedural sedation. We report a series of 8 cases of radiographically placed gastrostomy tubes using remimazolam as the sole anesthetic agent. Interventional radiology (IR) gastrostomy tube placement entails anesthetizing often complex patients in a nonoperating room environment. All 8 patients reported here underwent successful gastrostomy tube placement without the need for conversion to general anesthesia. Remimazolam is a feasible option to sedate patients for gastrostomy tube placement in the IR suite.

Purpose: MRI-guided transurethral ultrasound ablation (TULSA) uses real-time MR thermometry feedback to target prostate disease. We systematically review the literature to synthesize efficacy, functional, and safety outcomes and assess the influence of planned ablation fraction on outcome. Materials and Methods: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to June 2021 following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies reporting at least one efficacy, functional, or safety outcome after a single TULSA treatment were included. The relationship of freedom from salvage treatment and potency preservation with planned ablation volume was modeled. Results: Two hundred twenty-four patients were treated in 10 studies with up to a 5-year follow-up, mainly for primary localized prostate cancer (PCa) plus smaller cohorts with recurrent PCa, and locally advanced PCa (LAPC). The prostate-specific antigen decline from baseline up to 2 years, including focal to whole-gland ablation plans, was 54% to 97%. The rate of salvage treatment after one TULSA treatment for primary PCa was 7% to 17%. Continence and potency preservation were from 92% to 100% and from 75% to 98%. Urinary symptoms were stable in men with good voiding function at baseline, and 85% of men with concurrent PCa and lower urinary tract symptoms met the criteria for improvement. Symptom relief in a small cohort of men with LAPC was observed. Grade III adverse events were incurred by 13/224 men (6%), with no rectal injury/fistula or Grade IV complication. The planned ablation fraction was linearly related to salvage-free survival. The relationship between potency preservation and planned ablation fraction followed a sigmoid curve. Conclusions: As an alternative to conventional treatments, TULSA is safe and effective for prostate tissue ablation in men with primary PCa. There is also evidence that TULSA delivers effective relief of urinary symptoms while treating PCa in a single, low-morbidity procedure. The likelihood of freedom from additional treatment or potency preservation is associated with the planned ablation fraction.

Retrieval of tip-embedded inferior vena cava filters using endobronchial forceps is a well-described technique. The tip of dorsally tilted filters may be in proximity to the right renal artery, increasing the risk of arterial injury during retrieval. We present one case that illustrates renal artery injury requiring emergent stent graft repair. The three subsequent cases illustrate techniques that avoid renal artery injury using a femoral and jugular approach with the assistance of an arterial fiducial wire. Renal artery injury is a potential complication during retrieval of filters using endobronchial forceps that can be prevented with careful planning.

AbstractEfforts to improve mortality associated with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) have shown minimal gains despite advances in surgical technique, systemic treatments, and radiation therapy. Locoregional therapy with ablation has not been routinely adopted due to the high risk of complications associated with thermal destruction of the pancreas. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is an emerging, nonthermal, ablative technology that has demonstrated the ability to generate controlled ablation of LAPC while preserving pancreatic parenchymal integrity. IRE may be performed percutaneously or via laparotomy and will commonly involve multidisciplinary treatment teams. This article will describe the technical aspects of how multidisciplinary IRE is performed during laparotomy at a single tertiary care institution.