Cerebral perfusion in patients with unilateral internal carotid artery occlusion by dual post-labeling delays arterial spin labeling imaging

BACKGROUND Global and regional cerebral blood flow(CBF)changes in patients with unilateral internal carotid artery occlusion(ICAO)are unclear when the dual post-labeling delays(PLD)arterial spin labeling(ASL)magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)technique is used.Manual delineation of regions of interest for CBF measurement is time-consuming and laborious.AIM To assess global and regional CBF changes in patients with unilateral ICAO with the ASL-MRI perfusion technique.METHODS Twenty hospitalized patients with ICAO and sex-and age-matched controls were included in the study.Regional CBF was measured by Dr.Brain's ASL software.The present study evaluated differences in global,middle cerebral artery(MCA)territory,anterior cerebral artery territory,and Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score(ASPECTS)regions(including the caudate nucleus,lentiform nucleus,insula ribbon,internal capsule,and M1-M6)and brain lobes(including frontal,parietal,temporal,and insular lobes)between ICAO patients and controls at PLD 1.5 s and PLD 2.5 s.RESULTS When comparing CBF between ICAO patients and controls,the global CBF in ICAO patients was lower at both PLD 1.5 s and PLD 2.5 s;the CBF on the occluded side was lower in 15 brain regions at PLD 1.5 s,and it was lower in 9 brain regions at PLD 2.5 s;the CBF in the contralateral hemisphere was lower in the caudate nucleus and internal capsule at PLD 1.5 s and in M6 at PLD 2.5 s.The global CBF in ICAO patients was lower at PLD 1.5 s than at PLD 2.5 s.The ipsilateral CBF at PLD 1.5 s was lower than that at PLD 2.5 s in 15 regions,whereas the contralateral CBF was lower at PLD 1.5 s than at PLD 2.5 s in 12 regions.The ipsilateral CBF was lower than the contralateral CBF in 15 regions at PLD 1.5 s,and in M6 at PLD 2.5 s.CONCLUSION Unilateral ICAO results in hypoperfusion in the global and MCA territories,especially in the ASPECTS area.Dual PLD settings prove more suitable for accurate CBF quantification in ICAO.

Relationship between ultrasound parameters of the umbilical and middle cerebral arteries and intrauterine fetal distress

BACKGROUND By comprehensively analyzing the blood flow parameters of the umbilical and middle cerebral arteries,doctors can more accurately identify fetal intrauterine distress,as well as assess its severity,so that timely interventions can be implemented to safeguard the health and safety of the fetus.AIM To identify the relationship between ultrasound parameters of the umbilical and middle cerebral arteries and intrauterine distress.METHODS Clinical data of pregnant women admitted between January 2021 and January 2023 were collected and divided into the observation and control groups(n=50 each),according to the presence or absence of intrauterine distress.The ultrasound hemodynamic parameters of the uterine artery(UtA),fetal middle cerebral artery(MCA),and umbilical artery(UmA)were compared with neonatal outcomes and occurrence of intrauterine distress in the two groups.RESULTS Comparison of ultrasonic hemodynamic parameters,resistance index(RI),pulsatility index(PI),and systolic maximal blood flow velocity of UmA compared to diastolic blood flow velocity(S/D),revealed higher values of fetal MCA,PI,and S/D of UmA in pregnant women with UtA compared to controls(P<0.05),while there was no difference between the two groups in terms of RI(P<0.05)The incidence of a neonatal Apgar score of 8-10 points was lower in the observation group(66.7%)than in the control group(90.0%),and neonatal weight(2675.5±27.6 g)was lower than in the control group(3117.5±31.2 g).Further,cesarean section rate was higher in the observation group(70.0%)than in the control group(11.7%),and preterm labor rate was higher in the observation group(40.0%)than in the control group(10.0%).The incidence of fetal distress,neonatal growth restriction and neonatal asphyxia were also higher in the observation group(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION Fetal MCA,UmA,and maternal UtA hemodynamic abnormalities all develop in pregnant women with intrauterine distress during late pregnancy,which suggests that clinical attention should be paid to them,and monitoring should be strengthened to provide guidance for clinical intervention.

Case Report: Surgical Correction of Transposition of the Great Arteries with Aortopulmonary Window

Introduction:Transposition of the great arteries(TGA)with aortopulmonary window is a rare type of congenital heart disease with limited experience.We reported a neonate aged 25 days receiving the arterial switch operation and assisted with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.Conclusion:TGA with aortopulmonary window can be safely correctly with the arterial switch operation.

High Prevalence of Anatomical Variations and Anomalies of the Coronary Arteries Detected by CT Angiography in Symptomatic Patients

Objective:Coronary artery anatomical variations and anomalies are an important topic due to their potential clinical manifestations.This study aims to investigate the prevalence of coronary artery anatomical variations and anomalies in symptomatic patients with coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA).Methods:This is a retrospective study that included all symptomatic patients who had CCTA in a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia during a period of seven years.Results:The total number of included patients was 507(60%males)with a mean age of 57.4 years.Approximately 41%had luminal stenoses,averaging 49.7%.The total num-ber of patients with coronary anatomical variations(CAV)and coronary artery anomalies(CAA)was 217(43%).CAV prevalence was 26%,which included 14%non-right coronary dominance,5%short left main coronary artery(LMCA),and 7%division variations(trifurcation and quadrifurcarion)of the LMCA.The prevalence of CAA was 29%,which included 5%origin anomalies,22%myocardial bridge,and 2%course anomalies.Conclusions:A high prevalence of coronary artery anatomic variations and anomalies in symptomatic patients is reported in this study.Systematic reviews,meta-analyses,reporting guidelines,and unified definitions and classifications of cor-onary variations and anomalies are lacking in the literature,presenting potential opportunities for future research and publications.

A 63-Year-Old Male with D-Transposition of the Great Arteries Who Had an Early Form of the Arterial Switch Operation

We describe a 63-year-old male who appears to have undergone an early form of the arterial switch operation for D-transposition of the great arteries performed in the mid-1960s.We review the clinical and imaging data that support our conclusion.He had a diagnostic cardiac catheterization which demonstrated severe pulmonary hypertension responsive to epoprostenol and oxygen.Our case may represent one example of the experimental surgical work done prior to Dr.Adibe Jatene’s description of thefirst successful arterial switch performed in 1975.

Simultaneous Compression of the Celiac Trunk, Superior Mesenteric Artery, and Renal Arteries by the Median Arcuate Ligament: About One Case

Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS), is a rare abdominal vascular compression syndrome caused by the compression of the proximal celiac trunk by the median arcuate ligament. According to many authors, a low insertion of the diaphragmatic crura or an abnormally high origin of the celiac trunk from the aorta can cause compression of the celiac artery. Usually, patients with MALS are asymptomatic. Computed tomography (CT) angiography of the abdomen is the main imaging modality to confirm the diagnosis. The coexistence of celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery compression by the median arcuate ligament is rarely described in the literature. To our knowledge, until now, a simultaneous combination of three abdominal vascular compressions by the median arcuate ligament has never been described. From this case, we report a simultaneous compression of the celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, and renal arteries by the median arcuate ligament.

Imaging characteristics and treatment strategies for carotid artery occlusion caused by skull base fracture:Three case reports

BACKGROUND Traumatic internal carotid artery(ICA)occlusion is a rare complication of skull base fractures,characterized by high mortality and disability rates,and poor prognosis.Therefore,timely discovery and correct management are crucial for saving the lives of such patients and improving their prognosis.This article retrospectively analyzed the imaging and clinical data of three patients,to explore the imaging characteristics and treatment strategies for carotid artery occlusion,combined with severe skull base fractures.CASE SUMMARY This case included three patients,all male,aged 21,63,and 16 years.They underwent plain film skull computed tomography(CT)examination at the onset of their illnesses,which revealed fractures at the bases of their skulls.Ultimately,these cases were definitively diagnosed through CT angiography(CTA)examinations.The first patient did not receive surgical treatment,only anticoagulation therapy,and recovered smoothly with no residual limb dysfunction(Case 1).The other two patients both developed intracranial hypertension and underwent decompressive craniectomy.One of these patients had high intracranial pressure and significant brain swelling postoperatively,leading the family to choose to take him home(Case 2).The other patient also underwent decompressive craniectomy and recovered well postoperatively with only mild limb motor dysfunction(Case 3).We retrieved literature from PubMed on skull base fractures causing ICA occlusion to determine the imaging characteristics and treatment strategies for this type of disease.CONCLUSION For patients with cranial trauma combined with skull base fractures,it is essential to complete a CTA examination as soon as possible,to screen for blunt cerebrovascular injury.

Association between Fundus Atherosclerosis and Carotid Arterial Atherosclerosis

Objective: To investigate the correlation between fundus atherosclerosis and carotid arterial atherosclerosis. Methods: A total of 516 people undergoing physical examination in Deyang People’s Hospital between June 2020 and December 2022 were randomly selected. Fundus atherosclerosis and carotid arterial atherosclerosis were evaluated by fundus photography and carotid artery ultrasonography, respectively. Results: Among the 516 physical examination patients, 198 (38.4%) had normal fundus examination, and 318 (61.6%) had fundus arteriosclerosis. Among them, 166 cases were of grade I (32.2%), 86 cases were of grade II (16.7%), and 66 cases were of grade III (12.8%). There were 286 cases (55.4%) without carotid atherosclerosis, 201 cases (38.9%) with carotid atherosclerotic plaque, and 33 cases (6.4%) with carotid stenosis. Fundus arteriosclerosis is independently associated with carotid artery intima-media thickness, vulnerable plaques, plaque scores, and carotid artery stenosis (P Conclusion: In summary, there is a close relationship between carotid artery disease and the degree of arteriosclerosis in the eyeground. Fundus photography is a simple, non-invasive, and easily acceptable method of inspection. The results obtained from it are useful in determining the severity of carotid atherosclerosis and guiding early detection and intervention in clinical cases. This can help reduce the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Expansive arterial remodeling of carotid arteries in symptomatic ischemic patients

Purpose: The present study aimed to assess the associations of expansive remodeling of carotid arteries with ischemic symptoms and the degree of stenosis. Materials and Methods: A total of 41 symptomatic patients with vulnerable plaques and 25 asymptomatic individuals with stable plaques were included. All patients underwent 3.0T high-resolution MRI of the carotid artery(CA) for measuring the expansive remodeling(ER) ratio and assessing plaque stability. The ER ratio was calculated by dividing the maximum distance between the lumen and the outer border of the plaque in the internal CA by the lumen diameter within 1 centimeter of the plaque at the distal ipsilateral internal CA. ER ratios were compared between the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. The 41 symptomatic patients were further divided into 4 groups according to stenosis rate(CA stenosis <50%, 50%–74%, 75–89%, and > 90%), and the correlation between the ER ratio and the rate of stenosis was evaluated. Results: There was a significant difference in ER ratio between the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups(p<0.001). When symptomatic patients were divided into 4 subgroups based on degree of stenosis, ER ratios among groups showed statistically significant differences(p=0.014). Conclusion: There were significant associations of the ER ratio with ischemic symptoms. Furthermore, the ER ratio in symptomatic patients continued to increase with stenosis severity. These findings suggested that the ER ratio might be a practical marker of plaque vulnerability in the CA and further prospective studies for asymptomatic patients are warranted.

Ultrafast pulse wave velocity technique for evaluating changes of carotid artery elasticity in Hashimoto thyroiditis patients with euthyroidism

Objective To explore the value of ultrafast pulse wave velocity(UFPWV)technique for evaluating changes of carotid artery elasticity in Hashimoto thyroiditis(HT)patients with euthyroidism.Methods Conventional ultrasound and UFPWV for carotid artery were prospectively performed in 91 HT patients with euthyroidism(HT group)and 81 healthy subjects(control group).Clinical data and ultrasonic parameters were compared between groups.Spearman correlation analysis was performed to observe the correlations of carotid pulse wave velocity in end of systole(PWV-ES)with clinical indexes and other ultrasonic parameters in HT group.Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis was used to screen the independent impact factors of increased carotid PWV-ES in HT group.Results Significant differences of thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPOAb),thyroglobulin antibody(TgAb),total cholesterol(TC),low density lipoprotein and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)were found between groups(all P<0.05).The carotid PWV-ES in HT group was significantly higher than that in control group(P<0.05),while no significant difference of carotid artery intima-media thickness(CIMT)nor carotid pulse wave velocity in beginning of systole(PWV-BS)was found between groups(both P>0.05).Carotid PWV-ES in HT group was positively correlated with patients'age,body mass index,TPOAb,TC,triglyceride,NLR and CIMT(r=0.217—0.707,all P<0.05).Patients'age,TPOAb and NLR were all independent impact factors of increased carotid PWV-ES in HT patients with euthyroidism(all P<0.05).Conclusion UFPWV technique could be used to evaluate changes of carotid artery elasticity in HT patients with euthyroidism,among which PWV-ES was relatively sensitive.

Ultrasound Assessraent of Intima-media Thickness and Diameter of Carotid Arteries in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis or Renal Transplantation

Renal transplant （RT） recipients have a high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. However, the effects of renal transplantation on the development of arteriosclerosis have been controversial. The carotid intima-media thickness （CIMT） and diameter （CD） are important indicators of vascular remodeling and arteriosclerosis. In this study, 31 patients with hemodialysis （HD）, 31 RT recipients and 84 age- and gender-matched control subjects were enrolled. Their CIMT and CD were measured by ultrasonic radiofrequency tracking, and the linear regression models and Z test were used to identify the progression of arteriosclerosis and the risk factors. Compared with HD group, RT group had significantly lower CIMT and CD. CIMT was found to be associated with age, body weight, resistance index and diastolic velocity, while CD was associated significantly with age, body weight, pulsatility index, end diastolic velocity and diastolic blood pressure （DBP）, respectively. The correlation curves between CIMT and age showed the slopes of curves were decreased successively in control, RT and HD groups, and the curves between CD and age showed the slopes were decreased in order of RT 〉 control 〉 HD groups. It was concluded that CIMT and CD were significantly correlated with age in RT and moderately with age in HD patients. RT could reduce the progress of arteriosclerosis in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Imaging characteristics and treatment strategies for carotid artery occlusion caused by skull base fracture

The internal carotid artery occlusion caused by head and neck trauma,also known as traumatic intracranial artery occlusion,is relatively rare clinically.Traumatic skull base fracture is a common complication of traumatic brain injury.Traumatic skull base fracture is one of the causes of traumatic internal carotid artery occlusion.If not detected early and treated in time,the prognosis of patients is poor.This editorial makes a relevant analysis of this disease.

Early diagnostic value of carotid artery ultrasound parameters combined with epicardial adipose layer thickness in coronary heart disease

BACKGROUND Coronary heart disease is associated with coronary atherosclerosis indicated by carotid intima-media thickness(CIMT)thickening and altered vascular elasticity.The epicardial adipose layer can secrete proinflammatory factors that promote the formation of coronary atherosclerosis.Thus,the epicardial fat layer thickness(EAT)may also predict coronary heart disease.AIM To determine the role of common carotid artery ultrasound parameters and EAT in the early diagnosis of coronary artery disease.METHODS Based on coronary angiography,patients with newly suspected coronary heart disease were divided into case(n=107)and control(n=41)groups.The carotid ultrasound parameters,including vascular stiffness(β),elastic coefficient(EP),pulse wave conduction velocity(PWV-β),CIMT,and EAT were compared between the case and control groups and among patients with different lesion numbers in the case group.Pearson correlation was used to evaluate the early diagnostic value of EAT,common carotid artery elasticity,and CIMT for coronary heart disease.RESULTS EP,β,PWV-β,CIMT,and EAT were significantly higher in the case group compared with the levels in the control group(all P<0.001).In the case group,lesions were detected in one vessel in 34 patients,two vessels in 38 patients,and three vessels in 35 patients.Within the case group,β,EP,PWV-β,CIMT,and EAT levels significantly increased with an increased number of lesions(all P<0.001).EAT positively correlated withβ,EP,PWV-β,and CIMT(all P<0.01).The area under the curve for diagnosing coronary heart disease using EAT combined with CIMT and carotid elasticity was 0.893,and the sensitivity and specificity were 0.890 and 0.837.CONCLUSION EAT correlated well with changes in carotid artery elasticity and CIMT in patients with coronary heart disease.The combination of EAT,carotid artery elasticity,and CIMT facilitates the early diagnosis of coronary heart disease.

Carotid versus axillary artery cannulation for descending aorta remodeling in type A acute aortic dissection

BACKGROUND Arterial cannulation sites for the surgical repair of type A aortic dissection(AAD)have evolved from right axillary artery(AA)cannulation to bilateral carotid artery(CA)based of femoral artery(FA)cannulation.Postoperative descending aorta remodeling is closely linked to the false lumen area ratio(FLAR),defined as false lumen area/aortic area,as well as to the incidence of renal replacement therapy(RRT).AIM To investigate the effect of the updated arterial cannulation strategy on descending aortic remodeling.METHODS A total of 443 AAD patients who received FA combined cannulation between March 2015 and March 2023 were included in the study.Of these,209 received right AA cannulation and 234 received bilateral CA cannulation.The primary outcome was the change in FLAR,as calculated from computed tomography angiography in three segments of the descending aorta:Thoracic(S1),upper abdominal(S2),and lower abdominal(S3).Secondary outcomes were the incidence of RRT and the serum inflammation response,as observed by the levels of high sensitivity C reaction protein(hs-CRP)and Interleukin-6(IL-6).RESULTS The postoperative/preoperative ratio of FLAR in S2 and S3 was higher in the AA group compared to the CA group(S2:0.80±0.08 vs 0.75±0.07,P<0.001;S3:0.57±0.12 vs 0.50±0.12,P<0.001,respectively).The AA group also had a significantly higher incidence of RRT(19.1%vs 8.5%,P=0.001;odds ratio:2.533,95%CI:1.427-4.493)and higher levels of inflammation cytokines 24 h after the procedure[hr-CRP:117±17 vs 104±15 mg/L;IL-6:129(103,166)vs 83(69,101)pg/mL;both P<0.001]compared to the CA group.CONCLUSION The CA cannulation strategy was associated with better abdominal aorta remodeling after AAD repair compared to AA cannulation,as observed by a greater change in FLAR and lower incidence of RRT.

Accessory renal arteries-a source of hypertension:A case report

BACKGROUND Secondary hypertension is a relatively rare condition most commonly caused by renovascular disease due to atherosclerotic vascular disease or fibromuscular dysplasia.Although accessory renal arteries are frequent,to date,only six cases of secondary hypertension determined by their existence have been reported.CASE SUMMARY We describe a case of a 39-year-old female who came to the emergency department with an urgent hypertensive crisis and hypertensive encephalopathy.Despite normal renal arteries,the computed tomography angiography revealed an inferior polar artery with 50%stenosis of its diameter.Conservative treatment with amlodipine,indapamide and perindopril was adopted,leading to blood pressure control within one month.CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge,there are controversies regarding accessory renal arteries as a potential etiology for secondary hypertension,but the seven similar cases already described,along with the current case,could reinforce the necessity of more studies concerning this subject.

An Anatomical and Radiological Study of Origins of the Arteries Forming the Celiac Trunk: Clinical and Embryological Implications

The blood supply to the most of abdominal organs is provided by the branches of CT. The SMA supply caecum, ascends colon, all of the small bowels except the upper part of duodenum. Knowledge of variable anatomy of celiac axis and SMA may be useful in planning and executing radiological interventions such as celiacography and chemoembolization of hepatic and pancreatic tumors. In this study, the uncommon or low percentage cases of CT and SMA are presented in the light of clinical and embryological information. The celiac axises of a total of 30 adult corpses were examined. Dissections of abdominal region were performed in detail according to Cunningham’s manual. Angiographic images of 100 consecutive adult patients who underwent celiac MDCT angiography were evaluated. During autopsies, an incomplete celiac trunk or bifurcation of celiac trunk associated with the hepatomesenteric and gastrosplenic trunks (0.7%) and a celiacomesenteric trunk associated with high origin superior mesenteric artery and gastrosplenic trunk were detected (0.7%). During MDCT angiography, a case of total absence of celiac trunk associated with a hepatosplenomesenteric trunk (0.7%) and also a case of total absence of celiac trunk alone were observed (0.7%). The persistence or unusual development of ventral splanchnic arteries (VSAs) or ventral longitudinal anastomosis may result in variations or the unusual trunks related to celiac axis and SMA. The anomalous trunks of the CT may be result of either the persistence of some parts of the VSAs or ventral longitudinal anastomose that normally disappear or disappearance of parts that normally persist. The prevalence of unusual trunks of celiac axis and SMA in this study is quite low in literature. These abnormal vessels pose problems for surgeons and radiologists. Such vascular anomalies may cause clinical complications following surgical and radiological procedures such as resection of tumor of the pancreatic head, lymphadenectomy, coeliacography, aortic replacement with reimplantation of the trunk and coembolization of pancreatic and liver tumors.

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy with anti-angiogenesis agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAIC)has been proven to be an ideal choice for treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(uHCC).HAIC-based treatment showed great potential for treating uHCC.However,large-scale studies on HAIC-based treatments and meta-analyses of first-line treatments for uHCC are lacking.AIM To investigate better first-line treatment options for uHCC and to assess the safety and efficacy of HAIC combined with angiogenesis inhibitors,programmed cell death of protein 1(PD-1)and its ligand(PD-L1)blockers(triple therapy)under real-world conditions.METHODS Several electronic databases were searched to identify eligible randomized controlled trials for this meta-analysis.Study-level pooled analyses of hazard ratios(HRs)and odds ratios(ORs)were performed.This was a retrospective single-center study involving 442 patients with uHCC who received triple therapy or angiogenesis inhibitors plus PD-1/PD-L1 blockades(AIPB)at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from January 2018 to April 2023.Propensity score matching(PSM)was performed to balance the bias between the groups.The Kaplan-Meier method and cox regression were used to analyse the survival data,and the log-rank test was used to compare the suvival time between the groups.RESULTS A total of 13 randomized controlled trials were included.HAIC alone and in combination with sorafenib were found to be effective treatments(P values for ORs:HAIC,0.95;for HRs:HAIC+sorafenib,0.04).After PSM,176 HCC patients were included in the analysis.The triple therapy group(n=88)had a longer median overall survival than the AIPB group(n=88)(31.6 months vs 14.6 months,P<0.001)and a greater incidence of adverse events(94.3%vs 75.4%,P<0.001).CONCLUSION This meta-analysis suggests that HAIC-based treatments are likely to be the best choice for uHCC.Our findings confirm that triple therapy is more effective for uHCC patients than AIPB.

Prognostic value of ultrasound in early arterial complications post liver transplant

Liver transplantation is the primary therapeutic intervention for end-stage liver disease.However,vascular complications,particularly those involving the hepatic artery,pose significant risks to patients.The clinical manifestations associated with early arterial complications following liver transplantation are often non-specific.Without timely intervention,these complications can result in graft fai-lure or patient mortality.Therefore,early diagnosis and the formulation of an op-timal treatment plan are imperative.Ultrasound examination remains the pre-dominant imaging modality for detecting complications post liver transplan-tation.This article comprehensively reviews common causes and clinical present-ations of early hepatic artery complications in the post-transplantation period and delineates abnormal sonographic findings for accurate diagnosis of these con-ditions.Overall,ultrasound offers the advantages of convenience,safety,effect-iveness,and non-invasiveness.It enables real-time,dynamic,and precise evalua-tion,making it the preferred diagnostic method for post-liver transplantation assessments.INTRODUCTION Liver transplantation stands as the primary therapeutic approach for end-stage liver disease.Continuous advancements in surgical techniques and the application of novel immunosuppressive agents contribute to ongoing improvements in the success rate and overall survival in patients undergoing liver transplantation procedures.Despite these advan-cements,vascular complications,particularly those involving the hepatic artery,pose significant risks to patients.During the early stages following liver transplantation(within the first 30 d),proper hepatic artery function is crucial for hepatic arterial blood flow.During later stages,collateral circulation,including arteries such as the phrenic artery,right gastric artery,and gastroduodenal artery,becomes important for maintaining hepatic blood supply.It is now understood that the establishment of effective collateral circulation is pivotal for determining the prognosis of hepatic artery complic-ations.The clinical manifestations of these complications are closely linked to factors such as timing,severity,and the specific type of onset.Insufficient hepatic arterial blood flow can lead to abnormal liver function,hepatic infarction,and the formation of hepatic abscesses.Additionally,since the hepatic artery is the sole blood supply to the biliary tract,hepatic artery-related ischemia may result in biliary stricture,obstruction,and the formation of bile ducts.Ultrasound examination remains the primary imaging modality for diagnosing complications post liver transplantation.This article comprehensively reviews common causes and clinical presentations of early hepatic artery complications in the post-transplantation period and outlines abnormal sonographic findings for accurately diagnosing these conditions.NORMAL HEPATIC ARTERY During the intraoperative phase,an ultrasound examination is typically conducted to evaluate the hepatic artery anas-tomosis.The normal internal diameter of the hepatic artery typically ranges from 2 to 5 mm.Two strong echo points are typically identified near the anastomosis.To assess blood flow dynamics,peak systolic velocity,end-diastolic velocity,and resistance index are measured at the donor and recipient sides of the anastomosis following angle correction.Anastomotic stenosis presence and severity can be evaluated by comparing the velocity at the anastomotic site with that at the recipient side.Postoperatively,direct visualization of the anastomosis site through gray ultrasound scans is often challenging.The surgical approach has a significant impact on the proper hepatic artery’s position,resulting in a lower overall success rate of continuous visualization.Color Doppler ultrasound is primarily employed to trace the artery’s path,and spectral measurements are taken at the brightest position of the Color Doppler blood flow signal,primarily used to identify the presence of high-speed turbulence.Hepatic artery spectrum examination plays a crucial role,as a favorable arterial spectral waveform and appropriate hepatic artery flow velocity typically indicate a successful anastomosis,even in cases where the hepatic artery anastomosis cannot be directly visualized by ultrasound.The hepatic artery runs alongside the portal vein,often selected as a reference due to its larger inner diameter.A normal hepatic artery spectrum displays a regular pulsation pattern with a rapid rise in systole and a slow decline in diastole.Parameters for assessing hepatic artery resistance include a resistance index between 0.5 to 0.8 and an artery systolic acceleration of less than 80 ms.Instantaneous increases in the resistance index(RI>0.8)often occur within 2 d after surgery,followed by a subsequent return to normal hepatic arterial parameters.It has been established that the maximum blood flow velocity during systole in the hepatic artery should not exceed 200 cm/s[1].

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with PD-1 inhibitors and Lenvatinib for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients complicated with portal vein tumor thrombus(PVTT)exhibit poor prognoses and treatment responses.AIM To investigate efficacies and safety of the combination of PD-1 inhibitor,transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)and Lenvatinib in HCC subjects comorbid with PVTT.METHODS From January 2019 to December 2020,HCC patients with PVTT types Ⅰ-Ⅳ were retrospectively enrolled at Beijing Ditan Hospital.They were distributed to either the PTL or TACE/Lenvatinib(TL)group.The median progression-free survival(mPFS)was set as the primary endpoint,while parameters like median overall survival,objective response rate,disease control rate(DCR),and toxicity level served as secondary endpoints.RESULTS Forty-one eligible patients were finally recruited for this study and divided into the PTL(n=18)and TL(n=23)groups.For a median follow-up of 21.8 months,the DCRs were 88.9%and 60.9%in the PTL and TL groups(P=0.046),res-pectively.Moreover,mPFS indicated significant improvement(HR=0.25;P<0.001)in PTL-treated patients(5.4 months)compared to TL-treated(2.7 months)patients.There were no treatment-related deaths or differences in adverse events in either group.CONCLUSION A triplet regimen of PTL was safe and well-tolerated as well as exhibited favorable efficacy over the TL regimen for advanced-stage HCC patients with PVTT types Ⅰ-Ⅳ.

Choroidal infarction after internal carotid artery stenting

Dear Editor,We present a case of choroidal infarction along with retinal infarction after carotid artery stenting(CAS),which is a rare condition not reported in the literature.CAS has increasingly been accepted as the mainstay reconstruction method for carotid artery stenosis compared with carotid endarterectomy(CEA)due to no need for general anesthesia.