Value of CT pulmonary arteriography and venography in the evaluation of venous thromboembolism in a multiracial Asian population

Background There is increasing evidence that CT pulmonary arteriography and venography allow a better diagnostic yield for deep vein thrombosis （DVT） in suspected acute pulmonary embolism （PE）. The aim was to investigate the value for using such an approach in a multiracial Asian population. Methods A total of 135 consecutive subjects with clinically suspected PE in various clinical settings （postoperative in 23 subjects） were referred and evaluated for venous thromboemboUsm using CT pulmonary arteriography and venography in a tertiary hospital, Malaysia. The distribution of DVT was assessed based on the frequency rate of thrombosis in a particular anatomical region （inferior vena cava, pelvic, femoral and popliteal）. Results In 130 subjects, excluding 5 subjects having poor images, both DVT and PE were detected in 11.5% （15/130） subjects and DVT alone was detected in 6.9% （9/130） subjects giving a combined rate of venous thromboembolism of 18.4%. A history of malignancy was significantly associated with positive scans, P=0.02. It was found that left pelvic veins （18.2%） and left femoral veins （19.5%） were more commonly thrombosed in this population. Conclusion CT pulmonary arteriography and venography is a useful technique in the evaluation of venous thromboembolism in a multi-racial Asian population.

Saddle pulmonary embolism is not a sign of high-risk deterioration in non-high-risk patients: A propensity score-matched study

BACKGROUND: There is controversy regarding whether saddle main pulmonary artery(MPA) embolism represents a high risk of deterioration in non-high-risk acute pulmonary embolism(PE) patients. This study aims to address this issue by conducting a propensity score matching(PSM) study.METHODS: A total of 727 non-high-risk acute PE patients were retrospectively evaluated. We evaluated the Bova score and risk stratification to examine the risk of deterioration. Deterioration defined as any adverse event within 30 days after admission. Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography was used to identify the embolism type. All patients were matched into four subgroups by PSM according to age, sex, Bova score, and risk stratification:(1) MPA and non-MPA embolism;(2) non-saddle MPA and non-MPA embolism;(3) saddle MPA and non-saddle MPA embolism;(4) saddle MPA and non-MPA embolism. Correlations were analyzed using Cox regression analysis, and deterioration risk was compared between subgroups using Kaplan-Meier analysis.RESULTS: Cox regression analysis revealed that MPA embolism was correlated with deterioration, regardless of whether saddle MPA embolism was included or excluded. Saddle MPA embolism was not correlated with deterioration, regardless of comparison with non-saddle MPA embolism or non-MPA embolism. Patients with MPA and non-saddle MPA embolism presented a high risk for deterioration(logrank test=5.23 and 4.70, P=0.022 and 0.030, respetively), while patients with saddle MPA embolism were not at a high risk of deterioration(log-rank test=1.20 and 3.17, P=0.729 and 0.077, respetively).CONCLUSIONS: Saddle MPA embolism is not indicative of a high risk of deterioration in nonhigh-risk acute PE patients.

Endovascular embolization of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations

Background The major consequence of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations （PAVMs） is the direct inflow of blood from the pulmonary artery to the pulmonary vein which induces hypoxemia. Severe complications include transient ischemic attacks, paradoxical embolization in the central nervous system, massive hemoptysis or hemothorax, etc. The conventional treatment is surgical intervention. However, this can be very traumatic and dangerous. Endovascular embolization has advantages over surgery such as a faithful therapeutic effect, a low complication rate, repeatability, etc. Methods Patients （n=-23） with symptomatic PAVMs underwent endovascular embolization; 11 were males and 12 were females, with ages ranging from 6 months to 58 years. During the embolization, microcoils were applied in 6 cases and standard steel coils were used in 17 cases. Results Multiple PAVMs lesions were found in 16 cases and single PAVMs lesion was found in 7 cases. Embolotherapy was carried out 28 times for 23 patients. The success rate was 100%. The results of pulmonary arteriography after treatment showed that single lesion disappeared completely while the main abnormal vessels in multiple lesions also disappeared. The mean blood oxygen saturation increased from （78.04＋8.22）% to （95.13＋3.67）% after the procedure. A correlated groups t test showed changes in blood oxygen saturation before and after embolization （t=9.101, P 〈0.001）. Symptoms of cardiac insufficiency disappeared in 5 cases and vascular murmur in the chest disappeared in 13 cases. After embolization, mild chest pain occurred in 11 cases, small amounts of pleural effusion occurred in 5 cases, and 1 patient died 2 months later because of a pyogenic infection secondary to the pulmonary infarction. Among the 22 remaining cases, with overall follow-up ranging from 18 months to 12 years, general conditions were fine, daily lives were normal and there were no neurologic symptoms or signs, except for 3 patients with diffused PAVMs who had persistent blood oxygen saturation between 85% and 90%. Symptoms of hypoxia never recurred in the other cases. Conclusions Endovascular embolization of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations can significantly improve blood oxygen saturation and reduce serious complications such as cerebral infaction. Therefore, this kind of interventional procedure is a safe and effective treatment method with a low complication rate.