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.

Cerebral Abscesses Revealing Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations （AVM） lung is defined by an abnormal communication between pulmonary artery（ies） and vein（s） responsible for a right-left shunt. Congenital forms are most common and usually associated with Rendu-Osler disease （ROD）. Inversely, 15-45% of patients with ROD present lung AVM Nowadays, embolization is preferred to surgical resection in the majority of cases. Except for certain cases where surgery is indicated. This paper shows the role of surgery in AVMs.

Natural History of Kawashima Palliation in Single-Ventricle and Interrupted Inferior Vena Cava Heart Disease in China 11 Years Result

Background:The long-term outcomes of patients treated with a Kawashima procedure and keeping the antegrade pulmonary blood flow(AnPBF)in single-ventricle(SV)and interrupted inferior vena cava(IVC)heart disease is still uncertain as yet.Methods:We investigated 18 patients who underwent the Kawashima procedure with SV physiology and an interrupted IVC between January 2009 and June 2018,perioperative,operative and postoperative characteristics were recorded.Results:A total of 18 patients underwent the Kawashima procedure at a median age of 2.7 years(range 0.5–24.7 years),of which 12(66.7%)were male and 6(33.3%)were female.The mean saturation was 76.2±8.5%in preoperative period and 94.2±2.2%in postoperative period.All patients had kept AnPBF.The median duration of mechanical ventilation was 12 h(range 2.5–22.5 h)and the median duration of pleural drainage was 5 days(range 2–27 days).The median hospital stay was 9 days(range 6–70 days).There was no operative death and no mortality was seen in early postoperative period.Follow-up was 100%completed,with an average follow-up period of 6.1±2.7 years(range 1–11 years).4 patients died during the follow-up.The overall 5 and 10 years’survival rates estimated by Kaplan-Meier method were 88%and 68%,respectively.Although there were no significant differences in the duration of postoperative follow-up between the death group and the survival group(p>0.05),the major systemic ventricular end-diastolic diameter(SVEDD)(p=0.018)and the degree of AVVR(p=0.001)showed significant difference between the two groups.The diameters of main pulmonary artery showed significant growth in both the death group(p=0.015)and the survival group(p=0.012)over time.SVEDD had no significant increase in the survival group(p=0.665)but was significantly larger in the death group(p=0.014).Multivariable risk factors of late mortality in patients treated with Kawashima procedure were follow-up AVVR(p=0.044;HR:3.124;95%CI:1.030–9.473)and SVEDD(p=0.031;HR:9.766;95%CI:1.226–77.8).14 patients(100%)were all in New York Heart Association(NYHA)functional class I and the mean saturation was 93±2%at last follow-up.Only one patient finished Fontan completion.Conclusions:The Kawashima procedure with AnPBF can be safely performed with acceptable early and long outcomes.Although some previous studies have shown the risk of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations(PAVMS)after Kawashima procedure in the mid-and long-term,our findings are in contradiction with it.No PAVMs occurred in all the survivors.Kawashima procedure with open AnPBF may be a good option for unsuitable Fontan candidates.