Older age, lower BMI and higher post-TIPS portosystemic gradients were associated with higher hazards of shunt thrombosis after TIPS creation using stent grafts. Higher rates of shunt thrombosis were seen in patients for whom TIPS creation was clinically unsuccessful. The association between TIPS thrombosis and higher post-TIPS portosystemic gradients may indicate impaired flow through the shunt, a finding which may be technical or anatomic in nature and should be assessed before procedure completion.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to compare the indications, adverse events, removal rates, and mortality of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy (PRG) techniques at our tertiary care institution from 2014 to 2019. Material and Methods: We undertook a 5-year retrospective review of patients who underwent either PEG or PRG at our institution from 2014 to 2019. Common adverse events include tube clogs, leaks, minor bleeds, and wound infections, while more rare major complications include peritonitis, intra-abdominal infection, and major hemorrhage. The procedures were all performed with either conscious sedation or general anesthesia. A total of 789 patients were reviewed, of whom 519 (65.8%) had a PRG and 270 (34.2%) had a PEG. PRGs were more likely to be placed for head-and-neck cancer (P < 0.0001) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (P < 0.0001), while PEGs were more likely to be placed for gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) (P <.0001) and malnutrition (P < 0.0001). Results: The rate of major adverse events was similar between the two groups (P = 0.938). GI placed gastrostomy tubes were more likely to have a minor adverse event (P < 0.0001), however, this was secondary to a significant increase in tube clog in the PEG/J group as compared to PEG (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: The decision to place a PEG or PRG should be individualized to the patient’s specific condition and indication. Both procedures have favorable safety profiles, and it is likely that institutional expertise and procedural access will be the primary determinants of the procedural technique chosen for minimally invasive gastrostomy.

Non-destructive techniques characterising the mechanical properties of cells, tissues, and biomaterials provide baseline metrics for tissue engineering design. Ultrasonic wave propagation and attenuation has previously demonstrated the dynamics of extracellular matrix synthesis in chondrocyte-seeded hydrogel constructs. In this paper, we describe an ultrasonic method to analyse two of the construct elements used to engineer articular cartilage in real-time, native cartilage explants and an agarose biomaterial. Results indicated a similarity in wave propagation velocity ranges for both longitudinal (1500–1745 m/s) and transverse (350–950 m/s) waveforms. Future work will apply an acoustoelastic analysis to distinguish between the fluid and solid properties including the cell and matrix biokinetics as a validation of previous mathematical models.

pain (83%), diarrhea (67%), hematochezia (42%), iron deficiency anemia (8%), and/ or elevated C-reactive protein level (CRP; 8%). Of those with imaging (nZ11), one showed terminal ileum dilatation whereas the rest were normal. All patients underwent upper endoscopy (EGD) with duodenal erythema (25%), erosions (17%), nodularity (17%), friability (8%), or congestion (8%). Of those who underwent ileoscopy or colonoscopy (nZ9), small bowel/terminal ileum findings included erosions (22%), ulcers (11%), and dilatation (11%). All VCEs were abnormal with small bowel findings of erosions (83%), inflammatory changes (erythema, edema, and granularity; 83%), ulcerations (75%), and blood/hematin (50%). Both patients without abdominal pain had disease on VCE, as did all three patients without anemia and all three patients without elevated CRP. Of those with EGD, VCE, and colonoscopy evaluation (nZ11), disease was seen in all three modalities in 72.7%, VCE and colonoscopy only in 18.2%, or EGD and VCE only in 9.1%. Conclusions: CGD patients with GI symptoms often have active small bowel disease. In such patients, small bowel disease should be investigated, and therapy should seek to address any small bowel involvement. These interim results support continued exploration and characterization of small bowel disease in CGD and its optimal diagnostic modality.