No abstract

These results support the use of prescribed simulation-based training for the acquisition of requisite skills associated with PICC placement and expand on similar studies that suggest the advantages of simulation-based training for central line placement. Additionally, the data suggest that training using a single simulation model may support the acquisition of both central venous catheterization and PICC skills.

Carbon dioxide angiography conducted through the endograft delivery sheath is reliable for endograft deployment, safe, non-toxic and inexpensive. In addition, it may expedite EVAR by eliminating a number of angiographic catheter placements and exchanges during the procedure. This favorable experience warrants further utilization of this technique.

We report the successful angioplasty of an acute arterial narrowing after suture-mediated closure (SMC) of a femoral arterial puncture. A 75-year-old woman underwent a cerebral arteriogram via a right common femoral artery puncture. The arteriotomy site was closed with a SMC device. Four days after placement the patient complained of pain in her right calf after walking. An arteriogram 7 days after SMC showed a severe focal stenosis at the origin of the superficial femoral artery involving the presumed puncture site. The lesion was successfully treated with balloon angioplasty. The patient at 6 months was asymptomatic.

Starch microspheres 40 μm in diameter, which are rapidly degraded by serum amylase, have been administered through hepatic arterial catheters to five patients with primary and metastatic liver cancer to determine whether (1) arterial blood flow through the liver could be temporarily blocked, and (2) such occlusion at the level of the arteriolar capillary bed would enhance regional uptake and catabolism and decrease systemic exposure to simultaneously administered hepatic arterial bischlorethylnitrosourea (BCNU). It was possible with 10 ml of microspheres (9 × 106 microspheres/ml) injected into the hepatic artery to transiently (for 15‐30 minutes) reduce hepatic flow by 80‐100% in the five patients. When BCNU (50 mg/m2 in one minute) was given with microspheres there was a 30‐90% reduction in systemic nitrosourea exposure and in peak levels. No myelosuppression was noted and hepatic toxicity consisted of acute pain due to BCNU and 1.5‐2.0 fold transient enzyme elevations. One patient with cholangiocarcinoma showed a partial response lasting three months; three patients had stable disease and one patient with colon carcinoma had progressive disease. Thus, this pilot study suggests that concurrent intra‐arterial microspheres and BCNU may have the potential to improve selective regional drug effect with marked diminution in systemic toxicity.