PurposeMesenteric embolization is an integral part in the management of acute lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. The aim of this study was to highlight our experience after adopting mesenteric embolization in the management of acute lower GI hemorrhage.MethodsA retrospective review of all cases of mesenteric embolization for acute lower GI bleeding from October 2007 to August 2012 was performed.ResultsTwenty-seven patients with a median age of 73 years (range, 31 to 86 years) formed the study group. More than half (n = 16, 59.3%) of the patients were on either antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant therapy. The underlying etiology included diverticular disease (n = 9), neoplasms (n = 5) and postprocedural complications (n = 6). The colon was the most common bleeding site and was seen in 21 patients (left, 10; right, 11). The median hemoglobin prior to the embolization was 8.6 g/dL (6.1 to 12.6 g/dL). A 100% technical success rate with immediate cessation of hemorrhage at the end of the session was achieved. There were three clinical failures (11.1%) in our series. Two patients re-bled, and both underwent a successful repeat embolization. The only patient who developed an infarcted bowel following embolization underwent an emergency operation and died one week later. There were no factors that predicted clinical failure.ConclusionMesenteric embolization for acute lower GI bleeding can be safely performed and is associated with a high clinical success rate in most patients. A repeat embolization can be considered in selected cases, but postembolization ischemia is associated with bad outcomes.

Patients with non-diverticular aetiologies and lower haemoglobin levels are associated with a positive invasive MA following a positive CTMA. It is prudent to consider performing the invasive MA within 150 min after a positive CTMA.

Introduction: Stroke caused by basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is a rare but potentially devastating neurological condition, with poor outcomes and high mortality rates, approaching 70-90%. Success of intravenous and intra-arterial thrombolysis in BAO is variable, leading to Endovascular Therapy (EVT) being utilized to a greater degree in this clinical setting. We investigate the use of EVT in BAO with regard to success of revascularization and patient mortality/outcome. Methods: Retrospective patient data was collected from medical records and radiology information systems. Results: Twenty-eight patients underwent EVT for BAO between 2010-17, with successful revascularization in 21/28 (75%) and an inpatient mortality rate of 39%. Successful revascularization correlated with lower mortality (P = 0.0001). Better revascularization and mortality rates occurred between 2013-17 (P = 0.007, 0.04). An average time to EVT of 16.8 hours was observed between 2010-17 but this did not correlate significantly with increased mortality. Basilar stenting correlated with lower revascularization, higher mortality and basilar artery reocclusion post EVT (P = 0.021, 0.022, 0.022). EVT times over 2 and 2.5 hours respectively associated with lower revascularization rates and higher mortality (P = 0.04, 0.022). Higher mortality was seen with intra-procedural complications and symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage, non-posterior circulation infarction and basilar artery reocclusion post EVT (P = 0.016, 0.03, 0.016, 0.016). Basilar atheroma correlated with intra-procedural complications and EVT times over 2 hours (P = 0.038, 0.004). Conclusion: Within the limitations of an underpowered study, we observed a benefit of EVT in acute BAO. With future multicentre trials, EVT will likely become the standard of care in acute BAO.

Our data showed that a significant number of women (28%) with biopsy-diagnosed CIN 2 had CIN 1 or no dysplasia on subsequent excisional biopsy. The recurrence risk of high grade dysplasia in CIN 2 is low (1.5%). However, due to the high number of patients (72%) with high grade dysplasia at treatment biopsy, caution needs to be exercised when a conservative approach is adopted in the management of CIN 2.