Faculty Bibliography

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether accessory vein embolization (AVE) improves long-term performance of salvaged nonmaturing arteriovenous fistulae (AVFs). MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:This retrospective review included 72 patients who underwent percutaneous balloon angioplasty for salvage of nonmaturing AVFs between 2008 and 2014. AVE was performed on 32 patients between 2008 and 2011 (mean age, 59 y [range, 33-85 y]; men, n = 21; women, n = 11; upper arm, n = 17; forearm, n = 15), whereas the procedure was not performed on 40 patients after 2011 (mean age, 62 y [range, 28-85 y]; men, n = 26; women, n = 14; upper arm, n = 26; forearm, n = 14). Endpoints compared between groups included number of procedures required to achieve maturation, time to maturation, number of procedures required to maintain patency, and duration of primary and secondary patency after intervention. RESULTS:There was no statistically significant difference in number of procedures to achieve maturation (2.1 ± 1.4 vs 2.4 ± 1.2; P = .24) or time to maturation (26.1 d ± 56.2 vs 41.1 d ± 54.6; P = .072) between AVE and no embolization groups. Primary (P = .21) and secondary patency (P = .14) after intervention were not significantly different between groups. The number of procedures performed to maintain patency after maturation was significantly greater in the AVE group for patients with forearm AVFs (0.11 ± 0.098 vs 0.04 ± 0.064 per patient year; P = .039) but not for patients with upper arm AVFs. CONCLUSIONS:AVE of AVFs after balloon angioplasty does not lead to significantly improved long-term outcomes. Percutaneous salvage of nonmaturing AVFs in the forearm without AVE resulted in a decreased number of interventions to maintain patency.

Rationale and Objectives. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of needle size on the diagnostic yield and complication rate of lung nodule biopsy. Materials and Methods. A total of 209 patients are included in a retrospective study. All patients underwent a needle lung biopsy under computer-tomography-guided guidance. Multiple different needle gauges are used in this study. Results. We found no correlation between the gauge of the needle and the incidence of complications or diagnostic yield associated with lung nodule biopsy. However, there was a statistically significant difference in the number of needle passes and the gauge of the needle (P < .01). Conclusion. Using a larger gauge needle does not correlate with an increase in complication rate. However, there is a statically significant decrease in the number of needle passes using a larger gauge needle. While the diagnostic yield comparing small gauge needle and large gauge needle was not statistically different, this lack of difference in yield could be related to the difference in number of passes. The use of larger needle is likely to decrease number of passes, thereby resulting in decreased procedure times