Project description:Persistence of the left superior caval vein is the most commonly reported thoracic venous anomaly. The vein usually drains into the right atrium through the coronary sinus, reflecting its developmental origin. We describe an unusual variant, in which the vein drained directly into the right atrium.
Project description:Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is an uncommon, but potentially devastating complication of portal vein embolization (PVE). Its occurrence relates to both local and systemic risk factors. In the setting of PVE, precipitating factors include injury to the vessel wall and reduced portal flow. Contributory factors include portal hypertension, hypercoagulopathy, inflammatory processes, malignancy, pregnancy, oral contraceptive use, and asplenia. The goal of therapy is to prevent thrombus progression and lyse existing clot. Hepatectomy is impossible if adequate recanalization has not occurred and/or overt portal hypertension develops. The mechanisms for thrombus development, its diagnosis, management, and prognosis are discussed.
Project description:Major vessel invasion is frequently observed in locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The most commonly involved major vessel is the portal vein; however, approximately 4% of patients with HCC have inferior vena cava (IVC) and/or right atrium (RA) invasion. Although these conditions have dismal prognoses, local treatments have not been regularly administered because they may affect systemic circulation. Owing to recent technological advances, various local treatments including surgery and external radiotherapy have increasingly been performed in these patients. Since irradiating tumorous lesions in the liver while preserving normal tissues is possible and major vessels are relatively resistant to radiation, external radiotherapy has been a feasible palliative modality for treating vessel-invasive HCC. In addition, systemic fatal complications that were initially a cause of concern have become rare after radiotherapy. While invasive procedures such as extracorporeal circulation or hepatic vascular exclusion may be required, pioneering surgeons have performed surgical resections in selected patients and have obtained promising results. Surgery has shown the best survival outcomes compared to other treatment options including radiotherapy, but the possibility of perioperative morbidity should be considered. In addition, a combination of local treatment and novel systemic agents, which demonstrated better survival and response rates than sorafenib, is expected to maximize therapeutic effects. In this review, we have discussed the most recent treatments for HCC with IVC and/or RA involvement and have provided information intended to guide therapeutic decisions and facilitate future research.
Project description:Partial anomaly of the pulmonary venous return is a rare congenital condition treated with surgical redirection of the blood flow through the creation of a conduit to the left atrium. We report the case of a stenotic pulmonary vein to left atrium conduit successfully treated with the implantation of a drug-eluting stent. Pulmonary vein or conduit stenosis is generally treated with balloon dilation or bare-metal stent but is often met with underwhelming outcomes. Given the successful outcome of the case presented, drug-eluting stents may represent an attractive treatment option in suitable anatomies.
Project description:A comparison of human cardiac gene expression profile in paired samples of right atrium and left ventricle extracted in vivo<br><br>
Project description:We report a case of an anomalous drainage of the right superior vena cava to the left atrium with intact atrial septum associated with Tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia, and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries.