Mercy Angiography Unit

Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma are rare in children, at only 1 in every 50,000 cases. Even though some cases are sporadic, they have been connected to syndromes such as von Hippel-Lindau, multiple endocrine neoplasia types IIa and IIb, neurofibromatosis type 1, and hereditary pheochromocytoma-paraganglioma syndromes. A genetic mutation causes around 60% of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas in children under 18. Methods: A 15-y-old child with a 6-y history of back discomfort is presented. The justification for using 2 functional imaging modalities, 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT and 123I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine SPECT/CT, is examined in this case study. We reviewed the patients' journey since the first referral for imaging. Results: Delaying the molecular imaging modalities has affected patients' overall diagnosis and applied treatment outcomes. Conclusion: This case study investigates the potential for the earlier use of various diagnostic modalities in conjunction with diagnostic testing to facilitate an earlier diagnosis. However, since this study is based solely on imaging and lacks access to the patient's clinical or family history, factors such as potential inequities in health-care facilities, health literacy, and socioeconomic status are not addressed. It is essential to acknowledge these influences as they contribute to the inequitable access to health-care settings in New Zealand.

Individuals affected by Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) may show increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD), which probably relates, at least, with high burden of cardiovascular risk factors.A 27-year-old man with PWS, obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia attended the emergency department with complaints of flu-like condition and chest pain. The ECG revealed a mild ST-segment elevation in inferior leads, followed by positive myocardial necrosis biomarkers. Attending to the high cardiovascular risk profile, ST-segment elevation in inferior territory and wall motion abnormalities, a coronary angiogram was performed. The latter showed a three-vessel CAD, 60% stenosis in midanterior descending artery, total occlusion (100%) of the obtuse marginal artery and 99% stenosis with high thrombi burden in the proximal right coronary artery.The present case report emphasises the plausibility of premature CAD in patients with PWS, a possible underdiagnosed feature of this condition.

ObjectivesTo confirm clinically that coronary balloon catheter tips may be damaged during bifurcation treatment with side‐branch access through the side of a stent. On the bench, we aimed to assess the susceptibility of different balloon designs to damage. We compared catheter tip widths. We tested whether balloon tip flaring can cause stent distortion.BackgroundWe had observed that balloon catheters that failed to cross to a side‐branch frequently exhibited tip damage.Methods and ResultsWe examined microscopically for damage 82 balloon tips after clinical side‐branch access. In a bench study, the forces required to compress catheter tips 0.5 mm were compared to assess susceptibility to damage. We compared tip widths of balloons of different nominal inflation diameters. We examined stents after side‐branch access for distortion. In 42 of 48 (88%) of balloon tips from patients with resistance to or failure to cross through the side of a stent there was tip damage. Even when the balloon crossed without perceptible resistance, tip damage occurred in over half of balloons 18/34 (53%). Some balloon designs were more resistant to damage than others. Tips from balloons of different nominal diameters from the same manufacturer had the same width. Stent distortion caused by damaged balloon tips is improved by kissing balloon post‐dilatation.ConclusionsBalloon tip damage is common with crossing between stent struts. This is one cause of failure of a balloon to access a side‐branch and a new balloon should be used. If stent distortion is suspected, it should be corrected with kissing balloon post‐dilatation.

Background Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease remains a major cause of illness and death, and coronary flow predetermines disease. Limitations in imaging technology prevent coronary flow measurements but computational fluid dynamics (CFD) need sophisticated boundary conditions for accurate flow predictions. MRI has recently been combined with CFD for larger calibre vessels, but small coronary arteries remain inaccessible. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of coronary flow measurement in 3D printed large scale coronary phantoms using phase contrast MRI (PC-MRI).

We compared the mechanical and physical properties and the safety from strut fracture of side branch and post-dilatation strategies for the Absorb and DESolve bioresorbable scaffolds with the durable metallic drug-eluting XIENCE Xpedition stent using largely independent bench testing. The strut thickness and crossing profile of the polymeric scaffolds was greater than those of the metallic drug-eluting stent. While all three devices recoiled after deployment, the DESolve enlarged between 10 mins and one hour returning to the immediate post-deployment diameter ("self-correction"). In 3.0 mm stents/scaffolds, the main branch post-dilatation safe threshold without fracture for Absorb was 3.8 mm at 20 atm, for DESolve was 5.0 mm at 20 atm whereas the ML8 did not fracture. For side branch dilatation with a 3.0 mm non-compliant balloon, the threshold before the Absorb fractured was 10 atm whereas the DESolve and ML8 did not fracture at 22 atm. The safe threshold for mini-kissing balloon post-dilatation in 3.0 mm scaffolds/stents with 3.0 mm non-compliant balloons was 5 atm for the Absorb whereas the DESolve and ML8 did not fracture up to 20 atm. The metallic stent has thinner struts, lower profile, and greater radial strength than the polymeric scaffolds. Different safe pressure thresholds exist for different scaffolds/stents. Unlike the others, the DESolve showed "self-correction" or enlargement after initial recoil.