DrSclafani answers some questions

A forum to discuss Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency and its relationship to Multiple Sclerosis.
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Ernst
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Post by Ernst »

Sir Sclafani,

Just wonderful to read your messages, thank you! About IVUS; sounds like wonderful tool for CCSVI research.. so is there comig research publications where data is "collected" with IVUS? And how valuable tool it is for you with CCSVI? There are quite many doppler studies with mixed results.. hopefully other imaging techniques give more and clear data.
My wife's 3 yrs post video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLeqLps8XR8

Our family: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_QCKxeQAlg
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tiredloulou
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medication, after ccsvi, Dr. S. question?

Post by tiredloulou »

my follow up was to take 1 aspirin daily...........
no mention or script of plavix or?

since the only follow up is my family dr.
should I be requesting to be placed on plavix?
due to stent
and procedure..
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Post by Cece »

How long ago was your procedure, tiredloulou?
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Post by Cece »

drsclafani wrote:the reasons are several
1. injury to the femoral vein has greater consequences
2. repeated punctures might lead to stricture.
3. always do the most bengn and less risky procedure.
4. the femoral vein is closer to the femoral artery
Makes good sense. We've had a patient report here at TIMS of accidental femoral artery puncture and a report of femoral vein thrombosis.
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Post by Cece »

drsclafani wrote:Image

Image
No questions here! The arrows really help show the missed stenoses.

We used to always talk about missed stenoses in the azygous, not the jugulars.
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Post by Cece »

(apologies for multiple posts in a row, I am working through Dr. Sclafani's big post...)
drsclafani wrote:Initially the guidewire was advanced through the left jugular bulb into the sigmoid sinus. Then it was advanced across the transverse sinus, into the right sigmoid sinus and finally past the right jugular bulb and into the the jugular vein.
Is it just the guidewire that you would send across this way?
In your previous pre-CCSVI experience, did you go into the sinuses? Very rarely?
Is it safe?

Excellent images, as always.
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Post by Cece »

drsclafani wrote:before returning to the RIJV, left IJV venography was performed. It showed a subtle "jet" of contrast media (red arrows). Intravascular ultrasound showed a septum across the ostium of the left IJV at its entrance into the left subclavian vein. on the sagittal view, the septum was represented as scattered white lines (red arrow) on IVUS

Venoplasty clearly shows the "waist" on the balloon and after 14 atmosphered of pressure were applied, the "waist was no longer seen. I wonder whether this will also represent a challenge as Nunzio's left jugular was!

Image
That seems very subtle on the IVUS image. Would it be easy to miss even on IVUS? Experience makes a difference?

It looks good in the final image. Why do you think it might be a challenge? Was Nunzio's a septum too?
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tiredloulou
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ccsvi- medication on follow up?

Post by tiredloulou »

my ccsvi treatment was 6 months ago
1 stent
I just had ultra sound last follow up..........all appeared to be good( and it was the zamboni outline of ultra sound done in toronto


but, reading about the poor follow up's we do have, to none in canada
makes me wonder if I should request script from my fam. dr
the dr. who did ccsvi is in pacific interventionalist ......
and said, no need for anything.........except my aspirin
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Post by Cece »

drsclafani wrote:The next image is a composite that summarizes the intervention done on the J3 segment of the RIJV

Image
UPPER LEFT image shows contrast in the sigmoid sinus. However the upper jugular vein was not seen. Collaterals in the neck and spine were seen.
UPPER MID: A second wire was advanced as a safety wire and over it was placed an IVUS probe. (dark spot)
UPPER RIGHT: IVUS shows an occlusion of the upper jugular vein. Measurment of diameters of occlusions is not easy by venography, but IVUS is quite precise (YELLOW ARROWS).
LOWER LEFT & MIDDLE: 8mm by 6cm angioplasty performed. However there was no flow on angiography.
LOWER RIGHT: Therefore a stent was placed8mm by 4cm. Venography shows flow.
UPPER MID: for all our talk of IVUS, it is always striking how tiny and cute it is.
UPPER RIGHT: Dr. Cumming had a post the other day which really drove home the precision of IVUS, he posted an image where the vein looked narrowed on venogram and would've been treated by some doctors but on IVUS it was an oval-shaped vein with far greater area than it had appeared to have because it was seen in the venogram straight-on at the narrow end of the oval.
LOWER LEFT & MIDDLE: Why did the vein not respond to the angioplasty? Previously would you have chosen to go bigger and higher pressures on this stenosis?
LOWER RIGHT: It's the patient's third procedure; IVUS was used and it was a true occlusion not physiological; this occlusion was resistant to angioplasty; she'd tolerated the previous stent well albeit with mild intimal hyperplasia; as you said, there was no flow, it was entirely occluded. Still I think of patients who have ended up with occluded high-up stents. I would hate to be in the situation of having to decide this. You would make the same choice again, if a similiar situation presents itself?
Last edited by Cece on Tue May 17, 2011 6:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Cece »

drsclafani wrote:ImageFinally in the ascending azygous vein i noted some funky looking echoes. These likely represent webs.
This is the web and not the persistent immobile valve?
I am used to ivus images of fixed valves, it is good to have a chance to see the septum earlier and this too.
So that the story of my patient and me on a late Friday night date.
I'm ready now for the Saturday story :)
Things i learned are that
1. prior treatments may not be durable
2. Early treatments overlook things
3. the entire jugular vein must be imaged
4. there is a role for stents
5. webs may be visible on IVUS
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Post by drsclafani »

Cece wrote:(apologies for multiple posts in a row, I am working through Dr. Sclafani's big post...)
drsclafani wrote:Initially the guidewire was advanced through the left jugular bulb into the sigmoid sinus. Then it was advanced across the transverse sinus, into the right sigmoid sinus and finally past the right jugular bulb and into the the jugular vein.
Is it just the guidewire that you would send across this way?
In your previous pre-CCSVI experience, did you go into the sinuses? Very rarely?
Is it safe?

Excellent images, as always.
Cece, this was a special case trying to determine whether there was even a bony canal. the wire helped me see where the vein should be. It might also have been able to create a tract that allowed the right jugular catheter to be advanced.
in my pre ccsvi experience I NEVER went into the sinuses. There was no need. i have been giungerly tip toeing up there for about six months periodically. First i was sending the IVUS up there to explore, and then, after two stenoses of the dural sinuses were encountered, i have since been trying to place a catheter into the sigmoid sinus as the first part of the exam. The primary purpose has been to assure myself that the vein was intace, which it sometimes is NOT.

Today, i administered some fentanyl before doing it and preinstructed the patient about the weird sensation of bubbling water

I am not sure that the patient was entirely happy. I will find out more tomorrow
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Post by drsclafani »

Cece wrote:
drsclafani wrote:before returning to the RIJV, left IJV venography was performed. It showed a subtle "jet" of contrast media (red arrows). Intravascular ultrasound showed a septum across the ostium of the left IJV at its entrance into the left subclavian vein. on the sagittal view, the septum was represented as scattered white lines (red arrow) on IVUS

Venoplasty clearly shows the "waist" on the balloon and after 14 atmosphered of pressure were applied, the "waist was no longer seen. I wonder whether this will also represent a challenge as Nunzio's left jugular was!

Image
That seems very subtle on the IVUS image. Would it be easy to miss even on IVUS? Experience makes a difference?

It looks good in the final image. Why do you think it might be a challenge? Was Nunzio's a septum too?
on the ivus there are all kinds of subtle echoes, the significance of each is still unclear to me. Initially i thought they were artefacts but as i see the sagittal IVUS i am becoming more convinced that these are real. What do do about them is not clear to me yet.

I wonder because this patient has now had two angioplasties. one balloons with buddy wires, the other at high pressure.

Each failure i have is always a source of angst for me
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Re: ccsvi- medication on follow up?

Post by drsclafani »

tiredloulou wrote:my ccsvi treatment was 6 months ago
1 stent
I just had ultra sound last follow up..........all appeared to be good( and it was the zamboni outline of ultra sound done in toronto


but, reading about the poor follow up's we do have, to none in canada
makes me wonder if I should request script from my fam. dr
the dr. who did ccsvi is in pacific interventionalist ......
and said, no need for anything.........except my aspirin
that is wonderful. six month followup is a very positive sign but remember that zamboni reported that the majority of restenosis occured from 8-14 months after treatment. Hopefulfly the PI patients will continue to show improved technical success with larger balloons.

i think, that you should follow your doctors recommendations. If you have questions, you should ask them their philosophy practice and results.

i think asking a family doctor instead of your IR makes no sense. Why not have your family doctor do the procedure. f

I have found that it is more difficult but no impossible to stay in touch with my patients who come from many countries and states. Not all, mind you, both my problem and theirs, but as i develop an international practice, i am finding it not unreasonable to keep in touch as long as you can make connections with local doctors.
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drsclafani
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Post by drsclafani »

Cece wrote:
drsclafani wrote:The next image is a composite that summarizes the intervention done on the J3 segment of the RIJV

Image
UPPER LEFT image shows contrast in the sigmoid sinus. However the upper jugular vein was not seen. Collaterals in the neck and spine were seen.
UPPER MID: A second wire was advanced as a safety wire and over it was placed an IVUS probe. (dark spot)
UPPER RIGHT: IVUS shows an occlusion of the upper jugular vein. Measurment of diameters of occlusions is not easy by venography, but IVUS is quite precise (YELLOW ARROWS).
LOWER LEFT & MIDDLE: 8mm by 6cm angioplasty performed. However there was no flow on angiography.
LOWER RIGHT: Therefore a stent was placed8mm by 4cm. Venography shows flow.
UPPER MID: for all our talk of IVUS, it is always striking how tiny and cute it is.
UPPER RIGHT: Dr. Cumming had a post the other day which really drove home the precision of IVUS, he posted an image where the vein looked narrowed on venogram and would've been treated by some doctors but on IVUS it was an oval-shaped vein with far greater area than it had appeared to have because it was seen in the venogram straight-on at the narrow end of the oval.
LOWER LEFT & MIDDLE: Why did the vein not respond to the angioplasty? Previously would you have chosen to go bigger and higher pressures on this stenosis?
LOWER RIGHT: It's the patient's third procedure; IVUS was used and it was a true occlusion not physiological; this occlusion was resistant to angioplasty; she'd tolerated the previous stent well albeit with mild intimal hyperplasia; as you said, there was no flow, it was entirely occluded. Still I think of patients who have ended up with occluded high-up stents. I would hate to be in the situation of having to decide this. You would make the same choice again, if a similiar situation presents itself?

IVUS, CUTE?

YOUR FEMININE SIDE IS SHOWING
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drsclafani
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Post by drsclafani »

Cece wrote:
drsclafani wrote:The next image is a composite that summarizes the intervention done on the J3 segment of the RIJV

Image


UPPER MID: for all our talk of IVUS, it is always striking how tiny and cute it is.

LOWER LEFT & MIDDLE: Why did the vein not respond to the angioplasty? Previously would you have chosen to go bigger and higher pressures on this stenosis?
FROM THE IVUS, ONE CAN SEE THE CORRECT SIZE OF THE VEIN. DILATING MUCH ABOVE THE NORMAL VEIN SIZE WOULD SIMPLY RESULT IN RUPTURE AND ULTIMATE RETHROMBOSIS. THAT IS THE POWER OF IVUS. EVEN IN AN OCCLUSION, WHERE VENOGRAPHY DOES NOT SHOW THE LUMEN, WE CAN DECIPHER THE TRUE DIAMETER AND PROPERLY SIZE THE BALLOON.
LOWER RIGHT: It's the patient's third procedure; IVUS was used and it was a true occlusion not physiological; this occlusion was resistant to angioplasty; she'd tolerated the previous stent well albeit with mild intimal hyperplasia; as you said, there was no flow, it was entirely occluded. Still I think of patients who have ended up with occluded high-up stents. I would hate to be in the situation of having to decide this. You would make the same choice again, if a similiar situation presents itself?
MY THOUGHT IS THAT THIS VEIN WAS DONE, FINITO, OF NO VALUE. IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR IT HAD BECOME TOTALLY BLOCKED. WHAT ALTERNATIVE IS THERE AT THIS POINT. aND IN A PATIENT WITH HORRIFYING SPASTICITY.
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