Pediatric Interventional Radiology

Pediatric Interventional Radiology

Pediatric Interventional Radiology

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Peds IR Basics - Tiny Patients, Big Care

  • Consent & Assent:
    • Parental/guardian consent mandatory.
    • Assent from capable children (often >7 years), explained simply.
  • Sedation Spectrum & Monitoring:
    • Minimal (anxiolysis) → Moderate → Deep → General Anesthesia (GA).
    • Agents: Midazolam, Fentanyl, Ketamine, Propofol.
    • Monitoring: ECG, $SpO_2$, BP, $EtCO_2$.
    • 📌 Reversals: Flumazenil (Benzos), Naloxone (Opioids).
  • Radiation Safety (ALARA):
    • "As Low As Reasonably Achievable."
    • Dose reduction: Pulsed fluoro, collimation, shielding, ↑kVp/↓mAs.
    • Use pediatric Dose Reference Levels (DRLs).

⭐ The 'Image Gently' campaign advocates for radiation safety in pediatric imaging, emphasizing dose reduction.

Peds Vascular IR - Navigating Tiny Tubes

  • Central Venous Access (CVA)
    • Indications: TPN, chemotherapy, long-term antibiotics.
    • Types:
      • Non-tunneled: Short-term (IJ, femoral, subclavian).
      • Tunneled (e.g., Hickman): Long-term, cuffed (IJ, subclavian).
      • PICCs: Intermediate-term (basilic, cephalic veins).
      • Ports: Longest-term, intermittent access (chest, arm).
    • Complications: 📌 TIMP - Thrombosis, Infection, Malposition, Pneumothorax/Catheter fracture.
  • Angiography
    • Indications: Peds trauma (e.g., active bleed), vascular anomalies (AVMs, hemangiomas).
  • Embolization
    • Agents: Coils, Gelfoam, particles (PVA), glue (NBCA).
    • Applications: Trauma, AVMs, tumor devascularization, GI bleeds, varicocele.
  • Angioplasty/Stenting
    • Indications: Renal artery stenosis (RAS), coarctation of aorta, other congenital/acquired stenoses.
    • Challenges: Small vessel size, patient growth, restenosis.

⭐ In infants, the Right Internal Jugular (RIJ) vein is preferred for tunneled CVCs to minimize risk of thoracic duct injury (left-sided structure).

Central venous access devices and insertion sites

Peds Non-Vascular IR - Drains, Biopsies & Beyond

  • Image-Guided Biopsy:
    • Modalities: US (commonest), CT, fluoro.
    • Targets: Liver, kidney, lung, bone, LNs. High diagnostic yield.
    • Needles: FNA (cytology), Core (histology).
    • Complications: Bleeding, pneumothorax (lung), infection.
  • Drainage Procedures:
    • Targets: Abscess, collections (urinoma, biloma), pleural effusion/empyema.
    • Techniques: Seldinger (preferred), trocar. High success rates.
    • Catheters: 6-12F common; pigtail, Malecot.
  • GI Interventions:
    • Gastrostomy/Gastrojejunostomy (G/GJ tubes):
      • Indications: Feeding difficulties, GERD (GJ).
      • Technique: Percutaneous radiologic.
      • Complications: Leakage, infection, dislodgement, buried bumper.
    • Foreign body retrieval: Esophageal (coins), gastric.
  • Biliary Interventions:
    • PTBD (Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage)/Cholecystostomy: For biliary obstruction, cholangitis, post-Kasai complications.
    • Complications: Bleeding, bile leak, sepsis.

Percutaneous drainage of lung abscess

⭐ Most common indication for percutaneous gastrostomy in children: Neurological impairment leading to feeding difficulties.

Peds IR for Specific Pathologies - Tiny Heroes, Big Fights

  • Oncology IR:

    • Hepatoblastoma: TACE for unresectable tumors (Doxorubicin, Cisplatin).
    • Wilms'/Neuroblastoma: Image-guided biopsy, pre-op embolization, venous access.
  • Vascular Malformations (VMs): 📌 Mnemonic: "Low flow, Lymphatics & Veins, Slowly Swell; High flow, Arteries, Fast Feel."

    TypeFlowExamplesIR TreatmentSclerosants
    Low-FlowVenousVenous Malf.SclerotherapyBleomycin, Doxycycline, Ethanol
    LymphaticLymphatic Malf.SclerotherapyBleomycin, Doxycycline
    High-FlowArterialAVMs, AVFsEmbolizationN/A
  • Portal Hypertension:

    • Causes: EHPVO (Extrahepatic Portal Vein Obstruction), biliary atresia.
    • IR: BRTO, variceal embolization, TIPS (older children, select cases).
  • Musculoskeletal IR:

    • Biopsies: Bone/soft tissue (infection/tumor).
    • Ablation: Osteoid osteoma (RFA/Cryo).

    ⭐ RFA is first-line IR for symptomatic osteoid osteoma; success >90%.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Sclerotherapy is key for low-flow vascular malformations (lymphatic, venous).
  • Image-guided biopsies and drainage (abscess, nephrostomy, biliary) are fundamental.
  • Central venous access (PICC lines, tunnelled catheters) is a common pediatric IR procedure.
  • Embolization is crucial for trauma, AVMs, and pre-op tumor devascularization.
  • Intussusception reduction via air/contrast enema is a hallmark intervention.
  • Thermal ablation (RFA) effectively treats osteoid osteomas and select tumors.

Practice Questions: Pediatric Interventional Radiology

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Flashcards: Pediatric Interventional Radiology

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Earliest Skull X-ray sign in a child with raised ICT is _____

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Earliest Skull X-ray sign in a child with raised ICT is _____

Sutural diastasis

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