PEDIATRIC INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY

Hydrostatic reduction of intussusception has, until recently, been accomplished using barium sulfate or meglumine sodium diatrizoate, and has resulted in successful reduction in up to 80% of cases. Pneumatic reduction is an old technique but is new to North America. In a short time, air reduction has been widely accepted. It is easy to perform and success is achieved in over 80% of cases. The advantages of pneumatic reduction include a lower cost, shorter procedure time, and if perforation occurs, there is a lower likelihood of fecal contamination of the peritoneum. The vein of Galen malformation was initially described in 1895. The age at which symptoms occur and the severity of the clinical syndrome depend on the magnitude of arteriovenous shunting. Cross-sectional imaging techniques are helpful for diagnosis and management planning. In infants with high-output congestive heart failure, neurointervention is now the treatment of choice.