Balloon disruption

Fig. 6.16a-c. Balloon disruption of the fibrin sheath, a Injection following catheter removal demonstrating a long fibrin sheath, b Balloon disruption, c Repeat contrast injection shows no sheath and good flow. (Published with permission of W. B. Saunders Co.)... 

Inoculation of cell cultures with virus-containing material produces characteristic changes in the cells. The replication of many types of viruses produces the cytopathic effect (CPE) in which cells degenerate. This effect is seen as the shrinkage or sometimes ballooning of cells and the disruption of the monolayer by death and detachment of the cells (Fig. 3.6). The replicating virus can then be identified by inoculating a series of cell cultures with mixtures of the virus and different known viral antisera. If the virus is the same as one of the types used to prepare the various antisera, then its activity will be neutralized by that particular antiserum and CPE will not be apparent in that tube. Alternatively viral antisera labelled with a fluorescent dye can be used to identify the virus in the cell culture. 

Complications reported with this type of intervention are rare, Rupture of the annulus is reported. The tricuspid valve may also be damaged if a large diameter balloon catheter has been passed inadvertently through the tricuspid valve chordae. After inflation, the balloon is relatively bulky and as it is removed the tricuspid valve apparatus may be disrupted causing regurgitation. A procedure-associated death rate of 0.24% and a major complication rate of 0.35% were found in a large study comprising 822 balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty procedures (15). 

Another advantage of angiography during acute stroke treatment is that it allows mechanical disruption of the clot. There are several methods available today. Among them are angioplasty balloons, clot extraction devices (corkscrew retriever MERCI device), ultrasound aided catheters and simple manipulation of the clot... 

The radiologist should avoid any urethral catheterization when urethral disruption is suspected. Secondary repair is the rule for urethral injuries, so that a minimal imaging evaluation should be performed in emergency situations (Baskin and McAninch 1993). Retrograde opacification of the urethra by water-soluble iodinated contrast medium is the reference examination (Fig. 25.15). A Foley catheter with a balloon inflated in the fossa navicu-laris is used. CT cystography can be considered in cases of bladder neck disruption and/or pelvic bones fractures. 

Fig. 25.15. Complete disruption of the membranous urethra in an adolescent boy shown by retrograde urethrography (arrow). Note the inflated balloon of the Foley catheter in the fossa navicularis...

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