[Experimental canine maxillofacial arterial embolization with ethylcellulose microspheres]

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Embolization is a key procedure in vascular interventions.
• Ethylcellulose microspheres (EMS) are used for embolization.
• Understanding the long-term effects of EMS on bone tissue is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and histological impact of EMS embolization in the external carotid artery tree.
• To assess the permanence of peripheral arteriole embolization using EMS.
• To investigate the histological changes in the maxilla and mandible following internal maxillary artery embolization with EMS.

Main Methods:

• External carotid artery tree embolization in ten mongrel dogs using EMS.
• Post-embolization assessment via angiography and microangiography.
• Detailed pathological and histological examination of maxilla and mandible tissues.

Main Results:

• EMS demonstrated permanent embolization of peripheral arterioles.
• Histological findings in maxilla and mandible included nutritional defects and degeneration.
• Observed changes included bone microfractures, empty bony lacunae, and pulpal degeneration.
• No evidence of complete or focal bone necrosis was detected from 12 hours to 6 months post-embolization.

Conclusions:

• EMS provides permanent embolization of peripheral arterioles.
• Maxilla and mandible tissues exhibit nutritional defects and degeneration post-embolization.
• EMS embolization of the internal maxillary artery does not lead to bone necrosis in the observed timeframe.