Vascular percutaneous transcatheter embolisation with a new device: Amplatzer vascular plug

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the new Amplatzer vascular plug (AVP) for the occlusion of vascular abnormalities and peripheral vessels, especially those with a large diameter.

The new device was used for the occlusion of five internal iliac arteries to prevent retrograde endoleak following endograft repair, three left subclavian arteries for the treatment of type II endoleaks after positioning thoracic aorta stent-grafts, one pulmonary arteriovenous malformation, one haemodialysis fistula in a patient with forearm oedema and one large gastric varix in a patient who had undergone transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for haemorrhage.

The five internal iliac arteries and the three left subclavian arteries were successfully occluded within 8 and 5 min, respectively. The pulmonary arteriovenous fistula was closed within 3 min and percutaneous oxygen saturation rose from 73% to 93%. The haemodialysis fistula was closed with one device within 4 min. The gastric varix was embolised with two AVPs and two coils within 12 min.

The AVP is an effective device for occluding large diameter vascular abnormalities and peripheral vessels. It is inexpensive and enables safe and low-risk embolisation, with saving of time and requiring only low X-ray dose.