Arterial embolization for hemorrhage caused by hepatic arterial injury

Fewer than 10% of patients with major liver trauma have life-threatening bleeding. Laparoscopic operations, endoscopic procedures, and percutaneous interventions such as drainages, vascular or tumor sclerosis, biopsies, and transjugular intrahepatic portocaval shunt (TIPS) have increased the number of iatrogenic vascular and bile duct injuries. Due to its therapeutic success, arterial embolization (AE) has become the standard treatment for late complications of hepatic injury. In some cases, this procedure may be used as the first approach on accidental or iatrogenic arterial trauma and in several hepatic arterial diseases. The result of this method depends on physician experience, size of the wound, and stability of the patient. Persistent hemorrhage and rebleeding may be treated with a new AE or an operation. Precise indication and a correctly performed AE are key factors for a successful treatment. Rebleeding episodes are a rare occurrence, which may be treated with AE as well.