Peripheral vascular applications of the Amplatzer vascular plug

To present our experience using the Amplatzer vascular plug in various arterial and venous systems, and follow-up results.

Between May 2005 and October 2006, 20 Amplatzer vascular plugs were used to achieve occlusion in 20 vessels in 12 patients (10 male, 2 female) aged between 24 and 80 years (mean age, 55 years). Localization and indications for embolotherapy were as follows: pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (n = 3; 9 vessels), internal iliac artery embolization before stent-graft repair for aortoiliac aneurysms (n = 4; 4 vessels), preoperative (right hemipelvectomy) embolization of bilateral internal iliac arteries (n = 1), bilateral internal iliac aneurysms (n = 1), large thoracic side branch of the left internal mammary artery coronary by-pass graft causing coronary steal syndrome (n = 1), closure of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (n = 1), and testicular vein embolization for a varicocele (n = 1).

The technical success rate was 100%, with total occlusion of all the targeted vessels. Only one device was used to achieve total occlusion of the targeted vessel in all patients (device size range, 6-16 mm in diameter). No major complications occurred. Target vessel occlusion time after deployment of the Amplatzer vascular plug was 6-10 min in pulmonary arteries (mean, 7.5 min) and 10-35 min (mean, 24.4 min) in systemic arteries. Mean follow-up was 6.7 months (range, 1-18 months).

Embolization with the Amplatzer vascular plug is safe, feasible, and technically simple with appropriate patient selection in various vascular territories.