Pelvic angioembolization in trauma - Indications and outcomes

Area of Science:

• Trauma care
• Interventional radiology

Background:

• Pelvic hemorrhage in trauma often necessitates complex management due to high-energy mechanisms causing associated injuries.
• Angioembolization (AE) is increasingly preferred over surgical interventions for managing pelvic bleeding.
• This review focuses on AE for retroperitoneal hemorrhage following pelvic trauma.

Approach:

• A literature search was performed using terms 'trauma,' 'angioembolization,' and 'pelvis.'
• Studies were limited to English-language publications.
• Abstracts and full texts were reviewed to identify relevant articles.

Key Points:

• AE is effective for pelvic hemorrhage in both hemodynamically stable and unstable trauma patients.
• It serves as a primary definitive treatment or adjunct to surgery for pelvic fractures.
• AE can be combined with operative management for concurrent intra-abdominal injuries.

Conclusions:

• Pelvic angioembolization is the most effective intervention for hemorrhage associated with pelvic fractures.
• Outcomes for hemodynamically unstable patients with pelvic trauma may be improved with AE compared to operative management.
• AE offers a versatile treatment option for pelvic hemorrhage, adaptable to various patient conditions and injury patterns.