Angiographic Embolization in Pediatric Abdominal Trauma.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Trauma Care
• Interventional Radiology
• Hemorrhage Control

Background:

• Trauma is a leading cause of death in children, with abdominal bleeding a significant factor.
• While angiography and embolization are established treatments for adult hemorrhage, pediatric evidence is limited.

Observation:

• Four pediatric patients (ages 4-13) with abdominal or renal injuries underwent transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE).
• Indications included blunt abdominal trauma with liver laceration, pelvic fractures, and iatrogenic renal injuries, including one case associated with a Wilms tumor.

Findings:

• TAE served as both a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in all cases.
• All four patients were successfully treated with embolization, avoiding the need for surgical intervention to control bleeding.

Implications:

• Emergency TAE should be considered as an initial treatment for children with ongoing bleeding post-trauma or renal injury.
• Successful implementation requires readily available interventional radiology services and interdisciplinary cooperation.